• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Siegel & Milstein Logo

SIEGELLAW

Maryland Family Law Attorneys

  • Firm Overview
  • Attorneys
    • Harry Siegel
    • Michael Milstein
    • Caroline Palmer
    • Sheena Gordon
    • Guy Zachmy
    • April M. Urban
  • Family Law
    • Alimony
    • Appeals
    • Child Custody & Visitation
    • Child Support
    • Collaboration & Mediation
    • Division Of Property
    • Domestic Violence
    • High Asset Divorce
    • Divorce For Men
    • Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements
    • LGBTQ / Same Sex Divorce
  • Careers
  • Blog
    • Divorce
    • Divorce and Finances
    • Custody
    • Men’s Divorce
    • Mediation
    • Divorce Preparation
    • Alimony
    • Domestic Violence
    • Child Support
(410) 792-2300
Request Consultation

How Does The Howard County Divorce Court Process Operate? Part 4: Mediation

February 26, 2013 by SIEGELLAW

So, the Complaint and Answer have been filed, you have had your Scheduling Conference and you and your spouse have attended mandatory parenting classes at The National Family Resiliency Center.

At the Scheduling Conference, the Master also ordered both of you to enter into two separate two hour sessions of mediation. The present cost is $100 per person per hour.

The Court has dozens of “certified mediators.” This means that the mediators have at least 60 hours of initial training, along with at least 4-8 hours of continuing mediation training each year.

All of that being said, the bottom line is that there are mediators, and there are mediators. Not every mediator is good for every case. I can say that, as I am a long-time mediator for Howard County and other jurisdictions, as well. I tend to handle Howard County high conflict custody mediation, as well as Howard County divorce high asset cases.

So, what the heck is mediation and what is its significance?

Mediation in Howard County divorce cases is a process where the parties can try to settle or narrow the issues in their case. Often, mediation will result in a resolution of the entire case. The mediator has no ability to make any decisions for the two of you. The mediator does not write a report to a judge. In fact, the entire mediation process is confidential, and neither of you can even testify in a court proceeding what happened in mediation.

Many clients will attend mediation by themselves without their attorneys present. However, when cases become more complex, such as a complex child custody case or complex or high asset case, as well as an issue of alimony, retirement assets, etc., it may be appropriate for the attorneys to attend mediation.

If you resolve your case in mediation, you can save tens of thousands of dollars of additional litigation and trial costs. However, not all cases can settle.

If your case does not settle in mediation, then you will proceed to the next phase, which is usually a pendente lite hearing, which will likely be your first contact with the Court system.

Stay tuned for Part 5, the Pendente Lite Hearing.

Disclaimer

SIEGELLAW provides advice and representation to its clients solely under the laws of the State of Maryland.

Filed Under: Mediation

Primary Sidebar

Have A Question?

Fill out the form below and we will get back to you in a timely manner.
  • Sorry, we do not provide service outside of Maryland at this time.
  • Disclaimer:
    SIEGELLAW provides advice and representation to its clients solely under the laws of the State of Maryland.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Footer

Siegel & Milstein Logo White
6011 University Blvd. Suite 250
Ellicott City, MD 21043
Phone: (410) 792-2300
Fax: 410-480-7259
info@siegellaw.net
Make a Payment

Overview

  • Attorneys
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Firm Overview
  • Locations
  • Resources

Family Law

  • Alimony
  • Appeals
  • Child Custody & Visitation
  • Child Support
  • Collaboration & Mediation
  • Division Of Property
  • Domestic Violence
  • High Asset Divorce
  • Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements
  • Divorce For Men
  • LGBTQ / Same Sex Divorce

© 2023 Siegel and Milstein, LLC · Powered by 321 Web Marketing · Website Privacy Policy & Terms of Use