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Mediation is an informal, cheaper and less aggressive way of solving disputes. Using mediation as a method of solving disagreements means that there are no embarrassing court appearances, where personal issues are brought out into the open court, indeed with mediation, personal issues can remain private and there is no strict code of conduct to follow, so all parties may speak more freely than if they went to court. Confidentiality plays a crucial role in mediation and mediators cannot be forced to give evidence in court unless the case involves actual or threatened criminal acts or child abuse. As part of this confidentiality agreement, mediators are not required to keep their notes once a solution has been found. Unlike pursuing a dispute through the courts, there is no complicated paperwork to file. Costs are also much lower because you do not have to have a lawyer present, nor do you have to pay to file your case or pay witnesses to attend your mediation session. In court the disputants do not have the opportunity to put over their side of the dispute and to consider other options. On top of this, the final decision is imposed upon them by the judge. In mediation both parties can state their case and examine various solutions, which satisfy all disputants fairly.