An arbitration agreement is a clause in a contract that requires the parties to resolve their disputes through an arbitration process. It is a way of resolving a dispute without filing a lawsuit and going to court. The arbitration process is similar to the proceedings in a court case: the parties may have lawyers, they exchange information, and there is a hearing where they question witnesses and present their cases. After the hearing, the arbitrator will make a decision. Arbitration agreements are usually signed at the beginning of a business relationship, long before there’s a disagreement. They are often just a few sentences long and are commonly found near the end of a larger contract under a heading such as “Arbitration” or “Dispute Resolution”. Arbitration agreements are frequently paired with class action waivers, which prevent contracting parties from filing class action lawsuits against each other. In the United States, arbitration clauses also often include a provision that requires parties to waive their rights to a jury trial. Arbitration agreements are a way to limit litigation costs and keep disputes confidential. However, signing an arbitration agreement also means giving up the right to go to court.