| ALLEGANY:
|
Custody/Visitation Mediation - offers mediation from a list of
court approved mediators. The cost is $40/hr/person, but a waiver program
and sliding scale are available.
A
Child in Need of Assistance (CINA) mediation program is in the
development stages.
|
|
ANNE ARUNDEL:
|
Facilitator Program - volunteer attorneys serve on
scheduling conference days; a Master immediately refers any case with
issues that may be immediately resolved. If an agreement is reached,
parties reappear before a Master and place the agreement on record.
Custody/Visitation Mediation – parties are referred to
court-approved mediators and attend at least two 2-hr sessions at
$75/party/session. Fee waiver is available. If an agreement is reached,
the mediator reduces it to writing, parties sign it and the court
incorporates into its order.
Property Alternative Dispute Resolution –
parties are referred to court-approved mediators and attend at least one
2-hr session. Fee is $150/party/session, but fee waiver is available.
Emergency Mediation - the FSSC provides emergency
intervention for parties in crisis; results are reported to the Court the
same day.
|
|
BALTIMORE CITY:
|
Family Mediation Service - Sheppard Pratt Family Mediation
Services.
Volunteer Lawyer Settlement Conference -
court-approved members of the bar meet with parties in an attempt to work
out a settlement. Administered by the Bar Association of Baltimore City
with committee oversight.
|
|
BALTIMORE COUNTY:
|
Custody/Visitation Mediation - conducted by the Custody and
Mediation Division of the Court with 6 fully trained mediators. No fees
paid by parties.
|
|
CALVERT:
|
Custody/Visitation Mediation – Mediators are assigned from a
6-person panel. Fee waiver guidelines are in place, or fees are
$55/hr/person. Parties are ordered into two, 2-hr sessions (if necessary).
Property Mediation – Offered from list of
court-approved mediators.
|
|
CAROLINE:
|
Offers
mediation from a court-approved list of providers. There are no program
guidelines at this point. Fees are determined by each mediator and paid by
the parties as the court orders. Waiver available.
|
|
CARROLL:
|
Court Mediator - provides mediation for those who cannot afford
private mediators and who do not need a home study (because the mediator
also conducts home studies). The mediator also acts as court facilitator.
Custody/Visitation Mediation - mediation by 4 court-approved
mediators.
Property Mediation - mediation of property, alimony,
pension and child support issues by court-approved mediators.
Juvenile Mediation – A new program is in
development under grants from the Alternative Dispute Resolution
Commission, FSP and the Governor’s Office.
|
|
CECIL:
|
Offers
custody/visitation mediation from one of 4 mental heath professionals from
the Family Services Association at a fee of $100 per hour, divided between
the parties by the court, or from 3 court-approved lawyers at fees of
$100-$150/hr. Two sessions lasting 2 hours each are normally ordered.
|
|
CHARLES:
|
Mediation - offers mediation from a court-approved list of 5
providers. The facility is handicap accessible and telephonic conferencing
is available.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee -
provides accountability and support for mediators. They meet with
mediators, draft the mediation policy manual and are initiating mediation
evaluation & observation.
|
|
DORCHESTER:
|
Offers
mediation from a court approved list of providers. Fee is $65/hr/person
and the court usually orders 2 sessions lasting 2 hours each. They are
exploring the possibility of a Community Conferencing for juveniles.
|
|
FREDERICK:
|
Offers
mediation from a court approved list of providers. $100/person/session,
but fee waiver is available. Court orders 2 sessions lasting 2 hours each.
|
|
GARRETT:
|
Mediation
provided by private contractual provider.
Supervised
Visitation Program - began June 15, 2002 and operates the second and
third Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Oakland
Town Hall.
|
|
HARFORD:
|
Custody/Visitation Evaluation - evaluators are geared toward
dispute resolution, sliding scale fee. Their services are not
confidential.
Custody/Visitation Mediation - either family court services
or private providers mediate disputes. Sliding scale fee available.
Parent Access - Mediation, evaluation, facilitated visitation and
parent education. Services are free.
Dependency Mediation - for Child In Need of Assistance
(CINA) and Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) cases. Mediation can
involve birth parents, adoptive/foster parents, attorney, social workers,
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and kids (pilot project).
|
|
HOWARD:
|
The Circuit Court opened the Howard County
Supervised Visitation Center in January 2008. The center provides a
neutral, safe environment for children having contact with non-custodial
parents. We provide supervised visits, as well as monitored exchanges.
This service requires a court order and a mandatory orientation. There is
no fee for this service. The Center is located at the North Laurel-Savage
Multi Service Center in Laurel, Maryland and appointments are necessary.
Center hours are Fridays from 4:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m. and Sundays from noon
to 4:00 p.m. For more information contact the family law office at (410)
313-2225.
Offers
mediation from a court approved list of providers. $75/person/hr. Fee
waiver is available. Two sessions of 2 hrs each are usually
scheduled.
|
|
KENT:
|
Offers
mediation from a court approved list. Fee waiver is available. They would
like to develop a Pro Se Mediation Clinic for visitation agreements and
parents without custody orders.
|
|
MONTGOMERY:
|
Custody/Visitation Mediation - Four part-time mediators
conduct two-session mediation services at no cost to the parties. A
Spanish speaking mediator is also available.
Property ADR - Private provider.
Facilitator Program - experienced attorneys
facilitate settlements during scheduling conference dockets. If an
agreement is reached, it is immediately placed on the record. The fee to
the Court is $75 per case, but parties receive this service for free.
|
|
PRINCE GEORGE’S:
|
Custody/Visitation Mediation - parties are referred to
court-approved mediators for a minimum of two 2-hr sessions. Fee is
$50/person/session and fee waiver is available. Mediator prepares any
parenting agreements and submits to the Court for incorporation into the
order.
Property Mediation – Referrals are to
court-approved mediators,
Emergency Mediation - Court has 2 full-time mediators
to provide emergency mediation.
|
|
QUEEN ANNE’S:
|
Department
of Social Services (DSS) runs a mediation program. The fee is set by DSS
and is divided by the parties and paid to DSS. The mediator prepares any
agreement and submits to the court.
|
|
SOMERSET:
|
Custody/Visitation Mediation - 5 mediators receive cases on
rotating basis. Any parenting agreement reached is submitted to the court.
Fee is $100/party/2 hr session. Fee waiver is available.
Property Mediation - 1 private mediator is available. Any agreement is
read into the record at a court hearing.
|
|
ST. MARY’S:
|
Custody/Visitation Mediation - Offers mediation from a list of
4 court-approved mediators. Court orders all contested cases to 2
custody/visitation mediation sessions lasting 2 hours each. Fee is
$50/person/session.
Tomorrow’s Child Mediation - non-profit community
organization that uses a co-mediation team to facilitate agreements in
highly emotional cases. Free.
|
|
TALBOT:
|
Offers
mediation from a list of court-approved mediators. With the order, a
“mediation packet” is sent to parties describing process. Fee is
$200/session and court proportions fee between the parties. Fee waiver is
available. Usually 2 sessions are ordered. Mediator reduces any agreement
to writing and sends to parties & attorneys.
|
|
Washington:
|
If
you specifically request mediation, they have a list of approved
mediators.
|
|
Wicomico:
|
Custody/Visitation Mediation - Offered through one of 5 court
approved mediators. Parties ordered to attend a minimum of two, 2- hour
sessions (after parenting seminar). Fee is divided and waiver program
available. Mediator prepares any Parenting Agreement for each party to
share with counsel.
Volunteer Attorney Settlement Panel for Property Alternative Dispute
Resolution - provides mediation for property and financial issues
through one of 23 volunteer attorneys. Free.
|
|
Worcester:
|
Mediation - $75/person/session, sliding fee available.
Volunteer Attorney Settlement Panel - free.
Property/Alimony Mediation - sliding scale fee available.
Pro Se Family Mediation – There is a one time $25 fee,
and sliding scale available.
Community Conferencing Initiatives - provided by Berlin Hot
Spots Program for juvenile cases
Civil Mediation and Settlement Conferences -
also available.
|
