Frequently Asked Questions for Mediation

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To schedule an appointment please call our office at (319) 363-5606 and speak with the mediation intake specialist, and provide the requested information. If we are not able to answer the phone please leave a message on the answering machine. Please leave your name, phone number and a good time to return your call and we will get back to you as soon as possible. 

After speaking with the mediation intake specialist, you may download the Personal Data and Information Form (PDI) by clicking on the "DOWNLOADS" link above and select the first download on that page. After downloading the PDI Form, please print the form, answer the questions. You may scan it and email it back to : cmm@CrilleyLaw.com or you may also deliver or postal mail to: Crilley Mediation Services, 320 Miller Road, Hiawatha, IA 52233 (If delivering after hours please leave your information in the drop box located at our left side entrance.)

Mediation is scheduled for a minimum of two (2) hours (although you can schedule for longer and many participants do). The cost for the two-hour minimum mediation is $300.00 per participant. This fee includes scheduling and Certificate of Mediation Completion required by the Court. We do not charge a separate administrative fee for those matters. 

In the event you schedule for longer than the minimum two hours or extend beyond the two-hour appointment, each additional hour is charged at the rate of $300.00 per hour($150.00 per hour per participant). The charge for drafting Agreements is $300.00 per hour ($150.00 per hour per participant).

We will need to know your name, address, phone numbers (cell, home, work); your attorney's name, phone numbers; the county in which the case has been filed; the case number (located in the upper right section of your legal documents usually beginning with CDDM, DRCV, LA, or EQ followed by some numbers) and if you plan to have your attorney attend mediation with you. 

Depending on the topics for discussion, Mediation can take one to several sessions. At the beginning of the first session, we will spend a short amount of time discussing the Mediation process and discussing which topics you and the other party would like to resolve first. If you and the other party are communicating, more can be accomplished with more time. You may also elect to schedule a follow-up two-hour, or longer, mediation appointment, but the choice is up to you.

By scheduling for a two-hour minimum appointment, there is time for the Court-required preliminaries to be taken care of with sufficient time remaining for substantial mediation.

Usually there is an appointment scheduled immediately following your set appointment. But, if there is not another appointment after you, you may go longer. The additional time must be paid in full at the end of the mediation session and will be charged at the rate of $150.00 per hour per participant ($300.00 total per hour).

Yes, this is encouraged when matters remain unresolved and are usually scheduled following a previous session. 

If you must cancel your appointment, cancellation after a date is reserved will have a $50.00 cancellation fee per person; if cancellation is made within 48 hours or less in advance of your scheduled appointment you will, except for unusual circumstances, forfeit the total Mediation fee.

Bring with you any documents, legal pleadings, calculations, prior agreements, drawings, photographs, appraisals, investment statements, etc. that would be helpful to illustrate your position. 

Yes, having attorneys at mediation, facilitated settlement sessions, and arbitration may be helpful or necessary. If you do choose to have your attorney accompany you to mediation, please contact your attorney and they will advise you in this matter. If your attorney will be accompanying you, please let us know. 

After making an appointment, you will be sent an email confirming your appointment. Also sent with that email will be two (2) attached .PDF documents: an Agreement to Mediate contract as well as a two-page Personal information and Data (PDI) form. You will need to complete and return both documents to our office, by email (cmm@crilleylaw.com) or postal mail right away. Crilley Mediation Services, 320 Miller Road, Hiawatha, IA 52233 (If delivering after hours please leave your information in the drop box located at our left side entrance.)

No. The Mediator provides a non-adversarial environment for the participants to work together with the mediator to explore alternative ideas and ways to reach agreement. The mediator is a neutral facilitator working to create a positive atmosphere conducive to settlement for all parties. Mediators do not make the decisions but guide the process for participants to make their own decisions; Arbitrators do make the decisions.

Yes. It is better to limit those attending to those directly involved in the case. Please advise us if you desire to have someone other than your attorney attend mediation with you as this decision must be discussed before the mediation session. 

• Family law disputes including: property/assets/alimony/support, child custody/visitation property
• Business
• Conveyance disputes ranging from boundary disputes, title disputes, easement agreements, ownership disputes, zoning, nuisances, etc.
• Civil litigation
• Real Estate and Construction
• Probate
• Organizational (i.e. church, workplace, school, office)
• Employment

For the definitions of these terms as written in the Iowa Code Section 598.1  click here to be taken to the DOWNLOADS page where you can download a .PDF file that contains the definitions as found in Iowa Code Section.598.1.