CBS&H Mediation Services
The lawyers of the Law Firm of Collins, Buckley, Sauntry & Haugh, P.L.L.P. have throughout the 30+ years of service to clients, worked diligently to resolve legal disputes in the most cost-effective manner while fully pursuing our clients legal rights.
Over the past decade, in response to the costly and frequently painful court battles experienced by many persons going through divorces, a movement has developed to provide for the resolution of both family law and civil law disputes in a less litigious setting. One of the alternative dispute resolution practices that has developed is that of mediation. Several of the lawyers at Collins, Buckley, Sauntry & Haugh have been long-time advocates of this method of resolving disputes. They have consulted with court officials and advised Minnesota state legislators as laws were drafted, honed and passed allowing for, and in some cases requiring, the use of mediation in family law disputes. They have taught and been panel members at mediation seminars and mediation training events.
In the late 1980's a number of the lawyers at Collins, Buckley, Sauntry & Haugh, P.L.L.P. put together their ideas and desire to assist people with the resolution of disputes in a more positive way and formed CBS&H Mediation Services. All of our attorney / mediators have committed themselves, when engaged as neutral third party mediators, to assisting parties in a dispute to reach a fair and equitable resolution to their conflict away from a court room setting. Today a growing portion of our business is in the area of alternative dispute resolution.
Consider the Advantages of Mediation
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• Mediation is a proven alternative for resolving conflicts and avoiding antagonistic, costly courtroom battles.
• Mediation is usually faster than family court in settling divorces.
• Mediation allows you to maintain ultimate control over the outcome of your divorce versus having the court system dictate the terms of your judgment and decree.
• Mediation is normally much less disruptive to family members, particularly children, than court because mediation encourages co-operative communication rather than polarizing you and your spouse.
The Mediation Process
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• Initial Information Gathering. The Mediator and or a staff person will spend time, depending on the circumstances, either on the phone or in person, with the persons who will be entering mediation to fully explain the mediation process and gather initial information.
• Agreement to Mediate / Fees. If you decide to use our services, you will be asked to sign an agreement defining your obligations and the obligations of CBS&H Mediation Services. You will be charged for each mediation session. The fee is due at the conclusion of the session. There may be additional fees for neutral appraisers, support staff and mediator time to prepare summaries of each session.
• Mediation. Necessary information will be gathered and reviewed, the mediation session will be scheduled and then the session is held where the work to resolve the dispute is done. Depending on the progress, additional sessions may be scheduled. It is our goal to help you resolve your disputes in a cost-effective respectful manner.
• Agreement. The agreement that the parties in mediation arrive at will, upon request, be prepared in the format required for you to finalize the divorce process utilizing your attorney(s).
For a list of web sites and links to an assortment of mediation web sites that further discuss the mediation process, click on our Legal Links tab in the header of this page.
The Mediators of CBS&H
Mediation Services Will Help You:
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• Identify the real issues.
• Identify each person's needs.
• Inventory assets.
• Hire neutral appraisers to value property, if necessary.
• Develop realistic budgets.
• Locate counseling services, if necessary.
• Resolve parenting issues.
• Consider tax issues
• Control your own decisions.
• Maintain self-respect.
• Lessen emotional stress
• Communicate cooperatively and positively.
• Resolve issues creatively.
• Put into a written form the agreements you make for document drafting by your attorney(s).
Meet The CBS&H
Mediation Services Attorney / Mediators
Together our attorney / mediators bring more than 125 years of legal experience to your case. Several of our attorney / mediators also serve as arbitrators and special magistrates. The names of our attorney / mediators are listed below. You may view a biography for the person listed by clicking on their name
Dan O'Connell
Christine L. Stroemer
Thomas R. O'Connell
Theodore J. Collins
Walter G. Bauch
CBS&H Mediation Services is dedicated to working with you to impartially resolving your disagreements in a positive, respectful and cooperative atmosphere. To discuss your case, call to make an appointment at 651-227-0611 or E-Mail us at Info@cbsh.net. You may also contact one of our attorneys via their E-Mail links listed on the biographical pages in this web site.