Last reviewed in January 2023 by the Clicklaw Editors.

Mediation is a process for solving conflicts (disputes) without going to court. Two or more parties meet in a private and informal setting to try to settle their dispute with the help of a mediator (a person trained to help people settle conflicts together).

Although there are no set rules about what kind of dispute can or cannot be mediated, mediation is more appropriate in some situations than others.

Good starting points include:

• About Mediation, from Mediate BC, describes mediation as well as the role of the mediator and what you can do if you are interested in using mediation. Includes short videos featuring true stories of people who have experienced family mediation.
• Guide to Mediation in BC, from the provincial government, explains what mediation is and when you might want to use it. Includes information on choosing a mediator and the mediation process.
• Alternatives to Going to Court, from the Justice Education Society of BC, is a guidebook that gives an overview of the alternatives to going to court, including mediation. This guidebook is helpful for learning about civil, non-family related claims in the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

If you are considering using mediation for family law issues, such as divorce or child support, also see How can mediation help me with a divorce agreement?

Need more help?

• MediateBC has searchable directories that people can use to find civil mediators, family mediators, child protection mediators, and Med-Arb practitioners who can help them resolve their disputes
• Find more help near you on Clicklaw HelpMap.

See our related common questions:

• See all common questions about alternatives to court
• See all common questions about legal help & lawyers

tags

mediation, resolving disputes without going to court, alternative dispute resolution