Mediation Services

To schedule, email wsmith@gafamilycounseling.com

Greater Atlanta Family Counseling offers formal and informal mediation services.

Also known as Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), mediation is an attractive option in working through conflict, often prior to court filings, litigation, or a trial.

There are many benefits to mediation, notably:

  • Mediation is confidential

  • All parties have a clear voice in working towards a mutually satisfactory outcome (this is rarely the case in litigation).

  • Lower stress and lower conflict compared to litigation

  • Parties are given the opportunity to resolve sensitive issues without involving attorneys

Furthermore, mediation is usually a low-cost option to dispute resolution, with the total expenses often being a fraction of the price compared to attorney and legal fees.

By virtue of our practice, GAFC is especially experienced in working in areas related to children, families, and healthcare.

GAFC is also one of the only mediation sites in Georgia that focuses on disputes related to psychiatric and addiction healthcare, including resolving civil cases, care coordination, financial coordination, and living arrangements/evictions.

Formal mediation: If a mediation is successful (includes full agreement, partial agreement, temporary agreement), the mediation results are sent to a judge to sign. When the judge signs the resolution, the agreements will then be considered legally binding. If an agreement is not upheld by a party, that party could be considered in breach of contract and subject to legal penalties. Examples include child custody modifications and resolutions to general/civil cases.

Informal mediation: Uses the same mediation techniques as formal mediation, however, the results are not sent to the courts. Informal mediation is often used at GAFC to work through issues including coparenting issues, housing conflicts (e.g. eviction), financial disputes, and disagreements involving healthcare and/or eldercare.

General and Civil Mediation

General and Civil Mediation deals with matters including civil disputes, healthcare disputes, real estate disputes/eviction, small claims, magistrate, probate, and superior court disputes.

Domestic Relations Mediation

Domestic Relations Mediation primarily deals with family disputes, including divorce mediation, child custody, and child support.