Civil Mediation
Civil disputes, the disagreements between people and organisations over rights, money and property, are expensive and exhausting to litigate. Civil mediation offers a confidential, quicker and considerably cheaper way to settle them, with outcomes shaped by you rather than imposed by a judge.
Discuss Your DisputeWhat civil mediation covers
Civil mediation applies to a wide range of non criminal disputes. These are some of the areas we work in most often.
Boundary disputes
Fences, hedges, party walls and contested boundary lines.
Easement disputes
Rights of way, access and shared driveways.
Landlord and tenant disputes
Deposits, repairs, rent and lease disagreements.
Inheritance and will disputes
Contested estates, executor conflicts and probate claims.
Professional negligence
Claims against solicitors, surveyors, accountants and advisers.
Personal injury claims
Compensation discussions without the court timetable.
Noise complaints
Neighbour noise, nuisance and quality of life conflicts.
Property damage
Damage claims between neighbours, owners and contractors.
Family business succession
Handover, ownership and role disputes in family firms.
For business disputes, see our commercial mediation page, or browse the complete list of dispute types.
Why people choose civil mediation
It keeps costs sensible
Most civil disputes are worth far less than the legal fees of fighting them. Mediation usually concludes in one or two sessions for a shared, quoted fee.
It is private
Court judgments are public. Mediation is confidential, so personal and financial details stay between the parties.
It is faster
Civil claims routinely take a year or more to reach trial. Mediation can be arranged in weeks and often settles in a single day.
It preserves relationships
When the other party is a neighbour, a relative or a fellow executor, you may have to live with them afterwards. Mediation settles the dispute without destroying the relationship.
Courts encourage it
English courts expect parties to consider mediation, and unreasonably refusing can cost you in legal costs later, even if you win.
You decide the outcome
A settlement can include things a court cannot order: revised arrangements, staged payments, apologies or agreements about the future.
A note on family disputes
Alongside civil and commercial work we mediate disputes where family and financial interests overlap: family business succession, inheritance, estates and elder care matters. These sit naturally within civil mediation because the underlying questions are about property, money and ongoing relationships.
If you are not sure whether your dispute fits our work, ask us and we will tell you honestly, and point you in the right direction if it does not.
Civil mediation questions
What counts as a civil dispute?
A civil dispute is a disagreement between people or organisations about rights, money or property, rather than a criminal matter. It covers everything from boundary arguments and inheritance questions to professional negligence claims.
Can mediation help with an inheritance dispute?
Yes, and courts actively encourage it. Probate and inheritance disputes are emotional as well as legal, and mediation gives family members space to address both sides of the problem while keeping the estate's costs down.
Do I have to try mediation before going to court?
Not legally, but English courts expect parties to have considered it. Refusing to mediate without good reason can lead to costs penalties later, even if you win your case.
Is mediation cheaper than going to court?
Almost always. Most civil mediations conclude in one or two sessions for a shared mediator's fee. Court proceedings involve filing fees, solicitor costs and months of waiting.
More answers on our mediation FAQ page.
Talk to us about your dispute
A short, confidential conversation will tell you whether mediation is right for your situation and what it would cost. Call +44 1604 785 785 or send us a message.
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