A Missouri Arbitration Agreement — Existing Dispute refers to a legally binding contract between parties involved in a dispute, in which they agree to resolve their conflict through arbitration instead of pursuing litigation through the court system. Arbitration is a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) wherein a neutral third party, known as an arbitrator, facilitates discussions between the disputing parties and ultimately renders a decision that is binding on both parties. This agreement is specifically designed for situations where a dispute already exists between the parties, as opposed to a prospective or future dispute. It allows the parties to bypass the traditional court process and opt for a more efficient, cost-effective, and private method to resolve their disagreements. In the state of Missouri, there are different types of arbitration agreements for existing disputes, such as: 1. Binding Arbitration Agreement: This agreement establishes that the decision rendered by the arbitrator will be final and binding on the disputing parties. It ensures that the parties are obligated to abide by the arbitrator's decision and cannot appeal the outcome in court. 2. Non-Binding Arbitration Agreement: This agreement allows the disputing parties to voluntarily engage in the arbitration process, but they are not legally obligated to accept the arbitrator's decision. If either party is unsatisfied with the outcome, they retain the right to pursue litigation in court. Keywords: Missouri, arbitration agreement, existing dispute, alternative dispute resolution, litigation, neutral third party, arbitrator, binding arbitration agreement, non-binding arbitration agreement.