Mediation Program

Welcome

DeKalb County Magistrate Court provides a Mediation Program to you as a free, easy, and convenient way to resolve your dispute from your computer or mobile device.

Mediation Program

The Mediation Program is a Zoom based mediation tool provided by the Court. The process is like in-person mediation but offers the added benefit of mediating at a time and place that is convenient for you.

What is mediation?

Mediation is an informal and non-adversarial process for parties and/or their attorneys to discuss and hopefully resolve their dispute with the assistance of a mediator. The mediator, a neutral third-party, guides the discussion but has no authority to decide the case. Mediators also do not provide legal or financial advice.

Who are the mediators?

DeKalb County Magistrate Court entered into a collaboration with John Marshall Law students to allow students who are certified mediators to facilitate the mediations. Students are able to put their skills to the test under the supervision of the Court Administrator, a certified and skilled mediator. Additionally, students who have not yet received their Mediation certification are allowed to observe.

How does the Mediation Program work?

Mediations are held twice a month on Fridays. Parties enrolled in Mediation will receive a notification letter informing them of the time and date of their mediation as well as the Zoom link to mediation. On the mediation Friday, parties will login to the Zoom link and silence their device. The judge will take attendance and the Court Administrator will assign mediators at random to breakout rooms. Each Party will have a designated breakout room. If an agreement is reached, Parties have the option to draft the Consent Agreement. The Agreement must be sent to the parties or their attorneys to review and sign electronically, and then will be sent to the judge to review and sign. Agreements signed by the judge are filed with the Court, sent to the parties and/or their attorneys, and the case is closed. If no agreement is reached, the case will be placed on a calendar for a hearing.

Register for the Mediation Program

Parties with Small Claims are automatically enrolled in mediation. Parties are encouraged to make good faith efforts to resolve their disputes before the trial process.

If you do not have an email account, visit one of the following sites to create one:

https://accounts.google.com/

https://outlook.live.com/owa/

https://login.yahoo.com/

https://protonmail.com/signup/

Frequently Asked Questions

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