Mediation/Separation & divorce
Separation & divorce
Ending a marriage without a war.
Separation is hard enough without two sets of lawyers making it harder. Mediation lets the two of you work out the practical questions — money, home, children — in a room where both of you are heard, usually in far less time than going to court.
Sounds familiar?
The situations this page is for.
- You've decided to separate and want to keep it civil
- You agree on most things but are stuck on one or two
- There are children, and you both want to protect them from the process
- One of you has already spoken to a lawyer and it's getting adversarial
- You need to divide a home, savings or a business
- You want an agreement you both actually understand
- You need a parenting plan, an access schedule or a custody agreement
- You need a fair plan for dividing property
How we'd help
The decisions stay with the two of you.
Divorce mediation is voluntary and confidential. The mediator doesn't represent either of you, doesn't take sides, and doesn't decide anything for you.
The work is practical: what needs to be decided, what each of you needs from the outcome, and what arrangement both of you can live with. For parents, that means a parenting plan, an access schedule and a custody agreement the children can rely on. For property, it means a plan for dividing what you own equitably. You each remain free to take legal advice at any point.
The result is an agreement you wrote together — which is why it tends to hold once it is signed.
one paragraph in the mediator's own voice about this kind of matter — experience, and how a session is run.
Common questions
What people ask before they call.
How do we start?
One person gets in touch. You do not need the other party's agreement to make the first call — part of what we do is help bring the other side to the table.
How do I get the other person to participate?
Mediation is voluntary, so no one can be compelled. What usually works is a neutral invitation from the mediator rather than from the person they are in conflict with.
How long does it take?
Typical number of sessions for this kind of matter, and how long each runs.
Do we still need lawyers?
Mediation is not legal advice. Many people have a lawyer review the agreement before signing it, and you are free to consult one at any stage.
Is it confidential?
What is said in mediation stays in mediation. Nothing is shared outside the process unless the participants agree to share it.
Who pays?
Who usually pays, and whether costs are split.
How much does it cost?
Hourly, per session, or per matter? A range, or "quoted after the first conversation" if fees vary.
Can we do this remotely?
Virtual, in person at the Bowie office, or both — and whether the parties need to be in the same room.