Disclaimer

Legal Advice/Information: Westhoff Mediation Services, LLC is not able to provide any legal advice or counsel. The mediator(s) at Westhoff Mediation Services, LLC are not lawyers and therefore can only give broad legal information to the parties if asked. Because of this, ALL parties are strongly encouraged to obtain legal counsel at any point during the mediation process - especially before signing the agreement. If it is decided the parties do not want to seek legal counsel before signing, then it is known that Westhoff Mediation Services, LLC cannot be to blame if suddenly the signed agreement desires to be amended due to new legal knowledge. Nothing on Westhoff Mediation Services, LLC website, www.westhoffmediation.com, is to be taken as legal advice by any one in any way. Everything listed on the website is personal knowledge of the mediator(s) and is not to be reflected as legal advice. 

Mediation Termination: At any point during the mediation process (including but not limited to: intake, consultation, orientation), the mediator has the right to decline or terminate the mediation altogether for any reason. If up to 30 minutes of the mediation is conducted and then concluded prematurely by the mediator, the parties are entitled to a refund of half (50%) of the overall mediation fees. If more than 30 minutes of the mediation is conducted and then concluded prematurely by the mediator, none of the parties are entitled to a refund. Any payments agreed to or processed by the parties to Westhoff Mediation Services, LLC at that point are nonrefundable. If at any point any party would like to terminate the session prematurely, neither party is entitled to a refund regardless of how much time was spent in the mediation session. 

Payment: All payments must be made in accordance with the Agreement to Mediate. A nonrefundable deposit of $50 is required to secure a session on the books, but will be deducted from your overall mediation fee at the end. Westhoff Mediation Services, LLC sends invoices after the session(s) and takes payment through QuickBooks either in person or online. Cards accepted are Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. Also accepted is Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.

Liability: Westhoff Mediation Services, LLC and its mediators are not liable or responsible for any financial, legal, or personal conflicts or issues that may arise during the mediation process or once an agreement is signed by the parties. All parties are responsible for their own conflicts or issues outside the mediation. The mediator’s role in the party-mediator relationship is done once the agreement is finalized and signed. All parties involved are encouraged to seek their own counsel to be present at any point in the mediation process.  

Parties cannot come back to put blame on or sue Westhoff Mediation Services, LLC due to the contents of an agreement, or for the lack of an agreement. Westhoff Mediation Services, LLC also cannot be sued for anything said during the mediation session, especially due to its confidential nature. If needed, the mediator may use any information from the mediation session to defend themselves if need be. Anything included in an agreement is 100% agreed upon by the parties, the mediator’s only role in agreement writing is the writing portion. The only items included in the agreement are produced by the parties, not the mediator.  If an agreement was not reached, parties cannot then contact the mediator days/weeks/months/years later stating they want an agreement written. If an agreement is sought after a completed mediation session/process, the parties must all agree to come back to mediation and participate in another mediation session and pay the appropriate fees. This is also applicable to parties who want to amend their already-in-place agreements, all parties must agree to come back to mediation and pay the fees.