Some contracts involved in the purchase, sale, or lease of real property contain language requiring that the parties settle any dispute through arbitration. Arbitration is a method of dispute resolution that resembles the traditional litigation process, although the proceedings are typically less formal. Also, in arbitration the parties usually agreed to employ that procedure before any dispute arose, and they may have the right to decide who will hear their case. Like litigation, at the arbitration hearing the parties present their competing evidence to the decision maker, called an arbitrator, who then makes a determination and issues an order, judgment, or decree. Under some circumstances, a panel of arbitrators will hear a case.