In general consumer and business contracts, state law protects the consumer: a mandatory arbitration clause is “null and void,” and will not prevent the consumer from trying to enforce other provisions of the contract.

Optional arbitration or mediation is especially helpful in settling family conflicts, such as a divorce, where it is important to maintain relationships for the sake of children or others affected by the dispute.

• Benefits of mediation
  
• How divorce mediation works
• Standards of practice for mediators
• Links to other resources

• Roadmap for the arbitration process
• Telephone participation in hearings
• Arbitration laws and statutes
• Request for Arbitration form, http://www.adr.org/si.asp?id=4692
• Workers’ Compensation Request for Reimbursement, https://nysinsurance.adr.org/public/himp_form.pdf

• How to request arbitration
• Schedule for hearings and decisions once the case is filed
• How the claim is reviewed