What you need to know about divorce mediation in Maryland
Couples who want to minimize conflicts, costs and delays during the divorce process often turn to mediation, which is a process of working through disagreements outside of court. Mediation can be used to settle a wide range of legal disputes, but can be especially beneficial when used to address divorce-related issues, such as child custody and property division.
Maryland divorce mediation basics
During divorce mediation, the spouses attend a series of meetings with a professional mediator. At these meetings, the mediator facilitates the conversation between the parties and guides them through the process of identifying their priorities, brainstorming possible solutions and working toward an agreement.
Throughout the entire process, the mediator remains neutral and does not take sides with either spouse. Unlike a judge or arbitrator, the mediator cannot control the outcome of the case, which means that it is up to the parties how to resolve their own case.
In Maryland, divorce mediation may be undertaken voluntarily or it may be ordered by a judge. Either way, mediation can offer a number of potential advantages over litigation, such as increased efficiency, greater control and a better chance of a mutually satisfactory outcome. If the spouses are unable to reach an agreement through mediation, they can still move forward with resolving the dispute through traditional litigation.
Benefits of divorce mediation
For many divorcing couples, one of the most appealing aspects of divorce mediation is that it allows them to work together to find a solution they can both agree to, giving them a great deal of control over the outcome. This is very different from what occurs during traditional divorce litigation, which pits one spouse against the other in an adversarial setting and leaves the final resolution in the hands of a judge.
Due to the fact that the divorcing couples are intimately familiar with their own circumstances and the unique needs of their own families, they are often better equipped to find an outcome that everyone can be happy with. However, in order to achieve this result through mediation, it is important that both individuals are willing to cooperate and communicate with one another. Because it is non-adversarial, mediation can also be beneficial to parents and other divorcing spouses who prefer to remain on amicable terms with one another in the long term.
If you are interested in learning more about divorce mediation and whether it could work for you, get in touch with a lawyer who has experience in divorce mediation.
