When it comes to resolving cases, you need a serious attorney to facilitate the mediation process. Jeff Kilgore, an attorney with 35 years of dispute resolution experience, invites your inquiries. Test.

He deals with family law, civil, construction, personal injury, probate real estate and security disputes in mediation and arbitration. Whatever your situation may be, he facilitates disputants’ issues as an impartial dispute resolution professional providing a confidential forum so that the parties may reach an agreement.

Jeff Kilgore offers a free, no-obligation initial consultation to explain the mediation or arbitration process that could change your future. He is available to answer your questions honestly and with integrity. With his combined knowledge and experience, he offers an environment where your disputes may be resolved in a timely and efficient manner. Your dispute can benefit from Dispute Resolution prior to trial or even prior filing litigation a case in court. . Please call Jeff Kilgore at 409-939-6924, located in Galveston at 2501 65th Street, Suite B or for more information, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

WHAT IS MEDIATION?

    Mediation is a form of settlement conducted and assisted by an impartial attorney/person trained in the art of settling disputes.  Unlike arbitration and other kinds of alternative dispute resolution, mediation is non-adjudicatory. The mediator makes no findings of fact or law, whether binding or non-binding.

    The mediation process, a private meeting, is comprised of several stages.  First, all parties, and their counsel meet with the mediator in general session.  During this session, the mediator explains the process and sets forth the ground rules.  Afterward, each attorney outlines his or her clients' theory of the case and the legal and factual issues.  The clients are encouraged to speak, but are not required to do so.  The mediator asks clarifying questions and determines areas of agreement.

    After the general session, the parties separate to different conference rooms for private meetings called caucuses or private conferences, the second stage of mediation.  These caucuses are confidential.  Nothing said to the mediator during a caucus can be repeated outside the caucus except by permission of the party.  This confidential meeting allows counsel and the parties to express matters that he or she would be unwilling to state in the presence of the other party and their counsel.  At this stage, the mediator, the party and counsel undertake a candid discussion of risks, the party's interests, generate options, and look at settlement flexibility, and strengths and weaknesses of the case.  During the caucus stage, the mediator will facilitate negotiations between the parties, conveying settlement offers back and forth and provide insight based on experience to help the parties evaluate their case and position.  A reality check is sometimes necessary to help the parties clarify and narrow the issues of the complaint or dispute. 

    When it appears that a consensus has been reached, the mediator assists the parties in memorializing the essential terms of the agreement, which is signed by each party.  This signed agreement is binding on the parties. 

    The entire proceeding is privileged and confidential.  Indeed, the law prohibits the mediator or any party telling the court anything said during the mediation.  At most, the mediator may report the case did or did not settle.

 WHAT IS FAMILY MEDIATION?

    Mediation is a form of settlement conducted and assisted by an impartial attorney trained in the art of settling disputes. Unlike arbitration and other kinds of alternative dispute resolution, mediation allows the parties to arrive at their own settlement. The mediator makes no findings.

    The mediation process, a private meeting, may have several stages.  First, the parties meet with the mediator in general session. Usually this meeting is without the attorneys being present, but on call if the party desires to discuss an issue with their attorney.  During this session, the mediator explains the process and sets forth the ground rules. The parties have an opportunity to discuss their concerns and the issues that are present in the dispute.   The parties are encouraged to speak openly to each other.  The mediator asks clarifying questions and determines areas of agreement.

    After the first session, the parties may separate into different conference rooms for private meetings called caucuses or private conferences, The mediator will try to facilitate as much option building and communication as possible prior to entering into this the second stage of mediation.  These caucuses, if held, are confidential.  Nothing said to the mediator during a caucus can be repeated outside the caucus except by permission of the party.  This confidential meeting allows the parties to express matters that he or she would be unwilling to state in the presence of the other party and their counsel.  At this stage, the mediator, the party and counsel, if present, undertake a candid discussion of risks, the party's interests, generate further options and look at settlement flexibility, and strengths and weaknesses of the case.  During the caucus stage and when the parties are together, the mediator will facilitate negotiations between the parties, allowing the parties and their council, if present, to search for solutions sometimes not available in a trial or hearing. The mediation process is flexible and resolutions are sometimes reached outside the structure of the Family Code.

    The mediator may also provide insight based on experience to help the parties evaluate their case and positions, as well as facilitating the parties to look at the best interest of the children.  A reality check is sometimes necessary to help the parties clarify and narrow the issues present in the complaint or dispute. The parties quite often must continue to communicate after their divorce or dispute is resolved and mediation is a good opportunity to continue or start this communication process.

    When it appears that a consensus has been reached, the mediator assists the parties in memorializing the essential terms of the agreement, which each party signs after their attorney has had an opportunity to review the agreement.  This signed agreement is binding on the parties.

    The entire proceeding is privileged and confidential. The law prohibits the mediator or any party telling the court anything said during the mediation. The mediator only reports the case did or did not settle.

 BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

   JEFF KILGORE has always been committed to helping others find a resolution to their problems and disputes.  His ability to obtain results has been accomplished in his 35+ years in the areas of civil trial law, family law, criminal defense, personal injury law and as a public defender, mediator, volunteer the with C.I. S.  Programs in Galveston Schools, HOST programs, debate coach, and served on the committee for a Public Pool in Galveston, Texas. He is father to three children and grandfather to two little girls.  He has also worked as a real estate agent, with Federal Reserve Bank and in the construction industry before becoming a lawyer in 1973.

    Jeff attended North Texas State University He graduated with honors with a B.B.A. in Finance in 1970.  He then received his law degree from the University of Houston in June 1973 and was admitted to the Texas State Bar in April 1973.  Since June of 1973, he has tried over 64 cases to a jury verdict .To better serve his clients in Mediation and Arbitration Jeff has also completed a Graduate Certificate in Dispute Resolution at U of H School of Business in 1998 and has continued to take advanced training in mediation and arbitration including the training to become a Chartered Institute of Arbitrator Fellow in International Law.

    He is married to Mary Russell Kilgore and has three children, Chris, age 36, Adam, age 34, and Kelsey, age18 and two grandchildren Tierney age 9 and Aislynn age 6.  He shares interests with his family including photography, bicycling, scuba diving, and offshore sailboat cruising and racing and cruising in Galveston Bay to enjoy the bird and wild life.  He has had a private pilot license and has an interest in sports car racing. 

Educational Background: BBA North Texas State University Finance 1970; Law Degree University Houston Law Center 1973, University of Houston Graduate Certificated Certificate in Conflict Resolution,

Memberships: A.A. White Conflict Resolution Institute. ACR Houston, Texas State Bar ADR Section Board member., Texas Mediation Association,  Past member American Arbitration Assoc. ,Attorney Association of  Mediators , Mediators’ Association of Galveston County(Past President  current Treasurer.), Mediation Services Board of Galveston County Texas (Board Chairman)

Mediation Lists: NASD/FINRA Resolutions Board Arbitrator Panel and Mediation Panel Harris County (Houston) Galveston County Mediation Panels, southern district of Texas Federal Courts

Training: Mediation, Family Mediation, Risk Analysis, Criminal Mediation, Facilitative, Transitional Mediation. University Lecturer and Trainer in Mediation

"Mediation is the intervention into a dispute or negotiation of an acceptable, impartial, neutral third party who has no authoritative decision making power to assist contesting parties to voluntarily reach their own mutually acceptable settlement of issues or disputes."  Christopher Moore, "The Mediation Process".