The parties review and execute The Electronic Courthouse Retainer and Rules of Procedure. They set out the Rules governing the dispute resolution process and their contract with The Electronic Courthouse.

The Retainer and Rules of Procedure are in the Secure Client Workroom on The Electronic Courthouse Web site. They are carefully reviewed by each party. The Retainer sets out the agreement between each party and The Electronic Courthouse. The Rules set out the procedures governing their resolution process. The parties choose The Electronic Courthouse's unique stepped approach that combines the best of mediation and arbitration. The parties have learned that most cases will settle through mediation and that parties have much higher rates of satisfaction when they are able to resolve their matters themselves with the assistance of an Electronic Courthouse Resolution Professional.

However, if the parties are not able to reach agreement, the Resolution Professional will "step up" the process to arbitration, to ensure that the parties get the final binding decision they are seeking.

The Rules address other important issues like rights of appeal and number of participants. The parties may agree to different terms and submit the amended contract to The Electronic Courthouse. Otherwise, the Rules that our clients overwhelmingly prefer are clearly spelled out.

The Retainer also sets out the parties' contract with The Electronic Courthouse. Each pays 1/2 the fee but it may be re-apportioned as a term of their settlement or the arbitrator's Decision. Now the parties are ready to move to the next step.

Step 1
Referral 

Step 2
Intake

Step 3
Contract

Step 4
Input