In Iowa, there are various different grounds that can lead to a business dispute. Often, prior agreements and contracts have terms that the businesses disagree upon. Disputes can also occur over property matters, billing issues or other disagreements.

What to Do in a Business Dispute?

If a business dispute should happen in Washington, Iowa, you should review any documents that are relevant to the disagreement, especially contracts. These documents may have clauses that must be followed when considering how to resolve the dispute. If there are no relevant documents, or the contracts do not have resolution clauses, then the dispute may need to be taken to court. In trying to discover the best resolution for two parties who have not agreed beforehand on a resolution, Iowa courts will use particular legal principles designed for the situation. Each state has different business laws about dispute resolution and contract law. An Attorney practicing in Washington can help you handle your dispute in accordance with the applicable Iowa laws. With an attorney's knowledge of the law, the parties of a dispute may be able to avoid going to court entirely, since negotiations often proceed more smoothly with representation.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Contracts sometimes have clauses that mandate resolution outside of court. Methods for reaching out of court solutions are often called Alternative Dispute Resolution or ADR. Mediation and Arbitration are included in the concept of ADR. ADR is designed to reach the same conclusion as a court, but without the cost and inconvenience of actually appearing before a judge. Nevertheless, each type of ADR carries its own set of protocol, often involving a neutral third party that resolves the conflict according to the law. If your business dispute is to be resolved by ADR, an attorney familiar with these methods in Washington can counsel you throughout the process and develop the case you will present.