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State of Nevada FORECLOSURE MEDIATION PROGRAM. VERISE V. CAMPBELL DEPUTY DIRECTOR – FORECLOSURE MEDIATION PROGRAM SUPREME COURT - AOC January 26, 2010. FORECLOSURE MEDIATION PROGRAM (PROGRAM) CREATION. Assembly Bill 149
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State of NevadaFORECLOSURE MEDIATION PROGRAM VERISE V. CAMPBELL DEPUTY DIRECTOR – FORECLOSURE MEDIATION PROGRAM SUPREME COURT - AOC January 26, 2010
FORECLOSURE MEDIATION PROGRAM (PROGRAM) CREATION Assembly Bill 149 • Passed by the Nevada Legislature during the 2009 Session and signed by Governor Jim Gibbons • AB 149 amends NRS Chapter 107, Nevada’s non-judicial foreclosure statute, adding a mediation requirement for certain residential properties before the Trustee can proceed with a notice to sell the property • Purpose of AB 149 • To directly address the foreclosure crisis • Help keep families in their homes • Provides for alternative resolutions for lender and homeowner • Program Applicability • Owner – occupied residential properties • Foreclosure notices (formally know as Notice of Default (NODs) and Election to Sell filed on or after July 1, 2009 • Located in Nevada
IMPLEMENTATION/operation Program Effective Date: July 1, 2009 • Administration of the Program was assigned to the Administrative Office of the Nevada Supreme Court (AOC) • Legislation was passed at the end of May 2009 and went into effect July 1, 2009 WITHOUT: • Staff • Rules • Forms • Funding • Offices • Equipment • Information Technology • Trained mediators
IMPLEMENTATION/OPERATION • No Dedicated Staff • Manual process (pending Case Management System) • Liquid Process – fast pace/dynamic • Avalanche of Paper • Initial Funding advanced by the Administrative Office of the Courts
IMPLEMENTATION/operation Program Advantages • Best Practices from other Foreclosure Mediation States • Knowledge Base of AOC • Information Technology • Accounting/Finance • Legal • Administration • Input from and involvement of Community Stakeholders • Judges • Attorneys • Mediators • HUD approved housing counselors • Homeowners • Trustees • Lenders
IMPLEMENTATION/operation Accomplishments To Date • Initial Rules and Forms adopted June 30, 2009; Amended Rules and Forms adopted on September 28, 2009 and November 4, 2009 • Locations (2) • Carson City • Las Vegas • Staff • Carson City (4) • Las Vegas (8) • Mediators Trained (170) • Website: www.nevadajudiciary.us
Benefits of mediation Resolution Mechanism that is: • Quick • 4 Hour Mediation sessions • Mediation takes place within 80 days of recording a Notice of Default • Efficient • Decision makers must be present • Participation in good faith • Necessary documents required from both parties before mediation begins • Cost Effective • Other than the filing fee, lender and homeowner equally share the cost for a nominal fee of $200 each
MEDIATOR ROLE • The mediator is in charge of the process • The parties are in charge of the outcome • Stresses process over agreement • Assist parties in finding and analyzing options • Mediator skills used: Non-judgmental and unbiased, listen, Reflect, Restate, Validate, Reframe, and Summarize • Stays optimistic, affirming and flexible • Focuses on present and future
NEGOTIATION STRATEGIES • Ask open-ended questions • Listen • Reframe • Identify a common interest • Brainstorming • Reality test • Patience • Role reversal • Body Language
MEDIATION PROCESS OUTLINE 1. Homeowner goes into Default 2. Notice of Default and Election to Sell • Recorded with the County Recorder (this starts the foreclosure process). • Copy is sent to the Homeowner via certified or registered mail 3. Election/Waiver of Mediation • Sent to the homeowner with the Notice of Default • Homeowner has 30 days to return the Election form to the FMP Administrator • Homeowner sends a copy of the completed form to the Administrator with the $200 fee • Homeowner sends the Trustee a copy 4. FMP notifies Trustee of Homeowner’s election for mediation and requests Trustees $200 fee from Lender 5. Trustee Notifies Lender and other interested parties of the request for mediation 6. Program Administrator or designee appoints a mediator 7. Mediator contacts both the Lender and the Homeowner 8. Mediation Scheduling Notice is sent by the Mediator to the parties 9. Lender and Homeowner exchange documents at least 7 days prior to the mediation 10. Mediation is conducted, and Mediation Agreement is signed by the parties if a resolution is reached 11. Mediator issues a Mediator’s Statement and Agreement to the parties, files the originals with the Program Administrator, and submits billing 12. Program Administrator reviews the Mediator’s Statement to determine if a Certificate to proceed to foreclosure should be issued 13. Petition for Judicial Review • The Lender or the Homeowner may file a Petition for Judicial Review with the District Court within 15 days of the date of the Mediator’s Statement
IMPLEMENTATION/operation Funding NO TAX $$ • Program pays for itself – • Additional NOD fee of $50 on ALL Notices of Default and Elections to Sell • Mediator Fee is shared cost between the homeowner and the Lender ($200 each)
15 First mediations were held on September 14, 2009 As of January 26, 2010: • 4,400 Requests for mediations received • 2,233 Cases have been assigned to mediators • 1,021 Mediations have been completed Mediations
16 The Mediator files the following report of the proceedings: • The parties resolved the matter. No further action is required. • The parties participated but were unable to agree to a loan modification or make other arrangements. • The beneficiary or his representative failed to attend the mediation. No further action is required. • The beneficiary or his representative failed to participate in good faith. No further action is required. (Explanation required). • The beneficiary failed to bring to the mediation each document required. No further action is required. • The beneficiary did not have the required authority or access to a person with the required authority. No further action is required. • The Grantor or person who holds the title of record (homeowner) failed to attend the mediation. • The Grantor or person who holds the title of record (homeowner) failed to participate in good faith. (Explanation required). • The Grantor or person who holds the title of record (homeowner) failed to bring to the mediation each document required. MEDIATOR’S STATEMENT
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE GO TO: WWW.NEVADAJUDICIARY.US CLICK ON “FORECLOSURE MEDIATION” Contact: Annie Yanez, Customer Service Representative (702) 486-9386 or Ayanez@nvcourts.nv.gov