Am I required to come to an agreement with the other party on the day or can I sleep on it?

Most parties who reach an agreement at mediation will sign the agreement on the day so that they have a certain, binding settlement agreement with the other party. However, it is possible to request additional time to reflect on offers.

In most cases, parties who reach an agreement at mediation will complete and sign a settlement agreement with the other party on the day of the mediation. This is then a binding agreement with other party in full and final settlement of the dispute and which can be enforced by either party.

Occasionally, parties want more time to reflect on an proposed settlement before signing. This is possible if the parties agree and the mediator can keep the mediation open for a period of time to allow this to happen. However, the other party can withdraw their offer or walk away during this time period, resulting in no settlement. The mediator would work to try and prevent this from happening, but it is a small risk.