Burgas district court's mediation centre has now handled 100 cases where sides settled disputes out of court, the court says.
Mediation lets two sides work things out on their own, without a judge deciding the case. It's free, informal and confidential.
The mediator stays neutral and doesn't take sides. They don't decide anything for either party — they just help both sides find their own way through. The centre has 15 trained mediators, and the court says they give people a clear picture of their options for reaching a deal without ever setting foot in a courtroom.
The court puts the 100 cases down to the work of its leadership, its judges and its mediation coordinator. It says the numbers show more people are turning to mediation to settle disputes outside court, and calls it a step toward justice that's quicker, cheaper and built around the people involved.
The centre says it will keep telling people what mediation is and what they stand to gain by settling a dispute voluntarily.