From Discovery to Master Settlement

As the mediator, your role is to transform multiple, often conflicting lists into a single Master Asset Register. This process ensures that the “noise” of individual data entry is cleared away, leaving a professional foundation for the settlement negotiation.

1. When to Reconcile

Reconciliation should ideally take place during the first joint session after all parties have completed their initial entries.

• Pre-Session: Review the lists to identify obvious duplicates (e.g., Party A’s “The House” vs. Party B’s “Main Residence”).
• During Session: Use the reconciliation process as a tool for “Joint Fact-Finding.” Confirming that everyone is talking about the same item is the first step in building a “Yes” momentum.

2. How to Reconcile (The “Master Bucket” Method)

Instead of editing a party’s individual entry, you will consolidate them into a Master Record.

1. Identify the Target: Select an asset from one party’s list.
2. Consolidate: Use the “Add to Master” tool.
   • If it’s a new item, create a Master Title (e.g., “Primary Residence”).
   • If other parties have listed the same item, link their entries to this Master Title.
3. The Result: The system “marks” the original entries as reconciled and removes them from the pending list.

3. Resolving Valuation Discrepancies

During reconciliation, you will often see different estimated values for the same asset.

• The Consensus Approach: If the values are close, facilitate a discussion to agree on a single “Settlement Value.”
• The “Placeholder” Approach: If values are far apart, set a temporary average or a “TBD” (To Be Determined) status until an appraisal is conducted.
• The Master Entry: Enter the final agreed value into the Master Record. This becomes the “Single Source of Truth” for the split calculations.

4. Splitting the Values (The Managed Reveal)

Once the Master Asset Register is built and values are agreed upon, you move to the Settlement Phase. This is when you reveal the “Split” data.

• Reviewing Claims: Open the Multi-Party Split View. You can now see what percentage each of the 24 parties originally claimed.
• Analyzing the Gap: Use the Master Asset as a pivot. You can see, for example, that the total claims exceed 100%.
• Facilitating the Divide: Adjust the “Master Split” in the JSON-powered dashboard. As you adjust one party’s percentage, the system will show the real-time impact on the others.

5. Pro-Tips for Complex Mediations (3+ Parties)

• Group Assets: Use categories (e.g., “Vehicles,” “Immovables”) to keep the Master Register organized.
• The “Unmapped” Audit: Always check the “Unmapped” list at the end of a session to ensure no party has a “hidden” asset that hasn’t been addressed.
• Transparency: Remind parties that while their original entries were private, the Master Settlement is a transparent, joint effort.

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