Date last edited 10/31/2008

What is "Family" Mediation?

A family may include a wide range of interpersonal relationships. For example, a family could include:

  • two parents (married or not) and one or more children;
  • or a childless married couple;
  • or a single parent and one or more children;
  • or a parent and a foster child;
  • or a household including a group of people such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Family mediation can be provided for any of the people indicated above. It may mean mediation between people who are divorcing or who are in a custody fight. However, it also may mean mediation between other family members such as a parent and a teenager or between parents and grandparents who wish to work out conflicts and improve their communication.

If you are divorcing, divorce mediation may help you resolve your case so you can have an uncontested divorce It can save you money and promote positive dispute resolution.

If you are contesting custody of your children, mediation provides an opportunity for you to focus on the needs of the children, and to avoid the often highly charged adversarial atmosphere of the courtroom.

In the state of Maryland, all cases involving contested custody or visitation matters are referred to mandatory mediation, provided that there is no allegation of domestic violence or child abuse.

However your particular family is structured, family mediation will focus on finding win/win solutions and allowing parties to go forward with more understanding of each other's points of view than they had previously.

Source: Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office, updated by the Maryland State Law Library (MSLL).

Last review date: 10/31/08 (PLL/M.A.J.)
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