Mediation: This is a method of solving disputes with the help of a neutral third party. Call a mediator when you become emotional and get stuck thinking that there’s only one way to solve your problem. To find a mediator, check with you local courthouse or police, or look in the Yellow Pages. Some attorneys are also mediators, so your local or state bar association might offer listings.
Police: Call the police when you need documentation as evidence for possible legal action or if you need protection, says retired police officer Lyn Sweeney. If your neighbor is drunk or on drugs, has made threats, or is simply a loose cannon, then let the police handle it.
Court: If all else fails, you can sue a neighbor in small-claims court for damages (usually up to several thousand dollars, depending on where you live), typically without the assistance (or fees) of a lawyer. You are responsible for presenting your case and marshaling evidence, and the hearing is supposed to be quick. Keep in mind that in states where mediation is incorporated into the court system, a judge could send you to mediation.
Taken from Real Simple August 2007 by Amanda Hinnant
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