Arbitration allows for resolution of a dispute outside the court; but unlike mediation, relies upon a third party to decide the matter. The arbitrator listens to each side of the dispute and then issues a decision, which is usually binding upon the parties. Like mediation, arbitration is a voluntary process.

Arbitration is an adversarial process; however, it is not as formal as the court process and allows some flexibility in the application of rules. Wherever possible, Maher Mediation prefers to engage in mediation rather than arbitration because the mediation process is more cooperative and seeks to meet the needs of all parties. However, in those cases where mediation is not possible, arbitration offers a viable alternative to the court system.