A proposal to resolve a dispute through mediation may be made by any party to it. The proposal may also come from a court or other competent authority where the dispute has been referred for resolution. Parties must agree to seek mediation through a settlement. The length of the procedure depends on the nature and complexity of the dispute and, in particular, on the behavior of the contestants. Practice shows that most conflicts are resolved within a couple of days. Attorneys representing the interests of the contestants may also be present during the proceedings. The parties agree in advance how to allocate the mediator's remuneration and the costs of the procedure. Typically, the cost is shared in half. The payment of mediation services is much lower than court and arbitration fees. The parties may, without notifying the court, proceed to mediation. If they are able to resolve their dispute, the case may be terminated by the applicant withdrawing or waiving the claim and if the parties submit to the court the agreement reached and it is approved as a court. During the mediation procedure, the parties may, by mutual consent, stop the proceedings in court or request that the next hearing be scheduled for a later date. The purpose of mediation is to avoid lengthy litigation, where lawyers play a major role and receive several fees. The lawyer may also take part in the mediation procedure, which again takes a fee, but unlike the court process, there is no possibility of forfeiture and, therefore, for more amounts.
Recognizing the growing importance for mediation of the Bulgarian legal, business and social reality, he created a special Mediation department.