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Types of Cases
Michigan’s Community Dispute Resolution Program centers help people resolve a wide range of conflicts. Mediation provides a neutral, structured space to discuss concerns, understand different perspectives, and work toward solutions that make sense for everyone involved.
Common Types of Cases
Community mediation centers handle many kinds of disputes, including the following:
Guardianship &
Probate Matters
These cases may involve guardianships, conservatorships, trusts, estate administration, or long-term care decisions.
Mediation gives families and other interested parties a structured setting to work through difficult decisions while reducing conflict and preserving relationships when possible.
Restorative
Practices
Restorative practices focus on repairing harm, rebuilding relationships, and strengthening accountability.
Facilitated conversations, peace circles, and restorative conferences can help people understand the impact of their actions, address underlying conflict, and develop meaningful agreements for moving forward.
Landlord-Tenant, Neighborhood, Property & Real Estate
Mediation can help address disputes involving leases, rent, evictions, property boundaries, noise, shared spaces, neighborhood concerns, and real estate matters.
Rather than allowing disagreements to escalate, mediation gives participants an opportunity to discuss the problem directly and work toward practical solutions.
Truancy & School Conflicts
School-based mediation can help resolve conflicts involving students, parents, teachers, administrators, and other members of the school community.
Cases may include attendance concerns, peer conflict, bullying, classroom issues, communication breakdowns, or disagreements between families and school staff.
Domestic Relations, Divorce & Child Welfare
Family mediation helps parents and other family members work through decisions involving divorce, parenting time, custody, child support, and related concerns.
In child welfare matters, mediation can bring families, caseworkers, attorneys, and others together to develop plans that support children’s safety and well-being while encouraging collaborative problem-solving.
Contracts, General Civil & Small Claims
Mediation can help resolve disputes involving money, contracts, services, property, and other civil matters between individuals, businesses, or organizations.
Whether a dispute involves a small claim or a more complex civil matter, mediation can provide an efficient opportunity to reach an agreement without the time and expense of prolonged litigation.
Additional Specialty Services
Michigan’s community mediation network also offers specialized programs designed to address unique needs throughout the state.
Agricultural Mediation
Michigan’s Agricultural Mediation Program helps farmers, landowners, agricultural businesses, agencies, and others resolve agriculture-related disputes.
Mediation may be available for issues involving agricultural loans and credit, leases, farm transitions, conservation programs, crop insurance, neighboring property concerns, and other agricultural matters.
Behavioral Health Mediation
Behavioral Health Mediation provides a structured process for individuals, families, providers, and others navigating conflict related to behavioral health services or care.
A neutral mediator can help participants communicate more effectively, clarify concerns, and work toward solutions that respect the needs and perspectives of everyone involved.