Questions are a good place to start.

Mediation is a voluntary process for resolving issues such as divorce, custody, parenting and finances with the help of a neutral person. Meg helps you communicate, understand each other’s concerns, and explore possible agreements. She does not decide the outcome for you. Maryland Rule 17-205 sets the qualifications for mediators, which include at least 40 hours of mediation training. Many are experienced family-law attorneys.

Neither party. Meg is a neutral mediator who facilitates the discussion without taking sides. She has retired from practicing law and does not provide legal representation or legal advice to either person.

You are not required to have your own attorney, but consulting one is recommended. An attorney can explain your rights and review an agreement before you sign. With both parties’ agreement, attorneys may also attend mediation.

Yes, with legal exceptions. What is discussed generally cannot be used in court or shared outside the process, except in certain instances involving fraud, child abuse or threats of harm. Meg explains confidentiality and the ground rules at the outset. Please keep an initial website inquiry brief and avoid sending sensitive documents or details.

The decisions are yours. Meg helps you explore options but cannot force either person to agree. If you don’t reach an agreement, you may still proceed to court. Any agreement you do reach can be recorded in Points of Agreement, which you can review with your own attorney before anything is signed.

All mediation sessions with Meg take place via Zoom, so families anywhere in Maryland can take part without traveling to an office.

Meg’s fee is $400 per hour. The total cost depends on the complexity of the issues and how cooperative the parties are.

Most cases resolve in two or three two-hour sessions, plus one to two weeks to draft Points of Agreement. More complex issues may take longer.

No. Maryland allows a mutual consent divorce if all issues are resolved in a signed agreement.

In Maryland, a divorce is finalized through the court. For an uncontested divorce, typically only one party appears, briefly, before a magistrate. Meg does not attend court, but she can direct you to online resources.

Uncontested divorces generally take two to three months, depending on the court’s schedule.