The new Mediation Act came into force on 1 September 2012.
Until now, mediation regulation has been absent in Czech law.
However, this does not mean that mediation did not occur or was
illegal; instead, there was merely no regulation governing
mediation, which has raised a number of issues as to the duties of
mediators, mediation effects, confidentiality of the mediation
process and other related matters. This gap is to be filled by the
approved bill from the date of its effect.
Mediation is a modern, alternative method of resolving disputes
that is becoming more and more popular both in the Czech Republic
and western countries. It is often used as the main way of reaching
settlement in a variety of domains such as commercial or family
matters. In simple terms, mediation is a process in which an
independent and neutral third party – the mediator –
assists the opposing parties in reaching a resolution of a dispute
or complaint. The Act defines mediation as 'the process
