Status of Arbitrators 

Arbitrators in Rhineland-Palatinate are honorary officials of the state and perform their duties on a voluntary basis. By taking the oath of office, they are bound to absolute confidentiality and impartiality in the performance of their duties.

What are the arbitrator’s duties, and in what cases can they assist you? 

The mediator is available to all citizens of the state capital, Mainz, for out-of-court dispute resolution. The mediator serves as a “mediating authority” in the following private prosecution offenses (criminal offenses) where the legislature has mandated a pre-trial conciliation attempt: 

• Insult
• Assault
• Property damage
• Trespass
• Threats
• Violation of the privacy of correspondence 

You may also ask the mediator to settle disputes in civil matters, such as those involving property rights (rent disputes, claims for damages, etc.), disputes arising from neighbor law, and disputes regarding claims for violation of personal dignity.

Mediation is better than litigation! 

With the arbitrator’s support, the parties find their own solution. Thus, no one “wins” or “loses” here, and there is a high probability that the peace will be lasting. With us, you always win, because 

• your case is handled quickly, even outside of regular business hours.
• The process is cost-effective and worth a try. 

What can you expect? 

You sit at a table with the presiding arbitrator and the person with whom you are in dispute and resolve the matter in question. This is true even if you can no longer speak with the other party. This is because the Rhineland-Palatinate Arbitration Office Regulations require the personal appearance of the parties, at least in criminal matters, and grant arbitrators the authority to impose a fine in the event of non-compliance.

Arbitrators are bound by the oath they have taken to maintain absolute confidentiality and impartiality. In a conversation conducted with empathy, the arbitrator, acting as a “neutral authority,” attempts to bring the parties back into dialogue with one another, resolve the dispute, and reach a settlement. In the event that this proves unsuccessful despite all efforts, you still have the option of seeking judicial assistance.

However: Arbitrators can mediate, but they do not adjudicate! That said, they have a proven success rate of over 50%, and experience shows that a successful mediation leads to greater satisfaction among the originally disputing parties than a decision rendered by a court judgment. You can find useful information about the roles of arbitration offices and arbitration bodies on the website of the Association of German Arbitrators (Overview of Courts, General Neighbor Law, Arbitration Office, Arbitrators).

There are 3 districts for pre-trial decisions:

• Mainz 1 Arbitration Office District (Old Town, Hartenberg/Münchfeld, Neustadt, Oberstadt)
• Mainz 2 Arbitration Office District (Ebersheim, Finthen, Gonsenheim, Laubenheim, Mombach)
• Mainz 3 Arbitration Office District (Bretzenheim, Drais, Hechtsheim, Lerchenberg, Marienborn, Weisenau)