MEDIATION WORKS!
JOHN T. OUDERKIRK, JR., A.B., J.D., D.D.(h.c.)
116 HIGH STREET, SUITE 112
WESTERLY, RI 02891-1891
401.932.4800
jouderkirk@mediation-works.net
Mission
To promote the resolution of personal, professional and family conflicts through mediation.
Profile
John T. Ouderkirk, Jr. is a trained mediator with specific training in divorce and family mediation.
Prior to training as a mediator, Mr. Ouderkirk was (and still is) an Attorney licensed in Massachusetts practicing in family and child welfare law. After 20 years in the litigation field, he began to recognize that there are better methods to resolve family problems and interpersonal disputes than resorting to the adversarial court system.
Mr. Ouderkirk is affilliated with the professional mediation associations listed as links below. Please visit these sites to learn more about the benefits of mediation.
Information
Mediation can be a successful alternative to litigation in many instances. In the mediation process, individuals work cooperatively to achieve agreement as to the terms of their divorce and custody arrangements. This means that the terms of their separation are created by the individuals themselves.
Mediation also allows individuals to create resolutions to their personal disputes which address their own personal needs. Mediation gives people the ability to own and control the decision-making.
Mediation can also facilitate dispute resolution in virtually every area of conlict between people, whether in the workplace, the marketplace, or the neighborhood.
In litigation, the individuals surrender ownership of the process to the litigators, and control of the outcome to a judge. While some people or disputes require the intervention of outside people, many times the ultimate result of dispute resolution is best controlled by the individuals themselves.
Mediation is entirely voluntary. No reslution can be reached unless all the individuals involved are in agreement. Any person can walk away from mediation at any time.
The results obtained through litigation are not voluntary, they are imposed by an outside decision-maker.
Products/Services
We offer a wide range of mediation services including divorce, custody of children, support and financial agreements, workplace disputes, family issues, and interpersonal conflicts.
Under both Massachusetts and Rhode Island state law, all communications made during mediation sessions are confidential.
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