Reconciliation – the term details an out-of-court procedure of concluding an agreement between two parties to a pending legal dispute. Reconciliation is the most popular form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Therefore it involves the appointment of a mediator who acts as a legal guide. The mediator advises and assists the parties in communicating, essentially negotiating a settlement after mutual compromises. The mediator does not adjudicate the issues in dispute or to force a compromise. Only the parties, of their own volition, can shift their position in order to achieve a settlement. The result of a successful mediation is called a “settlement.”

The noun compares with “arbitration” and “mediation”, that are synonyms.

See also “Alternative Dispute Resolution”