Am I eligible for mediation?

Anyone in Washington County may request mediation support from WCCMC. We do not turn anyone away, regardless of age, gender, race or income.
 

Are the agreements reached in a mediation binding?

Written agreements are binding in the same sense that any contract between individuals is binding.
 

Are the mediators' decisions final?

Mediators do not make decisions for the participants. They will help you talk to each other to clarify goals, gather information, and identify options. It is up to you to decide what will meet your needs as you manage the conflict.
 

Can mediation be used in a business?

Family and other small businesses may fear public exposure of difficulties. Mediation offers privacy. All decisions are made by the participants, so control is retained by the principals in the business. The results are constructive for the partners and the business as a whole.
 

Does mediation work for separating couples?

Separation is sometimes used to give a couple a chance to get a better perspective on their relationship. Mediation can help create a custom-made separation agreement with provisions that meet each partner's needs. Interpersonal and financial issues are often included in the mediated separation agreement. Some parents develop parenting plans that are in the best interest of the child detailing how future decisions will be made, scheduling, living and visiting arrangements etc.
 

English is my second language. How can I ensure that I'll understand what's going on?

The center does not have resources to provide professional interpreter services. Participants are welcome to bring friends, family members or professional interpreters to assist them in communication.
 

How can I be assured that the mediators will be impartial?

The mediators make every effort to be impartial. The mediation process is based upon the concept that the mediator is not the judge or jury of mediation. Their opinions do not shape the result of mediation. In mediation, you - not the mediator - control the decisions and the outcome.
 

How can I become a mediator?

 If you are interested in becoming a mediator, call the WCCMC at 301-665-9262 and ask to be put on our mailing list. Once a year, the WCCMC will mail training schedules and applications to those individuals who have expressed an interest in becoming mediators. When we have received your application, we will set up an interview with you; those accepted into a training class must then complete a 50-hour mediation course and an apprenticeship before they are considered mediators.
 

How does mediation work?

 Mediation brings people in conflict together in a comfortable and safe setting. With the help of mediators, you can discuss issues and talk about your concerns. They will help you talk to each other to clarify goals, gather information, and identify options. It is up to you to decide what will meet your needs as you manage the conflict. What is discussed with the mediators is kept private and confidential. In mediation, you - not the mediator - control the decisions and the outcome.
 

How is the WCCMC operated and organized?

The WCCMC is overseen by a fifteen-member Board of Directors, and the program currently has a part-time Executive Director who manages the day-to-day operations of the program.

We would be remiss if we did not stress that our volunteer mediators are the backbone of the WCCMC. After volunteers complete their 50-hour training, they commit a certain number of hours back to the WCCMC in conducting mediations and/or participating in community outreach endeavors to increase awareness of our services. It is because of these efforts that the WCCMC is able to provide free services to those in need.
 

How long does mediation take?

A mediation session typically last two hours. Follow-up sessions may be required and scheduled accordingly.
 

How much does mediation cost?

 Mediation is free so that anyone is able to access this service.
 

How often is mediation successful? Is it worth my time?

An hour or two of effective communication is never time wasted. 86% of people who use mediation improve their situation.
 

If I've already retained counsel, may I bring my attorney to mediation with me?

Attorneys are welcome in the mediation process, as long as all parties agree. The parties must reach agreement with regard to how they will be allowed to contribute to the discussion.
 

Is mediation confidential?

Yes, strictly confidential. What is discussed with the mediators is kept private and confidential. Mediators may not be called into subsequent legal action to testify on behalf of either party.
 

May I bring a friend, family member or other representative with me for support in mediation?

Personal representatives or supporters are welcome in the mediation process, as long as all parties agree. The parties must reach agreement with regard to how other participants will be allowed to contribute to the discussion.
 

This sounds like a good idea. How do I arrange for mediation?

For more information email us at wccmc@wccmc.org or call us at 301-665-9262
 

What are the rules for mediation?

While the mediators will assist participants, conduct of the actual mediation is left largely up to the participants. It is up to you to decide what will meet your needs as you manage the conflict.
 

What can mediation give me that litigation cannot?

Privacy - Courts are very public places and court documents are public as well.  Mediation, by contrast, involves closed proceedings, which offer the benefit of keeping your personal and financial affairs out of public view. A final agreement, however, if made part of a court order will be a public document.
Creativity - Due to the nature of our legal system, judges must follow certain rules when deciding cases. The types of relief (solutions) that a judge can order as the result of litigation are limited.  The flexibility you have to reach your own result is one of the greatest benefits of choosing mediation.
Fewer Costs - The role a consulting attorney plays in mediation is very different from litigation. Important steps, like the investigation and sharing of evidence, are more informal. This reduces the cost and complexity of a case.
Consulting attorneys advise you about your legal rights and the consequences of mediated agreements.
Faster Results - The formal procedures lawyers undertake in litigation are not only costly, they also take time. Built-in time delays can be kept to a minimum by informally sharing information. You can set the pace for the proceedings, rather than relying on a court, and mediators can take more time to handle your case than
judges.
Collaborative instead of adversarial - The combative hostility of litigation is not present in the mediation process. The participants work together to find a reasonable solution to the problem. The participants are not hampered with strict rules of evidence, and are free to look for creative solutions.
 

What cases are appropriate for mediation?

 Virtually any dispute is appropriate for mediation. Center mediators assist individuals in inter-personal conflicts, neighbor conflicts, family conflicts, parent/teen conflicts, landlord-tenant issues, business conflicts, employment conflicts, group and organizational conflicts, separation and/or divorce and parenting plans. The only type of dispute which the WCCMC will not mediate is that in which domestic violence is involved.