Perhaps, there may be. In 1995, the Center for Social Gerontology in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with funding from the Hewlett Foundation and the Retirement Research Foundation, developed a national model for adult guardianship mediation. That model is currently being tested in Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Ohio. Mediation is facilitated negotiation. Typically, it is an informal alternative to the adversary system that allows parties to resolve a dispute with a mutually acceptable written agreement.
Sessions take place in a private, confidential setting where all participants have a voice.
The mediator's primary goal is to assist the parties in reaching a mutually acceptable resolution. In many cases, mediation may be more helpful than a formal court hearing where typically all parties cannot be heard and deeply divisive family conflicts cannot be resolved. Cases that have ongoing relationships between the parties, whether business or personal, are often the most suitable for mediation. This statement is premised on the fact that while the dispute may be settled, the relationship may not terminate at the conclusion of the dispute. As a result, cases particularly well suited to a mediated resolution are those involving divorce, employment, closely held corporations, business partnerships, construction contracts, and a variety of commercial contracts.