Mediation allows families to address the ‘human capital rather than the family capital’ // Image: ShutterstockInheritance disputes are continuing to rise. Already a familiar tool in divorce and commercial disputes, mediation is increasingly being used at an earlier stage in inheritance claims. Mediation is a way of resolving disputes without going to court and is increasingly viewed as a practical means of settling inheritance claims early. By avoiding the courtroom altogether, it can also help prevent family relationships from breaking down. What often intensifies inheritance disputes is the way money comes to stand in for deeper issues of fairness and recognition within a family.