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Mediation Services

Virginia Civil & Family Mediation Services

Helping Clients in Virginia Beach & Beyond Resolve Conflicts 

At J. S. Burton, P.L.C., we understand that legal disputes can be stressful, emotionally draining, and costly. Whether it’s a family matter or a civil disagreement, litigation isn’t always the best way to resolve conflicts. That’s why we offer professional mediation services to help you find effective, amicable solutions without the need for lengthy court battles.

Contact our Virginia mediators online or via phone at (888) 885-9001 to request a consultation. 

Our Virginia Mediation Services for Civil Matters

Disputes in business, contracts, or property can often be resolved more efficiently outside the courtroom. Our experienced civil mediators can guide parties toward fair and balanced agreements on issues such as:

  • Business disputes, including partnership disagreements, contract breaches, or shareholder conflicts.
  • Property disputes, including landlord-tenant issues, boundary disputes, or real estate matters.
  • Workplace conflicts, including employment issues, wrongful termination claims, or discrimination cases.

Our skilled mediators are adept at facilitating productive discussions, ensuring both sides are heard, and helping parties find common ground for resolution.

Virginia Mediation Services for Family Disputes

Our family mediation services focus on reducing conflict and promoting the well-being of all parties involved, especially children. We can assist with the following family mediation cases: 

  • Divorce and separation agreements addressing division of assets, spousal support, and child custody.
  • Parenting plans that create workable arrangements for both parties and that prioritize the needs of the children.
  • Post-divorce modifications that allow for revisions as life circumstances change.
  • Family disputes surrounding estate planning matters, like resolving inheritance disagreements, guardianship, or elder care issues.

Our mediators are trained in conflict resolution techniques and are sensitive to the unique dynamics of family disputes. We aim to create solutions that preserve family relationships while achieving fair outcomes.

Why Is Mediation Advantageous? 

Mediation is a voluntary process that allows both parties to sit down with a neutral third party—the mediator—to work through their differences and come to a mutually acceptable agreement. Unlike traditional litigation, mediation emphasizes collaboration, communication, and creative problem-solving.

Mediation offers people several benefits, including: 

  • Being a cost-effective alternative to traditional litigation: With mediation, clients can avoid the high costs of court proceedings.
  • Offering more confidentiality: While public court cases are matters of public record, discussions and agreements made in mediation sessions are kept private.
  • Leading to faster resolutions: Mediation sessions can lead to quicker outcomes than lengthy trials. 
  • Providing those involved with greater control over outcomes: Clients have a say in the final agreement rather than having decisions imposed by a judge.
  • Helping to preserve relationships: Particularly important in family matters, mediation fosters cooperation and reduces hostility, allowing for better post-dispute relationships.

How Mediation Works: Understanding the Mediation Process

When you work with our legal mediator in Virginia, the stages of the mediation process are as follows: 

  1. Initial Consultation: We begin with a free consultation to discuss your situation and explain how mediation can benefit your case. During this consultation, you can also ask any questions you have about the process, our team, and any of your concerns. 
  2. Mediation Sessions: Our mediator will meet with both parties, either together or separately, to explore solutions.
  3. Agreement Drafting: Once an agreement is reached, our mediator will help draft a legally binding document that outlines the terms.
  4. Implementation: We can help you finalize the agreement and ensure it meets legal standards.

Why Choose J. S. Burton, P.L.C.?

We are backed by decades of legal experience and have been serving clients throughout Virginia since 2005. Our seasoned attorneys can help you determine if mediation is a suitable alternative for you and your case, and should you retain our services, our skilled mediators can facilitate open communication, help identify areas of compromise, and guide you toward a solution that addresses the needs of all involved.

Our Attorneys bring extensive experience in civil and family law, offering clients compassionate guidance through complex legal situations. We are committed to helping clients navigate challenging circumstances with professionalism, fairness, and a focus on achieving dignified outcomes.

Ready to find a peaceful resolution? Call (888) 885-9001 and schedule a consultation with a member of our firm to see how mediation can work for you. 

Opinions That Matter Most

Read What Our Former Clients Have to Say
    "Very professional, friendly, thoughtful, and highly knowledgeable, Fallon expedited preparation and delivery of my documents. Overall, this was an awesome experience"

    I just had a great experience with this firm in preparing my estate planning documents. I needed to update some wishes and also ensure everything is in line for the state of Virginia, as I moved here from Pennsylvania. I worked with Fallon Francesca Whi

    - Wendy V.
    "I would highly recommend him."
    I have met with Mr Burton several times and always found him to be professional and personable
    - Bonnie T.
    "Highly recommended for estate planning"
    We were heard and guided to do the best for our families needs
    - Fred S.
    "Friendly and personable service."
    J S Burton, PLC has helped with my estate planning. All aspects of my trust are clearly defined in an easy-to-understand folder. They coordinated with my financial planner seamlessly. The staff is friendly and personable. I highly endorse J S Burton.
    - Elizabeth M.
    "Thorough, responsive, and knowledgeable. I highly recommend this firm!"
    Thorough, responsive, and knowledgeable. I highly recommend this firm!
    - Krystin R.
    "Truly impressive and caring."
    J S Burton, PLC has been our family's trusted estate planner for over 20 years. Their professionalism, knowledge, and dedication are unmatched. They guide us through complex decisions with ease and clarity, always with a personal approach.
    - Ryan D.
    "Highly skilled and compassionate."
    J S Burton, PLC is an excellent estate planning firm—highly skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced. They listened with great kindness, compassion, and courtesy. All questions were answered, and a perfect estate plan was created. Very happy!
    - Kathy R.
    "Excellent service"
    The service was excellent!
    - Susan B.

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FAQs

  • What estate planning documents should I have?
    A comprehensive estate plan should include the following documents, prepared by an attorney based on in-depth counseling which takes into account your particular family and financial situation:

    A Living Trust can be used to hold legal title to and provide a mechanism to manage your property. You (and your spouse) are the Trustee(s) and beneficiaries of your trust during your lifetime. You also designate successor Trustees to carry out your instructions in case of death or incapacity. Unlike a will, a trust usually becomes effective immediately after incapacity or death. Your Living Trust is "revocable" which allows you to make changes and even to terminate it. One of the great benefits of a properly funded Living Trust is the fact that it will avoid or minimize the expense, delays, and publicity associated with probate.

    If you have a Living Trust-based estate plan, you also need a pour-over will. For those with minor children, the nomination of a guardian must be set forth in a will. The other major function of a pour-over will is that it allows the executor to transfer any assets owned by the decedent into the decedent's trust so that they are distributed according to its terms.

    A Will, also referred to as a Last Will and Testament, is primarily designed to transfer your assets according to your wishes. A Will also typically names someone to be your Executor, who is the person you designate to carry out your instructions. If you have minor children, you should also name a Guardian as well as alternate Guardians in case your first choice is unable or unwilling to serve. A Will only becomes effective upon your death, and after it is admitted by a probate court.

    A Durable Power of Attorney for Property allows your agent to carry on your financial affairs in the event that you become disabled. Unless you have a properly drafted power of attorney, it may be necessary to apply to a court to have a guardian or conservator appointed to make decisions for you during a period of incapacitation. This guardianship process is time-consuming, expensive, emotionally draining and often costs thousands of dollars.

    There are generally two types of durable powers of attorney: a present durable power of attorney in which the power is immediately transferred to your agent (also known as your attorney in fact); and a springing or future durable power of attorney that only comes into effect upon your subsequent disability as determined by your doctor. Anyone can be designated, most commonly your spouse or domestic partner, a trusted family member, or friend. Appointing an agent assures that your wishes are carried out exactly as you want them, allows you to decide who will make decisions for you, and is effective immediately upon subsequent disability.

    The law allows you to appoint someone you trust to decide about medical treatment options if you lose the ability to decide for yourself. You can do this by using a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care or Health Care Proxy where you designate the person or persons to make such decisions on your behalf. You can allow your health care agent to decide about all health care or only about certain treatments. You may also give your agent instructions that he or she has to follow. Your agent can then ensure that health care professionals follow your wishes. Hospitals, doctors and other health care providers must follow your agent's decisions as if they were your own.

    A Living Will informs others of your preferred medical treatment should you become permanently unconscious, terminally ill, or otherwise unable to make or communicate decisions regarding treatment. In conjunction with other estate planning tools, it can bring peace of mind and security while avoiding unnecessary expense and delay in the event of future incapacity.

    Some medical providers have refused to release information, even to spouses and adult children authorized by durable medical powers of attorney, on the grounds that the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, prohibits such releases. In addition to the above documents, you should also sign a HIPAA authorization form that allows the release of medical information to your agents, your successor trustees, your family and other people whom you designate.
  • How do I name a guardian for my children?
    If you have children under the age of eighteen, you should designate a person or persons to be appointed guardian(s) over their person and property. Of course, if a surviving parent lives with the minor children (and has custody over them), he or she automatically continues to remain their sole guardian. This is true despite the fact that others may be named as the guardian in your estate planning documents. You should name at least one alternate guardian in case the primary guardian cannot serve or is not appointed by the court.
  • What does my estate include?

    Your estate is simply everything that you own, anywhere in the world, including:

    • Your home or any other real estate that you own
    • Your business
    • Your share of any joint accounts
    • The full value of your retirement accounts
    • Any life insurance policies that you own
    • Any property owned by a trust, over which you have a significant control
  • Why is it important to establish an estate plan?

    Sadly, many individuals don’t engage in formal estate planning because they don’t think that they have “a lot of assets” or mistakenly believe that their assets will be automatically shared among their children upon their passing. If you don’t make proper legal arrangements for the management of your assets and affairs after your passing, the state’s intestacy laws will take over upon your death. This often results in the wrong people getting your assets as well as higher estate taxes.

    If you pass away without establishing an estate plan, your estate would undergo probate, a public, court-supervised proceeding. Probate can be expensive and tie up the assets of the deceased for a prolonged period before beneficiaries can receive them. Even worse, your failure to outline your intentions through proper estate planning can tear apart your family as each person maneuvers to be appointed with the authority to manage your affairs. Further, it is not unusual for bitter family feuds to ensue over modest sums of money or a family heirloom.