In 1986, the Supreme Court of Oklahoma adopted Rules and Procedures for the Dispute Resolution Act, 12 O.S. 1801et seq., providing guidelines for the establishment of dispute resolution centers. The purpose of the Dispute Resolution Act is "to provide to all citizens of this state convenient access to dispute resolution proceedings which are fair, effective, inexpensive, and expeditious". Early Settlement Centers operate under the authority of the Oklahoma Dispute Resolution Act. The centers provide low-cost mediation to all who wish to negotiate interpersonal matters. To initiate mediation, each party must pay a five dollar processing charge as required by the Oklahoma Statue, except in cases ordered by the court. Cases resolved by mediation may involve money, property, business transactions. personal relationships, assault, harassment, animal disturbances, neighborhood disturbances, or other matters. The disputes may be with mates, ex-mates, other family members, neighbors, landlords or tenants, consumers or merchants.