Mediation

Not every dispute needs to end up in court

In mediation, the parties sit down with a neutral mediator and work out a solution together, quickly, at low cost and without the tension of a court battle.

The mediator is independent, specially trained and accredited by the Ministry of Justice. They do not judge and do not impose a solution; they help the parties understand each other and decide for themselves.

If the parties reach an agreement, it is written up and filed with the Court of First Instance. It then carries the same force as a court judgment, meaning it can be enforced.

Many everyday disputes are better resolved this way: disagreements between co-owners in an apartment building, outstanding payments between professionals, inheritance matters among relatives, or questions of child support and contact with children.

At danalilaw, mediation is conducted by mediators accredited by the Ministry of Justice, with a focus on three areas:

Commercial & Civil Mediation

For disputes between businesses, partners or individuals: breach-of-contract claims, partnership disputes, monetary claims, intellectual-property matters, inheritance or co-ownership disputes. Often an agreement is worth more than a court victory.

Family Mediation

Families in crisis are perhaps those who need mediation the most. It protects people from the exposure of public litigation and helps them find a solution that respects everyone’s needs, especially the children’s. It covers, among other things: custody and place of residence, contact, child and spousal support, use of the family home, and division of property. The process is conducted by Anna Danali, who has specialist training in family mediation and is registered in the Special Registry of Family Mediators.

Two parents came to court over custody of their son. The judge asked each of them whether they loved their child; “of course,” they replied, almost offended. Then he said: “You know what? I don’t love your child; today is the first time I have seen him. And yet, you came to me to decide what you will do with your own child”.

Cadastral Mediation

This concerns disputes around the Land Registry (Cadastre) and real estate. The process is conducted by certified mediators registered in the Special Registry of Cadastral Mediators of the Ministry of Justice, with special training in property law and the cadastral regime.