What is Arbitration and How Can it Help Me?

Arbitration is an Alternative Dispute Resolution process whereby a person chosen as the arbitrator resolves the disagreement between parties. Arbitration is similar to a court trial, with several exceptions: 

 1) The arbitrator (or panel of arbitrators) make(s) the decision called an "arbitration award: 

 2) The arbitration does not take place in a courtroom. 

 3) The arbitration award is binding. With rare exceptions, there is no right to appeal. 

 4) Arbitration is not a matter of public record. The proceedings are private and confidential. Generally there is not a court reporter or written transcripts. 

 5) Discovery or the process by which lawyers generally prepare their cases is extremely limited and subject to agreed upon guidelines. 

 6) The rules of evidence are relaxed so that the parties have a broader scope, more expanded opportunity to tell their stories; 

 7) With very few exceptions, it is much less expensive than legal litigation. 

 8) An arbitration time frame is substantially less than that of litigation and going to trial. 

 9) No jury. The Arbitrator(s) maintain neutrality and conflicts of interests. 

 10) Generally, all paperwork and evidence presented are destroyed after the Arbitration. 

 11) The Arbitration and Arbitration Award does not have to adhere to Judicial Case precedent nor formality of traditional court proceedings.

 Use the Arbitration Directory to find an Arbitrator in many different practice categories.