Voluntary Foreclosure Mediation Program

The Office of Mediation and Arbitration within New Hampshire's Judicial Branch has launched a new voluntary foreclosure mediation program the help home owners and lenders "have a facilitated discussion about whether it might be possible to restructure the at-risk loan and avoid a foreclosure for the benefit of both lenders and borrowers."

Since this is a voluntary program, your lender may not agree to the mediation process. You should also note that if you qualify for the program and your lender agrees to participate, this does not stop or suspend a foreclosure. You, as the borrower, are still obligated to respond to the lender and any notices of foreclosure you may receive and you may still be at risk of losing your home to foreclosure until and unless a settlement is reached.

To apply for the program and to determine if you qualify, the borrower must send a Request Form to their lender with a copy sent to the Office of Mediation and Arbitration. The form can be found by clicking on the "notice to homeowner" link on the mediation site.

The lender will review the submitted form to determine whether the borrower is a candidate for a program such as the federal Making Home Affordable initiative or if the borrower's circumstances make a successful mortgage loan restructure unlikely. If the lender believes the borrower is ineligible to mediate then the lender will notify the borrower and the Office of Mediation and Arbitration that the borrower does not qualify for the program and mediation will not take place.

Borrowers interested in pursuing mediation should visit the foreclosure mediation program web page for more information.