Judicaid's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Judicaid?

Judicaid is an online mediation platform that helps people resolve disputes without the stress and uncertainty of a court trial. Our neutral AI mediator communicates privately with each side, sharing information back and forth to guide the parties toward a compromise of the dispute that feels fair enough for both sides to agree to a resolution without court intervention.

Does the Judicaid mediator decide who wins or loses like a judge or a court does?

No, our mediator does not "decide" anything and there are no losers. Judicaid acts as a neutral communication bridge to help people creatively discuss how they might be able to resolve their dispute without having to directly communicate with each other.

What types of disputes can be mediated through Judicaid?

Judicaid can be used for almost any dispute between two sides, but it was designed most specifically for court-ordered mediation of small claims-type disputes, such as:

What if I already have a court case and/or trial date pending?

No problem. Judicaid works just fine before or after a court case is filed. If you have an upcoming trial date and need more time, courts can grant a request for a short continuance if the reason is to allow for a Judicaid mediation to occur. For California cases, you can find a continuance request form here:https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/jcc-form/SC-150

Do both people have to agree to use Judicaid?

Courts can order parties to mediate their legal dispute through Judicaid, but without a court order, participation is voluntary. When one party opens a claim for mediation, Judicaid will send an automated invitation for the other party to join. If the other party opts not to participate, no charges will be incurred by either side.

How much does it cost?

While traditional mediation can cost thousands of dollars, some courts and legal aid organizations have subscriptions that allow litigants to use Judicaid's mediation services for free. Otherwise, the standard cost for a Judicaid mediation is only $34.99, charged to the initiating party. However, parties who settle their case can agree to split this cost as part of their settlement. If the case does not settle, the initiating party may be able to recover this cost if they prevail in a court trial.

How does it work?

It's as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Each party inputs their description of the case before the mediation begins.

2. Using the case description information, the mediator will start by talking to the claimant about the dispute and then will shuttle back and forth hearing from both sides and sharing information that might help produce a compromise.

3. Once a settlement is reached, the terms are memorialized into a legally binding agreement that is electronically signable through Docusign.

For more detailed information on how Judicaid works:

Can I use Judicaid in another language?

Yes. Judicaid supports multiple languages, and each person may use the language they are most comfortable with.

You can choose a different language using the dropdown bar:

How long does a mediation take?

While court cases can drag on for many months, Judicaid users can reach a resolution in just a matter of hours. The speed of the mediation depends on how quickly each party responds after receiving notification that the mediator is ready to speak with them again. Parties are encouraged to respond as promptly as possible to keep the process moving along efficiently since the other party will be waiting for your response. You can communicate with the mediator anytime and anywhere from your phone or computer, by typing or through voice dictation. Judicaid is specifically designed to help people resolve legal disputes without impacting their busy lives.

Is Judicaid confidential?

Yes. By law, all mediation communications are confidential and are not to be used as evidence in court if a settlement is not reached.

Is Judicaid private and secure?

Yes. Judicaid uses modern security measures, including U.S.-based servers and end-to-end encrypted connections, to protect your communications. Judicaid will never sell user data.

What if we don't reach an agreement?

That's okay. You can still go to court or pursue other options. Trying Judicaid does not take away your right to sue. Generally, people still feel it was helpful to be able to talk through the dispute even if it doesn't settle on Judicaid. Sometimes the Judicaid discussions help people to resolve their conflict at a later time.

Is Judicaid appropriate for cases involving threats or abuse?

No. While the Judicaid mediator is trained to keep communications peaceful and appropriate, it should not be used for situations involving violence, threats, or coercion. If safety is a concern, you can contact your local law enforcement, court or other relevant resource.

Why should I try Judicaid instead of court?

Most users choose Judicaid because it is: