Mediation is a collaborative process where people, who disagree about an issue, meet with a trained mediator to have their views heard while working together to reach a mutually agreeable resolution to their dispute.

Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution process approved by the Supreme Court of Virginia. In mediation, a mediator facilitates communication between disputing parties and enables them to make decisions that result in a win-win resolution. The process is confidential and private and final written agreements, when reached, are binding and enforceable in court. Click here for more information about mediation.

Community Mediation Center Mediation Services

The Community Mediation Center (CMC) has several programs and over 60 Virginia Supreme Court certified volunteer mediators to help you creatively solve your problems. Click here to see what people who have gone through our mediations have said.

Mediation offers Many Benefits to Those Involved in Disputes:

• Save Time and Money. Many disputes are rarely settled in a single court visit. Attorney fees, time off from work, and other costs of going to court can be expensive. Mediation is an inexpensive alternative to court and can be set for times that fit the parties' schedules.
• Get to the Root of the Real Issues. In most cases the subject of the dispute is a cover for underlying, but unmentioned concerns. Using mediation, the parties can identify and address the relevant issues at the same time, thus diminishing the number of future conflicts.
• Control of the Outcome. Often, judges must make decisions quickly with a limited amount of information. Consequently, significant non-legal factors may not be considered in the judgment. In mediation, the parties collaborate in reaching an agreement that's satisfies everybody's needs and concerns.

For Current Plaintiffs and Defendants- Mediation can be used in conjunction with a pending court case. Click on the links below for more information about how to mediate your pending court action.

• Civil Court- Civil Court petitions may be referred to CMC for resolution by the courts or at the request of the parties.
• Criminal Court- Citizen complaints and minor misdemeanor cases may be mediated by order of the court or at the request of the parties.
• Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court- Mediation is available for pending custody, divorce, visitation disputes and in some minor juvenile offenses.
• Circuit Court - Resolve high dollar cases, complex situations or appeals from lower courts.

For the Community

• General Mediation- CMC mediation service for conflicts of non-related individuals such as landlord/tenant, neighborhood issues, warrant in debt, employee disputes, etc.
• Conflict Coaching - Work one-on-one with a conflict resolution specialist and learn to address difficult issues with neighbors, coworkers, or family members.
• Workplace, Businesses and Other Organizations- CMC offers mediation services and customized conflict resolution training programs to help settle disputes within the workplace, businesses and organizations.
• Faith-Based Mediation- CMC offers a mediation services specifically tailored to address conflicts that arises within the religious community.

For Families- CMC offers a variety of services to resolve family disputes. Click on the links below for more information about mediation for families.

• Family Conflict Mediation- General information for how mediation helps families.
• Separation and Divorce Mediation- Mediators can help you separate assets and debt.
• Child Custody/Parenting Arrangements Mediation- CMC offers dedicated mediation services for those involved in divorce or child custody disputes.
• Family Group Conferencing- Family Group Conferencing is a specialized form of mediation used to solve family based problems that affect the community.
• Child Dependency Mediation- Child Dependency Mediation is a CMC and Department of Social Services to reunite families while creating a safe environment for children.
• For Military Families- CMC provides mediation services at discounted rates for military families.
• Collaborative Law- The CMC works with the Virginia Institute of Collaborative Practitioners to to create a collaborative approach to litigation.
• Conflict Coaching - Work one-on-one with a conflict resolution specialist and learn to address difficult issues with other family members.
• Co-Parenting Training - Learn to raise happy and healthy children from two homes.

For Youth- CMC offers several mediation programs designed specifically for kids.

• Peer Mediation- Youth mediators facilitate conflict resolution sessions for other youths involved in disputes.
• Conflict Resolution Workshop- Customized workshop for youth aged 12 and older that discusses conflict resolution, parent-teen relationships, communication skills, and more.
• Peace Corner Workshops- Peace Corner Workshops teach children aged 11 and younger how to resolve conflict without violence.
• Developing Youth Peacemakers Staff Workshop- Workshop for educators and counselors with information on how to implement peer mediation and peace corner workshops

Volunteer Opportunities

• Conflict Coaching- With Conflict Coaching a neutral “coach” and an individual collaborate to assess conflicts and develop a plan for dealing with conflict in the future.  Learn how you can become a Conflict Coach and be a part of our Healthy Families Initiative.
• General and Family Mediators- The CMC is always looking for volunteers to who are willing to become court certified mediators for Juvenile and Domestic Relations and for General District matters.  JDR & GDC mediators facilitate discussion between families, friends, neighbors, coworkers, consumers and businesses to help them reach an agreement on issues such as a final separation agreement, custody, visitation, support, contract dispute, debt, unmet expectations and other concerns which people in conflict need to address.  Click on the above link for certification requirements.

Resolving Conflicts | Building Relationships | Empowering People