A wrongful death lawsuit settlement may be reached by the parties at virtually any time during the pendency of a wrongful death claim. Some wrongful death claims settle simply through the negotiations of attorneys and/or insurance companies, prior to any lawsuit ever being filed in court. Other wrongful death claims, however, are filed in court before a settlement is reached. It is not uncommon for the parties to attempt mediation, or even to have the judge order mediation, in an attempt to resolve the parties' claim before going to the time and expense of a contested court trial. Finally, some wrongful death claims are not resolved until just prior to trial, or even in the midst of trial, if one side receives a piece of information or some disclosure from a witness that makes it more cost-effective to settle the case outside of court. The exact terms of any settlement agreements are reduced to writing, signed by all parties, and ordered approved by the judge in the court in which the case is pending, which ensures that all parties are bound by any settlement agreement.