Free court-run mediation in Puerto Rico: settling without suing

Alternative dispute resolution refers to methods or processes used to address problems between two or more parties without going before a judge. Rather than imposing a solution, it aims to minimize the conflict’s negative effects and promote dialogue toward a peaceful outcome, so the parties reach an agreement meeting everyone’s interests and needs. Mediation is one of those methods: a confidential, flexible dialogue with the help of an impartial mediator — someone trained to help people reach agreements without favouring either side, who facilitates the process without deciding for the parties. The Judiciary offers it because fostering mechanisms for faster, more efficient and more economical justice — and, where possible, resolving disputes without a lawsuit — is part of its public policy.

The Mediation Centers’ services are voluntary: nobody can be forced to mediate, and either party can come in for guidance. The Judiciary lists the settings where it is used: family matters, such as custody of children or pets, inheritances, divorces, division of assets and care of older adults; community matters, such as disputes between neighbours and communities; and school matters, such as problems among students, teachers and other members of the school community. The method is also commonly used in labour and business contexts. Separately there is formal mediation, governed by applicable laws and regulations under the Regulation on Alternative Methods for Conflict Resolution.

• Participation is voluntary: mediation works because the parties take part willingly to reach an agreement acceptable to all.Verified against the official source
• The Judiciary’s Conflict Mediation Center services are free and confidential.Verified against the official source
• People are attended in the order their request arrives, and are given guidance on the possible alternatives for handling the dispute.Verified against the official source
• For remote service by videoconference, the request is made by email to mediacion@poderjudicial.pr.Verified against the official source

• The Judiciary’s page publishes no document list for going to a Conflict Mediation Center.

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   Step 1: See whether your problem is one that gets mediated

   The Judiciary lists the settings: family — custody of children or pets, inheritances, divorces, division of assets, care of older adults — community — disputes between neighbours and communities — and school — problems among students, teachers and other members of the school community. The method is also commonly used in labour and business contexts.

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   Step 2: Go to a Mediation Center, or ask for videoconference

   The Conflict Mediation Centers sit in the courthouses around Puerto Rico, one in each of the thirteen judicial regions. They receive walk-ins Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. If you prefer or need remote service, they attend by videoconference on request at mediacion@poderjudicial.pr. Contacts by region are in the Judiciary directory.

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   Step 3: They orient you first

   People are attended in the order their request arrives, and are oriented on the possible alternatives for handling the dispute. Beyond mediation itself, the centers guide people who come to the courthouse and, where needed, refer them to other public or private services that might help resolve it.

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   Step 4: How the session works

   Mediation is a confidential, flexible dialogue in which neither party “loses”. Each side gets to present their version of the situation affecting them and takes part voluntarily to reach an agreement that ends the conflict and satisfies both. The mediator is neutral: they run the process, facilitate peaceful dialogue, and neither favour a side nor decide for them.

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   Step 5: If the agreement needs formal weight, ask

   The Judiciary distinguishes mediation generally from formal mediation, which is governed by applicable laws and regulations under the Regulation on Alternative Methods for Conflict Resolution. If what you need is an agreement with formal effect, ask about it at the center before starting.

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   Step 6: Mediation is not the only alternative method

   Other methods seek to resolve conflicts peacefully with an impartial third party, such as arbitration and neutral evaluation. For information on those, the Judiciary routes you to the Bureau of Alternative Methods for Conflict Resolution.

At the Conflict Mediation Centers in courthouses around Puerto Rico, one in each of the thirteen judicial regions, Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Remotely, by videoconference, on request at mediacion@poderjudicial.pr. Contacts by region are in the Judiciary directory.

• Assuming you have to pay: the Judiciary’s Mediation Center services are free.
• Believing mediation is only for before suing: it is also used once a case has begun.
• Thinking the mediator decides: they are neutral, facilitate the dialogue, and neither favour nor rule for the parties.
• Going in expecting the other side to be compelled: participation is voluntary.
• Trying to mediate a violent situation: that is what protection orders are for, not mediation.
• Showing up outside hours: the centers receive walk-ins Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

These are the government pages this guide is based on.

• Poder Judicial de Puerto Rico

  Poder Judicial

  poderjudicial.pr

• Judiciary directory (contacts by judicial region)

  Poder Judicial

  poderjudicial.pr