Maryland Family Law Mediation

You and your spouse or co-parent know the needs of your family better than anyone else — including a judge. Unfortunately, it’s often difficult for couples to communicate and negotiate well enough on their own to arrive at an agreement about child custody, support, property division, and other important family issues. If this is the case for you, family law mediation may be a good choice for you. The legal team of trained mediators at The Law Office of Shelly M. Ingram have helped numerous couples explore their options and communicate their needs honestly and respectfully in mediation.

What is Family Law Mediation?

Family law mediation is an alternative to litigation that can help couples resolve their divorce or family law case without judicial intervention. In mediation, a couple works with a neutral party called a mediator who facilitates communication and keeps negotiations focused. A mediator can assist the couple in reaching an agreement about a variety of family law issues, including divorce, child custody, parenting time, and property division issues. Mediation helps ensure each party feels that their concerns have been heard — and provides families with the flexibility to craft solutions that are tailored to their needs.

What are the Advantages of Family Law Mediation?

Family law mediation empowers the parties in a divorce, child custody dispute, or child support matter to have control over the outcome of their case. Rather than allow a judge make critical decisions that will impact their family for years to come, the process provides flexibility that would not be possible by pursuing litigation. In addition to having the freedom to create custom resolutions, mediation offers many other advantages, including the following:

  • Efficiency — Family law mediation is less formal than litigation, allowing conflicts to be resolved in a much shorter time frame than they would be in the courtroom.
  • Privacy — Mediation is conducted behind closed doors, not in an open courtroom. This means that the details regarding a couple’s financial affairs and family details will remain private and not become part of the public record.
  • Cost-effectiveness — Because attorney involvement is often minimal and there are no court proceedings involved, mediation is typically more cost-effective than litigation.
  • Satisfaction — With the guidance of a mediator, most of the work in mediation is done by the couple. The mediated agreement they reach is often more durable and satisfactory than a judge's order because those who are impacted by the terms of the agreement are the same people that created them.
  • Confidentiality — Family law mediation is confidential. As with collaborative divorce, if the meeting is not successful, the information disclosed during the mediation process may not be used in court. Therefore, mediation creates a safe environment for communication and problem-solving.
  • Amicability — Family law matters often involve ongoing relationships, and it’s essential to maintain these relationships for the benefit of the children involved. Unlike the adversarial litigation process, mediation is low-conflict and allows the couple to remain amicable.

Importantly, family law mediation can provide couples with tools for healthy communication that they can use in the future. It equips them with strategies to address future disputes to ensure they can handle them independently, without resorting to litigation. These skills are crucial for parents who share children and will have an ongoing co-parenting relationship. They can also help divorcing couples who will continue to operate a business together or those who wish to preserve relationships with extended family.

Is Mediation Right for My Case?

Family law mediation is an effective way for most couples to resolve their disputes — even in cases where the parties are contentious. Since the process is not adversarial, stress and conflict are often reduced. The structured environment of mediation also keeps couples focused on the future, rather than what happened in the past. The future-oriented approach of mediation can help families find mutually agreeable solutions and the best possible outcome for everyone.

If mediation is the right choice for you, the legal team at the Law Office of Shelly Ingram will work closely with you to identify the specific issues that need to be resolved in your case. Walking with you every step of the way, a dedicated mediator will help you and your spouse openly discuss your concerns and reach a peaceful compromise. Shelly and her team are skilled at keeping clients focused on the task at hand and creating an agreement all parties will find acceptable.

Contact an Experienced Maryland Divorce and Family Law Mediator

The Law Office of Shelly M. Ingram can help you create the future you want for yourself and your family. All of our attorneys are trained mediators and collaborative professionals who can assist you with achieving an amicable and peaceful divorce. To learn more about whether mediation may be a good choice for your situation, contact us at (301) 658-7354 or email info@shellyingramlaw.com to schedule a consultation. We serve clients throughout Maryland, including Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. Major cities we serve include Columbia, Baltimore, Bethesda, and Silver Spring.