Practice Areas

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Central Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution Lawyer

The Todd Law Firm, PLLC, in Austin, Texas, offers clients several approaches to resolving their family law or divorce concerns, including alternative dispute resolution (ADR), collaborative law and traditional litigation at trial. For many of our clients, we advocate using less adversarial methods to address their divorce concerns. We believe effective dispute resolution can be achieved without trial, in a healthier environment where no judge is involved.

Divorce and family law attorney David Todd has extensive experience in the field of alternative dispute resolution ("ADR"). In addition to being a trained mediator, he encourages all of his divorce clients to consider using ADR methods to pursue a divorce. He believes that using such legal techniques can help couples focus on moving forward rather than dwelling on the past. Parents and their children can benefit greatly by avoiding the often expensive and destructive approach of settling their differences by going to court. Contact us to find out how David Todd can help you.

What is Alternative Dispute Resolution?

Alternative dispute resolution allows our clients to settle their disputes by means other than going to trial. The most common type of ADR involves mediation and arbitration.

In mediation, a neutral third party mediator works with a couple to settle their dispute in a private, casual setting. Either party can attend the meeting with or without a lawyer. In cases of divorce, both parties supply the necessary information about issues such as dividing marital assets, child support, and custody and visitation matters. The mediator evaluates and makes suggestions that can help a couple resolving matters peacefully. While the mediator has no authority to impose any decisions, you can come to an acceptable agreement through a process where a judge is not imposing a decision on you. Mediation is a voluntary process that very often results in an agreed resolution to a family law case.

The arbitration process is usually applied to business-related disputes and is conducted by a one- or three-person arbitration panel. The panel can be designated by an arbitration agency, or selected directly by the parties involved. The panel acts as both judge and jury in an arbitration case. A hearing is conducted at which both parties have an opportunity to present their case. The arbitrator or panel renders a decision called an award that can be binding and enforceable in court. Appeals are limited.

Rather than suffer through a long and costly court trial, alternative dispute resolution offers clients more control over times, dates, mediators and arbitrators. Attorney David Todd can help you decide which dispute resolution method is right for your situation and offers mediation services to help you resolve the legal problems affecting your life.

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