Mediation Services

Our Mediation Team

Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law

ARCR’s mediators are known for resolving the most complex of estate planning, trust, probate, and probate and family law crossover disputes. Our mediators have assisted countless litigants in resolving their trust contests, contested conservatorship and guardianship matters, breach of fiduciary and accounting actions, and elder abuse cases.

Family Law

For the past twenty years, mediation has been the preferred method for divorcing parties to settle their property and support disputes. Charles M. Riffle, a graduate of an American Bar Association-sponsored mediation program, has acted as a mediator of dissolution of marriage matters for the past fifteen years. He and other lawyers in the firm also act as reviewing lawyers for parties who seek the services of a mediator to assist them in reaching an agreement on how to divide their property, and what support to pay.

In the family law mediation model, the parties agree upon a single mediator to assist them. The mediator meets with both parties, generally prepares all the necessary court documents to conclude the dissolution of marriage action, and assists the parties in reaching a fair settlement of their differences. Each party then takes the proposed agreement to his or her reviewing attorney, who advises each party of his or her rights under the proposed agreement. After both parties have consulted individually with their respective reviewing lawyers, they sign the agreement, and the mediator completes all the court pleadings needed to finalize the dissolution of their marriage. The mediator can pull together outside resources like appraisers and psychologists to help the parties reach an agreement on disputed matters. The rights of each party are protected because each party has his or her own reviewing attorney who can bring perspective to the final agreement. Finally, when children are involved, mediation lessens tensions and allows the parties to focus on the best interests of their children—a win win for all involved.