Foreclosure Mediation | Page 2

While everyone is always strongly encouraged to consult with an attorney, you are not required to be represented by an attorney. You may contact the statewide Lawyer Referral and Information Service at (800) 362-9082 to obtain the names of attorneys who may be able to assist you. If you are working with a lawyer, please notify the Program Administrator of their name and contact information, because we cannot hold a mediation session in their absence without their permission.

There is no cost to request mediation or to work with a housing counselor. You and your lender must each pay a one-time fee before the case can be scheduled for a mediation session. Fees vary by county, so please see the Mediation Request Form or other forms specific to your county.

Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, your local courts and your local clerk of circuit courts have worked together to launch The Wisconsin Foreclosure Mediation Network. A non-profit corporation was set up to bring mediation services to your county. Counties are grouped into regions, and each region has an administrator. For example, in the Fox Valley area, the Administrator is the Winnebago Conflict Resolution Center, Inc. You can find the name of your administrator by clicking here. The administrator is your contact person.

If your home is in foreclosure, chances are it has been hard to talk directly with your lender about ways to get things back on track. You are probably wondering what type of options might be available. You may have experienced difficulty understanding and dealing with all the paperwork involved in seeking assistance from your lender.
Mediation is a process where a neutral person, a mediator, guides the exchange of information between you and your lender, and then oversees an in-person meeting with your lender to see if there is an option to resolve your situation. Mediation is confidential, but we do keep the Court informed about the general progress of your case. If you do come to an agreement with your lender, formal papers are written up and delivered to you so you can review all the details.
Many people mix up “mediation” with “modification.” “Mediation” is the process of communicating with the help of a 3rd party who is completely neutral. A “modification” is a change to your loan terms, like lowering the interest rate or the payment amount. Many homeowners seek a modification of their loan by using the mediation program. Mediated outcomes are only those available through the mortgage servicer’s loan modification program.