ARBITRATION

Arbitration is:

Litigation over property, parental rights, and child support destroys families. The cost of court is high both financially and emotionally – you can decide to take control of your family’s future by participating in arbitration instead.

• Far less expensive than litigation
• Confidential and private
• On your time schedule, not the court's
• Tailored to your family's needs

Perhaps you already have participated in mediation, and have been unsuccessful in reaching an agreement.  Perhaps you have mediated a partial agreement, but remain deadlocked on one (or a few issues).  Perhaps you (or the opposing party) have no interest in participating in mediation, but wish to have a more expedient resolution than waiting to appear before a judge.

If any of these describes your case, arbitration may be right for you.

In Indiana, an arbitrator essentially acts as a “private judge” – appointed by the court, holding the same decision-making authority as the court.  Evidence and legal argument are presented to the arbitrator, and a decision is rendered which is memorialized as a fully-enforceable court order, the same as if the parties had participated in an extensive trial before the elected judge.  Parties have the right to appeal the order just as they would if it had been issued by the judge.  All this occurs, however, without the lengthy wait for precious court time, and the costs that come with multiple days of trial in traditional courts.

The benefits of participating in arbitration are many:

• The parties and attorneys choose the judicial officer hearing the case.
• The parties and attorneys set the timetable, scheduling evidentiary sessions and conferences with the arbitrator at the parties’ and lawyers’ convenience.
• Sessions are held privately, rather than in open courtrooms.
• Sessions are held in the office of the arbitrator – a much more comfortable and less stressful environment than traditional courtrooms, for both parties and witnesses.
• Decisions typically are rendered much more quickly than decisions by traditional judges.

With BKR Family Dispute Resolution, our arbitrators, Melanie Reichert and Amanda Blystone, have extensive knowledge of all aspects of family law.  They have combined experience of nearly 20 years practicing exclusively family law, and both of them have acted as judicial officers – Melanie in her capacity as a commissioner in Marion County Circuit Court and as a pro tem judge, and Amanda as a pro tem judge.  Additionally, Amanda is an Indiana Certified Family Law Specialist.  What this experience means to you, is that your case will be heard by someone with knowledge and expertise about the issues facing your family, and by someone who cares.

If you have more questions about arbitration with BKR, send an email to mreichert@bkrlaw.com or ablystone@bkrlaw.com, or call 317-571-3601.