- The number of requests for arbitration by arbitration offices decreased
Last year, fewer applications for mediation proceedings before arbitration courts were received in Lower Saxony. The number decreased by 15 compared to 2022, to 1,979, as the Ministry of Justice in Hanover reported to the German Press Agency upon request. In previous years, more applications were received, with more than 2,000 each from 2019 to 2021.
In around 1,600 of the cases last year, both parties attended the arbitration court, with 1,159 of these cases resulting in a settlement. In 2023, there were 613 arbitrators in Lower Saxony, slightly fewer than the previous year.
A legal procedure is not always necessary to resolve a dispute. Arbitration courts in the municipalities can serve as starting points. These procedures often involve disputes between neighbors and acquaintances. According to the Federal Association of German Arbitrators and Arbitrators, an arbitrator is active on a voluntary basis.
Those who wish to become an arbitrator should inquire with the administration of their municipality or district whether this position is available. Usually, the vacancies are announced in a public tendering procedure. The council or district assembly elects the arbitrator for a period of five years. Re-election is possible. For this honorary position, about ten hours of time per month should be planned.
The decrease in mediation applications might be due to fewer neighborhood disputes requiring legal resolution. Regrettably, some neighborhood disputeres seem to have resolved their issues informally.
