PREPARATION MAKES MEDIATION WORK

1. Know what your current situation is.
   
   1. Financial
      1. Do you know your current income and expense?
      2. Do finances play a part in the dispute?
      3. Do you need a loan or assistance from another person/agency?
      4. Is there something you would like to ask the other person to change?
         
   2. Legal
      1. Do you understand your legal rights?
      2. Has law enforcement and/or the court intervened on the dispute?
         • If yes, do you understand where the case is in the process?
         • If no, are they likely to intervene?
      3. Have you consulted an attorney about your rights?
      4. What are th positive and negative potentials?
         
   3. Social
      1. Have you talked with another party?  Can you effectively communicate with them?
      2. Do you see the other party as the enemy or a bad person?
      3. Has the other party initiated contact with you?  Has their attorney initiated contact with you?
      4. Is continuing the relationship crucial?  for you?  for your family?
         
   4. Emotional
      1. Are you angry, frustrated, or confused about this conflict?  other feelings?
      2. What will you feel if you do not get what you want in this case?
      3. How are family members or close associates feeling?
      4. What do you think the other party is feeling?
         
   5. Family
      1. Have you shared your concerns and feelings with your spouse or family members affected by this dispute?
      2. Does your spouse or family member agree with your approach?
2. Know what you want to do to solve the conflict.
   1. To keep things as they are now
   2. To change specifically to comport to your position/goals
   3. To end the stress
   4. To restore the positive relationship
   5. To end the relationship
      
3. Know if you can get what you want
   1. What will you have to do to make this work?
   2. Can you do what it takes?  Will you do what it takes?
   3. What will the other party have to do to make this work?
   4. Can the other party do this?  Will the other party do what it takes?
   5. What happens if your assumptions do not work?
      
4. What are other options if you cannot obtain what you want?
   1. What would be the next best thing?
   2. What is minimum you can accept or need?
   3. What happens if you accept less than you need?
   4. Will legal assistance help?  Other assistance?
   5. Will time help?  Will time delay or hinder?
   6. Do you need additional assistance - for emotional overload?
   7. Has your spouse of family proposed something different?
   8. Will talking help?