Washington Certificate of Settlement Without Dismissal Arbitration (COS WD) is a process of resolving disputes between parties without going to court. This type of dispute resolution allows parties to enter into a binding, out-of-court agreement that is enforceable in a Washington court. COS WD is an alternative to arbitration, where both parties agree on a solution without the need for a third-party arbitrator. There are two types of Washington Certificate of Settlement Without Dismissal Arbitration: mediated and non-mediated. Mediated COS WD is a process in which both parties are represented by their own attorneys, and a mediator helps facilitate the negotiation and settlement process. Non-mediated COS WD is a process in which both parties are represented by their own attorneys, and the attorneys work together to reach a mutually agreeable resolution. COS WD is an efficient and cost-effective way to resolve disputes and can be helpful in avoiding lengthy and costly litigation. This process is also confidential, so parties can avoid the public nature of litigation.