Many people assume that litigation is the only way to resolve a difficult dispute. But there is another, often better alternative — mediation.

Mediation is a voluntary process between two or more parties by which a neutral party called a mediator facilitates a conversation between the parties without judging the merits of the case. It is a straightforward dispute resolution tool, and what takes place in mediation is confidential.

Founded in 1984, the Martha’s Vineyard Mediation Program, also known as the Martha’s Vineyard Center for Dispute Resolution, is a court-approved, not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that provides dispute resolution services to the residents of Martha’s Vineyard. Services for court-related cases that are referred by the Edgartown district court, the probate court and the superior court on the Island are provided free of charge.

The organization’s trained mediators also work on what are called community cases. Typically, these are disputes involving neighbors, landlords and tenants, homeowners and contractors, business owners, domestic relations, parents and children, partners, spouses and elder affairs. Although it has been helping Vineyarders seek win-win resolution of disputes for over 30 years, the mediation program is not exactly a household name.

All community (not court-referred) case services are provided at low cost based on a sliding income scale. The mediation program receives a small grant from the commonwealth which supports about 70 per cent of its budget. Remaining funds must be raised locally to keep the program going

The program is a great fit for a small Island like the Vineyard. It’s great for disputes where two or more parties would like to or need to maintain ongoing relationships (i.e., you’ll run into them in the supermarket).

Liza Hanley Williamson, clerk-magistrate of the Edgartown district court, calls the program a vital partner in justice in the Edgartown court, as well as an important tool for the entire community.

A mediator can help parties to a dispute reach a mutual agreement and ensures that all participants are heard. Unlike litigation where people take positions, mediators help identify people’s common interests. Mediation is an interest-oriented process that takes an economical and practical approach to dispute resolution.

The Martha’s Vineyard Mediation Program office is located at 155 State Road in Vineyard Haven, and can be reached at www.mvmediation.org (email info@mvmediation.org) or by calling 508-693-2999. Eric Vernon Turner is an attorney and a member of the mediation program board of directors.