Southwest Georgia has needed an arbitration and mediation center, and now our office in Thomasville, Georgia is open. We are called the Georgia Center for Arbitration and Mediation (GCAAM), and our newest office is located at 805 South Hansell Street in historic Thomasville, Georgia. We serve the mediation and arbitration needs for the entire part of the state including Valdosta, Albany, Moultrie, Bainbridge, Cairo, Quitman, Camilla, and Tifton, Georgia.
Our ADR Philosophy:
We believe that the traditional legal system causes businesses and individuals too much money, stress, and places too much emphasis on “one winner” and “one loser.” Real life is much more complicated than this, and we believe that there are great alternatives that can resolve almost any issue much more quickly and less expensively. More importantly, alternative dispute resolution, allows the parties to choose the best process for themselves, and it allows for creative, problem-solving solutions. Our goal is to fix problems, change lives, and let business and individuals get back to their own lives.
Thomasville, Georgia Mediators:
Although this office may be new, our mediators are some of the most experienced mediators in Georgia. Some are lawyers with decades of experience in mediation. They have represented businesses and individuals in mediation, but they have also served as third-party neutrals leading mediations and bringing parties into consensus. Every mediator in our office is a trained professional, but not all of them are attorneys. We believe that different mediators have different strengths and sometimes a legal matter just does not need another lawyer involved. Thus, we have other mediators who are experienced in conflict-resolution. We even have native, Spanish speakers as some of our accomplished mediators, and one of our Thomasville mediators is an Episcopal priest who studied at Yale University! Every mediator here has the knowledge, the understanding, and the help you with all of your mediation needs.
Thomasville, Georgia Arbitrators:
Similarly, we have a remarkable group of experienced arbitrators who conduct arbitrations from our Southwest Georgia office in Thomasville. Some of our third-party neutrals serve in both capacities as arbitrators and mediators, but other only conduct arbitration. Regardless, our arbitrators are fair, informed, intelligent neutrals who want to produce a fair and just out some for the parties involved. These “private judges” are efficient, cost-saving alternatives to the traditional legal process. They work with the parties involved in a dispute and their attorneys to move the process quickly and with limited costs. Our Thomasville Arbitrators have a remarkable educational background including Yale University, the University of Virginia, Boston University, and Washington and Lee University to name a few. When you choose an arbitrator from our Thomasville, Georgia office you are getting someone who is well-trained and professionally accomplished.
Practice Areas for our Thomasville, Georgia Mediation & Arbitration Center:
We are a full-service arbitration and mediation center located conveniently in Southwest Georgia and we can handle most any mediation or arbitration need. The Southern Judicial Circuit (covering Brooks, Colquitt, Echols, Lowndes, and Thomas Counties) generally require mediation as a part of their process, and our registered mediators can conduct your mediation timely and effectively. However, we pride than all of our mediators and arbitrators have specific subject-matter knowledge. For example, our neutrals have leaders in their legal fields:
- Construction Disputes
- Accessing Liquidated Damages
- Delaware Statutory Trusts
- Shareholder and Investor Issues
- Domestic Law
- Division of Marital Property
- Child Custody and Visitation
- Banking and Finance Law
- Airline Mediation
- Business Transaction
- Civil matters
Small Claims Mediation & Arbitration in Thomasville, Georgia:
Throughout Southwest Georgia, the civil courts are back-logged, and we have a better solution than waiting and continuing to spend money. In addition to the traditionally mediation services and arbitration services conducted from our Thomasville, Georgia alternative dispute resolution, we also offer a “small-claims” version of mediation and arbitration. For a predictable, flat-fee, you can select on of our trustworthy mediators or arbitrators for even your smaller claims. A construction remodel claim or a business dispute can be solved even if the amount involved does not justify an “open check-book” for services. People come to us from Valdosta, Georgia, Albany, Georgia, Moultrie, Georgia, and Bainbridge, Georgia. If your claim is “small,” please consider using either our mediation services or our arbitration services in Thomasville, Georgia.
How to Use our Mediation Services in Thomasville, Georgia:
If you have a dispute that could benefit from mediation, our services are easy to use. First, you have the choice of coming to our Southwest Georgia for an in-person mediation session or arbitration session; alternatively, you can use our on-line mediation services as well. Second, all you have to do is contact us to choose the best third-party neutral for your legal issue. We keep both the mediation process and the arbitration process simple in order to be help as many people as possible.
How to Use our Arbitration Services in Thomasville, Georgia:
The first step to choosing an arbitrator should include looking at the arbitrator’s experience, education, problem-solving skills, and their subject-knowledge expertise. If this is a contract dispute, you should look at the dispute resolution provision to see what type of arbitration rules are used as well as the notice requirements. To engage our services, you simply need to contact us to state the process. Our fees are published on the website so you know exactly what you can expect. Our arbitrators work serve all of the surrounding counties (including Dougherty, Lowndes, Grady, and Decatur Counties in Georgia) from our Thomasville, Georgia office. They can also come to you in Albany, Valdosta, Columbus, Macon, Atlanta, Augusta, Tifton, Statesboro, and Savanah Georgia. For the most cost-savings, all of our arbitrators can conduct arbitrations on-line through our virtual services.
What is the Difference between Mediation & Arbitration?
Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) offers people a more flexible, less expensive means for resolving their legal problems. At the Georgia Center for Arbitration & Mediation, we offer full mediation services as well as full arbitration services. In addition, we can offer collaborative services when they are needed. Mediation is a voluntary process where a third-party neutral (a “mediator”) uses his or her experience and training to bring the parties into agreement. The parties maintain control of all of the decisions as to whether or not they settle the dispute. If settlement occurs, then the settlement becomes legally binding.
Arbitration is a little bit different: in arbitration, the parties select a some one to hear their legal case like a private judge (an “arbitrator”). The typical arbitration process is similar to a lawsuit, but it is usually much quicker, there is limited (or no!) discovery, and there are significantly fewer motions. The arbitrator makes an award in favor or one party of the other which is legally binding.
If you need our help in resolving a dispute, we have a wonderful selection of arbitrators and mediators working in Southwest Georgia and North Florida to assist you. Please contact us today to see if we are a good fit for your needs.
