Court Services · Civil dispute types
Civil Arbitration Services
DFS provides neutral arbitrators and arbitration administration for contract, commercial, consumer and other civil disputes, working within whatever the arbitration agreement and selected rules require.
Civil matters DFS arbitrates and supports
Neutral arbitrators and administration for contract, commercial, consumer and other civil arbitrations, subject to the agreement.
- Contract disputesBreach, payment and performance claims where the contract sends disputes to arbitration.
- Commercial disputesBusiness-to-business claims involving partners, vendors, customers or service providers.
- Consumer disputesArbitrations under consumer agreements, following the forum's rules for consumer matters.
- Other civil claimsAdditional civil dispute types, confirmed after reviewing the agreement.
- Arbitrator or logisticsDFS can supply the neutral arbitrator, or handle logistics for one party's counsel in a matter where DFS is not the neutral.
Different disputes, different paperwork
A construction payment fight, a vendor contract claim and a consumer complaint can all end up in arbitration, but each brings its own volume of records, witnesses and deadlines.
The arbitration clause decides much of the process. DFS reads the clause with the parties' counsel, then builds the arbitrator assignment and logistics around it rather than a generic template.
Fitting support to the clause
- Clause reviewCounsel shares the arbitration provision, the selected rules and the current schedule.
- Task mapDFS lists the deadlines and logistics the clause and rules create, for counsel's approval.
- Confirm scopeAny proposed arbitrator discloses conflicts, and scope and pricing are confirmed in writing.
- Ongoing supportDFS handles exchanges, deliveries and records through the award stage.
Limits on this service
Whether a dispute is arbitrable, and under what terms, is a legal question for counsel and the tribunal. DFS works inside those answers.
- A DFS arbitrator is neutral, has no stake in the outcome, discloses conflicts and does not advise either party.
- The arbitration agreement and governing law, including the Federal Arbitration Act or the Tennessee Uniform Arbitration Act, govern every step.
- Whether an award is binding depends on the agreement.
- DFS does not draft pleadings, briefs or submissions.
The agreement controls
Arbitration requires an agreement to arbitrate, by contract clause or a submission agreement after the dispute arises. Deadlines, document exchange, hearing format and location usually come from that agreement and the rules it adopts.
Questions about civil arbitration
Can DFS support the claimant and the respondent at once?
When DFS supplies the arbitrator, its administrative work serves both parties equally. Otherwise, shared logistics require both sides' written agreement, and DFS works for the counsel who engaged it.
Do you handle employment arbitrations?
Tell us the agreement and forum. We confirm fit for each civil dispute type after review rather than promising it in advance.
How are documents exchanged?
In the manner the agreement, rules or arbitrator directs: courier, process server, or electronic delivery as allowed.
Guides on this topic
Longer answers from the DFS Guides & FAQ.
Related services
Next steps and alternatives that often go with this work.
Reviewed October 2026 by Delator Field Services. General information, not legal advice.
Tell DFS what the matter needs
Call, text or email with the task, the county and any deadline. You will get a plain answer on scope and cost before work begins.
Questions first? Call or text (629) 310-8667 or email contact@delatorgroup.com.