Going to trial to have a judge hear evidence and make a decision is one of the most expensive ways of resolving a legal dispute. It is also one of the least common ways, as most proceedings filed with the court are resolved without going to trial. In fact, over 90 percent of all proceedings settle before getting to the trial stage.

Therefore, you may want to consider an alternative. This guidebook gives you an overview of the following alternatives to trial:

• settlement;
• discontinuance and withdrawal;
• default judgment; and
• alternative dispute resolution.