The mediation procedure can be initiated by the parties involved in a dispute or case, the court (court-related mediation), the prosecution (prosecution-related mediation) and an administrative body. Namely, if a dispute or case is at the court, prosecution or in the administrative body and the parties agree to pursue the mediation procedure, the court, the prosecution or the competent administrative body will refer the dispute or case to the mediation offices inside the Basic Courts and Prosecutions or mediators for the initiation of the mediation procedure. Except for these types of mediation, the parties can also choose to use mediation privately and with the help of mediators only. This type of mediation is called self-initiated or out-of-court mediation. In all cases, the mediation procedure begins when the parties sign an agreement called 'The Agreement for the initiation of the Mediation Procedure', which is also signed by the mediator(s) engaged in the respective dispute or case.

Në të gjitha rastet, procedura e ndërmjetësimit fillon në momentin kur palët të nënshkruajnë një marrëveshje që quhet ‘’Marrëveshje për fillimin e Procedurës së Ndërmjetësimit’’ e cila poashtu nëshkruhet nga ndërmjetësuesi/ja/ët e angazhuar për të ofruar shërbime të ndërmjetësimit në rastin apo kontestin respektiv.