Ten Questions to Ask Before You Choose a Mediator

Certification, experience, cost, safety, preparation, and what happens after an impasse: the questions worth asking before you book a session.

In this guide

1. The questions that matter
2. Warning signs
3. Why local experience helps
4. About our mediator

The questions that actually matter

1. Are you certified, and for what? North Carolina certifies mediators separately for superior court civil actions, family financial settlements, and matters before the Clerk of Superior Court. South Carolina certifies family court and circuit court mediators. Ask which certifications apply to your case.
2. How often do you mediate cases like mine? A custody case, a construction defect claim, and an estate dispute call for different instincts.
3. Are you a lawyer, and does that matter here? A mediator cannot give legal advice to either side. But a mediator who has handled these cases in court can ask better questions about how a judge might see an issue.
4. What does it cost, and who pays? Ask for the hourly rate, any administrative fee, the expected length, and how the fee is split. If the court appoints the mediator in a North Carolina family financial case, the rules set the rate.
5. How do you handle high conflict or safety concerns? Separate rooms, virtual sessions, staggered arrivals, and screening should all be available.
6. Will we be in the same room? You should have a choice.
7. What do you need from us beforehand? A mediator who sends a document checklist and asks for a short summary is a mediator who intends to finish in one session.
8. Who writes the agreement? Ask whether terms are drafted and signed at the session, and what still has to be done afterward.
9. What is your availability? If your court order has a completion deadline, confirm the mediator can meet it.
10. What happens if we do not settle? Ask whether the mediator will stay involved afterward. Many cases settle in the days following a session.

Warning signs

Be cautious with a mediator who guarantees an outcome, who gives one side legal advice, who pressures a party to sign, or who cannot explain how confidentiality works. Mediation depends on neutrality; anything that undermines it undermines the agreement you sign.

Why local experience helps

A mediator who knows the Charlotte region understands the things that decide practical questions: how long an I-77 commute takes at 5:30, that Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Fort Mill calendars do not match, how Stanly County land gets divided, and how cases move in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Iredell, Stanly, and York County courts.

About our mediator

Chris Adkins is an attorney and certified mediator in North Carolina and South Carolina, with offices at 9620 Sherrill Estates Road in Huntersville and 217 W. Main Street in Locust. He mediates family, civil, business, and estate disputes, in person and by secure video. Call or text (704) 231-5762, or read more about his background.

Talk with a mediator about your situation

Mediation Solutions helps families, businesses, and litigants in Huntersville, Charlotte, Locust, Albemarle, Rock Hill, and Fort Mill resolve disputes privately. Call or text to ask about scheduling, fees, and whether mediation fits your case.

☎ Call (704) 231-5762Text (704) 231-5762Send a Message

Offices: 9620 Sherrill Estates Road, Huntersville, NC 28078 and 217 W. Main Street, Locust, NC 28097. Virtual sessions available.

Frequently asked questions

Does a mediator have to be a lawyer?

No. North Carolina certifies both attorney and non-attorney mediators for some programs. What matters is certification, training, and experience with your type of case.

Can a mediator give us legal advice?

No. A mediator is neutral. Each party should consult their own attorney about legal questions.

How do we split the fee?

Usually equally, unless the parties agree otherwise or a court orders a different split.

Keep reading

• About Chris Adkins
• Mediation FAQ
• How to prepare for mediation
• Schedule a mediation

This article provides general information about mediation in North Carolina and South Carolina. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. As a mediator, Christopher Adkins serves as a neutral and does not represent or advise either party. Statutes and court rules change, so consult a licensed attorney about your specific situation.