Top 5 Reasons to Use Alternative Dispute Resolution instead of Litigation

Choosing alternative dispute resolution can be one of the smartest things you ever do when involved in a legal dispute. Although it is not right in every situation, it can provide a number of benefits. In some cases, courts even require you to attempt alternative dispute resolution in Indiana before moving forward with litigation. They might order disputing parties into mediation or arbitration in an attempt to resolve the dispute more efficiently and remove the burden of the court system.

If you are considering alternative dispute resolution in Indiana or the court is requiring an attempt at ADR, why should you be willing to try it with an open mind?

1. Saves Money

One of the primary reasons people opt to use alternative dispute resolution in Indiana is because it costs less than litigation. Both mediation and arbitration almost always saving those involved in dispute money. In some cases, it is a significant amount of money. When you add up the cost of working with a lawyer for several months, court fees, and any other expenses of a long, drawn-out court battle, it is easy to see how much less expensive alternative dispute resolution will be.

2. Saves Time

A big reason why alternative dispute resolution costs so much less than litigation is that it saves so much time. You are not using the resources involved for as long as a period of time as you would when taking a case to court. Not to mention the time it saves you. Imagine being able to get back to your regular life without the burden of a lawsuit hanging in the balance. It is why so many people opt for ADR.

3. Preserves Relationships

Alternative dispute resolution in Indiana, especially mediation, helps to preserve mutually beneficial relationships. Whether you are involved in a business dispute or you are trying to resolve a family legal issue, you are more likely to be able to move forward and enjoy the benefits of the relationship pre-dispute when you use ADR to resolve it. There is less animosity than in litigation and unlike going to court, there is less of a sense of winning and losing. There is also more flexible, so even if an arbitrator finds in favor of one party, it is possible to create a custom solution that still makes the other party comfortable.

4. Gives You Control of the Outcome

Many instances of alternative dispute resolution in Indiana will put you completely in control of the outcome of your situation. There will be no judge rendering a decision and you will not be forced to abide by the conditions of a resolution unless it is stated in advance that the decision of an arbitrator is binding.

5. Keeps the Dispute Confidential

In both mediation and arbitration, parties involved can agree to keep the process and the outcome private. This is beneficial in personal family law matters as well as in business disputes. You are able to keep sensitive details from becoming a matter of public record and you prevent personal details from being known to the public.