Mediation Associates^sm

Office location: 4882 E. Townsend Ave., Fresno, CA
Mailing address:
1717 S. Chestnut Ave. #2202, Fresno, CA 93702
Telephone: 559-453-3418
Fax 559-252-4800
email: mediate@fresno.edu
Outside the Fresno, CA metropolitan area call 1-800-909-8677.

We can't get along, so how can we work it out?

Mediation is not magic. It can be hard work. But mediation allows you to be in control of your own life. You, rather than a judge, decide your future. Mediation can also work toward reconciliation. People who have been fighting for years can successfully mediate their issues. The key to success is the mediator.

Mediators create a safe place where you can each say what is really on your mind. Most couples with marital troubles or business partners in conflict have lost sight of what they really need. The mediator helps each person present their needs in a way which the other can hear.

Your goals can be met. The mediator helps you create an agreement with which each of you can be satisfied.

Do I need a lawyer?

Lawyers play an important role in mediation. Your lawyer can advise you what to expect if you take your case to court. Your lawyer can also review the agreement you reach through mediation to ensure that everything is covered, and that you fully understood it. You do not need a lawyer before you can have a successful mediation, but it is often helpful to discuss your case with a lawyer before the mediation to avoid misunderstandings and to have an idea of what would be reasonable.

If the other party handled your business or finances, it's a good idea to discuss the case with a lawyer before mediation. Your mediator will expect you to take the final agreement to a lawyer before you sign.

Is Mediation legal?

Courts encourage people to settle their own cases. With the backlog of cases most courts experience today, having a court decide your case can be slow and frustrating. A mediated agreement is a legally binding contract which can be enforced by a court. If you agree to divorce, for example, the agreement is included as part of the court's order.

What does mediation cost?

We charge $100-$240 per hour, per mediator or facilitator, depending on his or her experience, divided among the parties by agreement. Divorce mediation is at the higher rate since it uses our attorney mediator who has over 30 years of family law experience. For larger projects we can negotiate daily rates which range downward from $2,000. (For those unable to afford these rates, the Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies at Fresno Pacific University has a mediation clinic. Ask for information.) We accept Visa and Mastercard. Some cases are finished in two or three hours, while others take much longer. Mediation is usually very inexpensive compared to litigation. Mediated agreements don't often require much enforcement, compared to the orders a court makes. When people agree to something they usually follow through.

How do I get started with mediation?

If both of you are working with attorneys, ask your attorney to suggest mediation to the other attorney. If no attorneys are involved, send a copy of this brochure to your spouse. We are happy to meet with both of you to describe the process. Sometimes a counselor or clergy person can act as a go-between to suggest mediation. Call Mediation Associates^sm for suggestions on how best to approach your situation.

What is Mediation Associates^sm ?

A group of trained, experienced, professional mediators. Some of us are lawyers, some are social workers, some are business people, some are educators. We match your case with the right mediator. Information on some of our mediators is available here. Mediation Associates^sm is affiliated with Fresno Pacific University, a Christian liberal arts university located in Fresno, California. Our central offices are located on the FPU campus in the Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies (PACS). By sharing staff and space with PACS, Mediation Associates^sm is able to provide maximum service at minimum cost.

What types of cases does Mediation Associates^sm handle?

Mediation Associates^sm has handled most types of civil case, from divorce to racial discrimination in employment cases. Business cases where the parties want to maintain good relationships work very well in mediation. Church conflicts are a specialty area for us. A description of our various services is available by clicking here.

Mediation is probably right for your case.

The first thing we do when you call is help decide whether mediation is the right thing for you. Both sides must cooperate for mediation to work. Don't be too quick to decide that your opponent won't cooperate. Once it is explained, mediation sounds good to most people.

Does mediation always work?

No, but it works more often than not. If you cannot come to an agreement through mediation, the mediator helps you decide what to do next. As more people learn about mediation, it is more likely to work. We provide seminars on conflict resolution and training for managers as part of our service.

Call Mediation Associates^sm
559-453-3418 or

send e-mail.

Outside the Fresno, CA metropolitan area call
1-800-909-8677.

Mediation Associates^sm in Fresno, CA, serves clients throughout Central California, including the cities of Bakersfield, Bass Lake, Chowchilla, Clovis, Coalinga, Coarsegold, Corcoran, Delano, Dinuba, Exeter, Farmersville, Firebaugh, Fowler, Hanford, Huron, Kerman, Kingsburg, Lemoore, Lemoore Naval Air Station, Lindsay, Madera, Mendota, Merced, North Fork, Oakhurst, Orange Cove, Parlier, Porterville, Reedley, Sanger, San Joaquin, Selma, Tulare, Visalia, Woodlake, as well as Fresno County, Kern County, Kings County, Madera County, Merced County, Tulare County, Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, and Yosemite National Park. We have provided services nationwide and around the world.