{"id":368966,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:05","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit\/resolution-before-trial-settlement-alternative-dispute.html"},"modified":"2026-05-20T12:58:27","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T17:58:27","slug":"resolution-before-trial-settlement-alternative-dispute","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit\/resolution-before-trial-settlement-alternative-dispute.html","title":{"rendered":"Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Settlements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Settlements<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Samuel Strom, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Some arguments are too complex or contentious to work out through a simple conversation. But filing a lawsuit might not be the best solution for all cases. Instead, you can consider settling the issue through an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) method. ADR includes a range of options, including mediation, arbitration, and settlement negotiations.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Most parties to a civil case settle their dispute before it reaches a trial. Some parties negotiate a settlement on their own. Sometimes,\u00a0negotiation will not lead to a\u00a0satisfactory settlement. In that case, the parties may need the assistance of legal professionals and neutral third parties.<\/p>\n

If the parties to a civil case cannot reach a settlement agreement on their own,\u00a0they can engage in one of\u00a0several different methods of\u00a0alternative dispute resolution<\/a>\u00a0(ADR). The most common methods of ADR include arbitration and mediation.<\/p>\n

This article provides information about several ADR methods and why parties might choose one versus the others in a civil case. It also provides information about whether the settlement negotiations bind the parties if they do not settle. But when you’re considering how to best handle a growing dispute, get insight from a litigation and ADR lawyer<\/a> before making a decision.<\/p>\n

Benefits of Settlements and ADR<\/h2>\n

There are several benefits to resolving a case through ADR<\/a>, including the following:<\/p>\n