Many people hear that mediation can be a fraction of the cost of going to court and are skeptical, or may not understand how that could be possible. While there are certainly some situations where mediation makes less sense, there are many more reasons that support the use of mediation in a wide range of scenarios.

Sometimes a dispute will settle in a way that is a little surprising. One party may accept an offer relatively early on in negotiation talks, or at a point that comes unexpectedly. This is not always a result of inexperience in negotiation, but of a conscious decision to move on and focus efforts elsewhere.

Just before California’s eviction moratorium was set to expire at the end of June, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed new legislation which extended the moratorium through the end of September. In addition, the bill also made more of the $5.2 billion in rental relief accessible.

With such a high demand for homes and so few going up on the market, there is now quite the real estate bubble building. Homes have greatly appreciated in many areas because of this, and while it might be a good time to buy for certain homebuyers, others could be better off exploring alternatives and waiting things out a bit longer.

Businesses can be faced with a multitude of challenges that individuals rarely have to deal with. Whether it’s issues with neighboring businesses, vendors, customers, employees, commercial property and real estate, premises liability—the list can go on and on. Owning or operating a business can be so rewarding and profitable, but can also give rise to unexpected (and usually expensive) issues. Knowing how to save as much of the bottom line is vital to business success. In the vast majority of issues that come up, mediation can be of great help.

Many landlords and tenants alike are facing serious financial strain. While moratoriums have extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many are still watching their rental debt increase with every passing month. While aid has been established to help the situation, there are certainly shortcomings that still exist, and ones that will reveal themselves when moratoriums begin to lift across the country.