In order to foreclose in the District of Columbia, a mortgage lender must submit to mandatory foreclosure mediation. The District’s Foreclosure Mediation Program requires lenders to mediate in good faith with borrowers. Foreclosure litigation in DC offers several stages at which you can obtain a mortgage modification. Make the most of your foreclosure mediation in Washington DC.
Foreclosure mediation in Washington DC
A D.C. Superior Court magistrate judge may schedule a special mediation session as part of your foreclosure case docket. The court will also schedule pre-mediation and post-mediation hearings, in which you will apprise the judge of progress in your case. Generally, you must have completed and submitted a loss mitigation application prior to mediation. You must also complete a Confidential Settlement Statement, which informs the mediator on your goals for the case.
Mediation takes place at the Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division at Court Building C, 410 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20001. Most mediation sessions last less than an hour, but sometimes mediation can run much longer, and complex cases can require several sessions to complete mediation. Mediation sessions are scheduled three days each week, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
A neutral third-party mediator will facilitate the mediation. The mediator is not a judge and cannot make decisions. In order to maximize your chances of a favorable outcome, you must conduct yourself reasonably. And you must present a feasible case for a modification both efficiently and specifically. Your goal at mediation should be to obtain approval of a loan modification. You must convince your lender that you can afford the property.
Retain a foreclosure lawyer experienced in mediation
Lee Legal routinely represents DC borrowers in foreclosure mediation. From the outset of foreclosure litigation, we will work with you at every stage to maximize your chances of favorable results in your foreclosure case. We can help you make the most of your foreclosure mediation in Washington DC.