PRIVATE · VOLUNTARY · CONFIDENTIAL | Data last verified: August 2026
Nashville, Tennessee
Reviewed by: Randall McCathren, Esq. — President & Principal Consultant, BLC Associates, Inc.
Randall McCathren, Esq. provides private, voluntary mediation services in Nashville, Tennessee, for family and divorce matters as well as automotive and consumer finance disputes.
He facilitates structured, confidential discussions that help parties reach voluntary agreements outside of litigation.
His background in automotive finance regulation supports mediation in that industry specifically, alongside his family and divorce mediation practice.
Structured dialogue
Voluntary resolution
Parties retain control
Key Takeaways
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Randall McCathren provides private, voluntary mediation services in Nashville, Tennessee, covering family and divorce matters and automotive and consumer finance disputes.
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Mediation is a private, confidential alternative to litigation where parties retain control over the outcome.
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Family and divorce mediation covers child custody, property division, spousal support, child support, debt allocation, health insurance, and estate planning considerations.
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Tennessee's mediation profession generally does not require certification; Rule 31 certification applies specifically to court-ordered mediation, and McCathren's current listing status is not published on this page.
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Attorneys and families evaluating mediation can schedule a confidential consultation with Randall McCathren to discuss whether mediation fits their matter.
Related Services
Randall McCathren, Esq. provides private, voluntary mediation for two distinct categories of disputes: family and divorce matters, and automotive and consumer finance disputes. This differs from court-ordered mediation, which Tennessee law requires a Rule 31-certified mediator to conduct.
Family & Divorce
His family and divorce mediation practice focuses on child custody arrangements, property division, spousal support, and related matters.
Automotive & Consumer Finance
His automotive and consumer finance mediation draws on more than 40 years of industry and regulatory experience in expert witness work and automotive consulting to help parties resolve disputes involving vehicle financing, leasing, and dealership matters outside of litigation.
A Structured Alternative
Mediation offers a private, structured alternative to adversarial court proceedings. As a neutral mediator, McCathren facilitates conversations intended to help parties reach mutually acceptable agreements.
Industry Dispute Resolution
McCathren's regulatory and industry background supports mediation in automotive and consumer finance disputes, including:
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Vehicle financing and leasing contract disputes
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Dealer and consumer disagreements over financing terms
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Regulation Z and Regulation M compliance disputes
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Vehicle valuation and insurance disagreements
Specialized Experience
McCathren applies his expert witness and automotive consulting experience in vehicle financing, leasing, and dealership compliance matters to this mediation practice.
Corporations and attorneys with automotive or consumer finance disputes can discuss mediation as an alternative to litigation by scheduling a confidential consultation with Randall McCathren.
Family & Divorce Mediation
Child custody is the most sensitive and consequential aspect of family mediation. McCathren's approach centers on the child's best interests — helping parents develop parenting plans that provide stability, continuity, and healthy relationships with both parents.
Child Custody Mediation
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Joint vs. sole legal custody, decision-making authority for education, healthcare, religious upbringing, and extracurricular activities
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Primary residence, visitation schedules, holiday and vacation planning, and logistics of day-to-day parenting
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Comprehensive written parenting plans that address current needs and anticipate future changes as children grow
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Processes for modifying arrangements as circumstances change, and mechanisms for resolving future disagreements without returning to court
Divorce Resolution Topics
Alimony amount and duration, modification circumstances, tax implications, life insurance requirements
Marital home and real estate, retirement accounts and investments, business interests and assets, personal property and vehicles
Calculation and guidelines, extraordinary expenses, college and education costs, modification procedures
Mortgage and secured debt, credit card and unsecured debt, tax liabilities, legal fees
Coverage continuation, COBRA and alternatives, children's coverage, medical expense allocation
Flagging necessary post-divorce updates to wills and trusts, beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives for follow-up with appropriate legal counsel
Important Suitability Considerations
Mediation depends on both parties being able to negotiate in good faith. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-4-131(d), courts may only order mediation in cases involving a protective order or a finding of domestic abuse if the victim consents, the mediator is specially trained in domestic and family violence, and the victim may bring a support person to the mediation. A significant power imbalance between parties can also make mediation less effective more broadly.
Parties in these situations should discuss their circumstances with an attorney before deciding whether mediation is appropriate.
Tennessee Mediation Framework
| Aspect | Private, Voluntary Mediation | Court-Ordered Rule 31 Mediation |
|---|---|---|
| How it begins | Parties choose mediation on their own, outside a court referral. | A Tennessee court refers or orders the matter to mediation before trial, subject to statutory exceptions and waiver provisions. |
| Certification | Rule 31 certification is not required. Tennessee's program states that Rule 31 does not affect cases resolved outside the Rule 31 system. | Must be conducted by a Rule 31 certified mediator, per the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts. |
| This practice | Randall McCathren's mediation practice, as described on this page, is private and voluntary. | This page does not publish Randall McCathren's current Rule 31 certification status. |
Court-referred matter?
Parties whose case has already been referred to mediation by a Tennessee court, and who specifically need a Rule 31 certified mediator for that referral, should confirm his Rule 31 status directly with BLC Associates before scheduling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Practical information about private mediation, court referrals, family topics, automotive disputes, confidentiality, and scheduling.
Generally, yes. Tennessee courts typically order mediation before a contested divorce proceeds to trial, per Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-4-131. Courts may waive mediation where parties have a marital dissolution agreement, and apply added conditions, including a specially trained mediator, in cases involving domestic abuse.
A Rule 31 mediator is an individual listed by the Tennessee Supreme Court's Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission as qualified to conduct court-ordered mediations under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31. Listing requires specific training, education, and work-experience requirements set by the ADR Commission.
No. Rule 31 certification is required only for mediation ordered by a Tennessee court. Tennessee's courts program states that Rule 31 'does not affect dispute resolution programs or individual cases that are resolved outside the Rule 31 system'—private, voluntary mediation can proceed without it.
This page does not list Randall McCathren's current Rule 31 certification status. Rule 31 certification is required only for court-ordered Tennessee divorce mediation, not for private, voluntary mediation. Parties referred to mediation by a Tennessee court should confirm his Rule 31 status before scheduling.
Yes. Mediation isn't limited to family and divorce matters—it can resolve automotive, consumer finance, and commercial disputes as an alternative to litigation. Randall McCathren's background in automotive finance and regulatory compliance supports mediating disputes in that industry specifically.
Mediation costs vary by mediator, hourly rate, and case complexity. Parties should confirm Randall McCathren's current hourly rate and any retainer requirements directly with him before scheduling a session, since this page does not list specific rates.
Divorce mediation can resolve child custody and parenting plans, property division, spousal support, child support, debt allocation, and health insurance coverage. Randall McCathren facilitates structured discussions on each topic and can flag related estate-planning items for follow-up with separate counsel.
Yes. Under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31, statements and information disclosed during a Rule 31 mediation are confidential, with limited exceptions. For court-ordered mediation, the mediator's report to the court states only which parties participated and whether the case settled.
Randall McCathren provides private, voluntary mediation services in Nashville, Tennessee, for family and divorce matters and for automotive and consumer finance disputes.
Family mediation covers child custody, property division, spousal support, and related topics. Parties needing a court-referred Rule 31 mediator specifically should confirm his current listing status directly.
Families and businesses ready to explore mediation can schedule a confidential consultation with Randall McCathren to discuss their matter today.
