Family & divorce
Divorce on your terms, not the court’s.
Divorce and separation mediation in person across the DMV, or by video from anywhere. You both decide, privately, what’s fair for your home, your finances and, if you have children, their future.
- Your decisions, not a judge’s
- Private: the conversations stay confidential
- In person in the DMV, virtual everywhere
What is family mediation?
Family mediation is a private, voluntary conversation in which a neutral mediator helps the two of you work out divorce, separation and, where there are children, parenting arrangements yourselves. Steven Corn doesn’t take sides or decide anything; nothing is binding until you both sign, and your attorneys can review the agreement.
- Free 20-minute consultation
- In person in the DMV, virtual everywhere
- Not legal advice
Five reasons familieschoose mediation.
Cost effective
Typically far less expensive than litigation: no stacked court fees and no drawn-out proceedings.
Faster
Many mediations move in weeks, not the months or years a contested court case can take.
Less stress and conflict
Built around open communication, which tends to lower hostility for everyone involved, including any children.
Control and flexibility
A judge applies general rules to your case. Mediation lets you build terms that fit how you actually live.
Confidential
Mediation stays private. Court proceedings and filings generally become public record.
The issues you canwork through together.
- Divorce
- Separation agreements
- Property & asset division
- Alimony
- Child custody
- Parenting plans
- Co-parenting
- Child support & expenses
- Family business
- Elder care
The same divorce,two different roads.
What each path costs, how long it takes and who ends up deciding.
| Litigation | Mediation | |
|---|---|---|
| What it costs | About $11,300 on average per person with attorneys; about $23,300 if a contested case goes to trial.² | Typically $3,000 to $8,000 in total, shared by the couple, for full divorce mediation.¹ |
| How long it takes | Contested cases commonly run one to two years on crowded court dockets. | Many couples finish in a handful of sessions: weeks, not months. |
| Who decides | A judge, applying general rules to your family. | You do. Nothing is final until you both agree to the terms. |
| Privacy | Filings and hearings generally become public record. | Confidential, within the limits of the law. |
| Children, if any | A schedule set by the court, often after months of conflict. | A parenting plan built around your actual lives, and a co-parenting relationship that can survive the process. |
| If it doesn’t work | Rulings are hard to undo, and costs and conflict tend to grow along the way. | You keep every option, including court, and the issues are often narrower. |
¹ Published US mediator fee data (Super Lawyers; New Leaf Family fee surveys). ² Martindale-Nolo national divorce survey (Nolo / DivorceNet). General figures, not a quote or a prediction for your case; Steven explains his fees in writing before you start.
The Family Mediation Guide.
How mediation works, what to expect at each step and what to bring. Enter your email and the PDF downloads right away.
Common concerns.
You don’t have to. Mediation is structured to keep the conversation productive even when things are tense, and Steven can meet with each of you separately when that helps.
Yes. Mediation is voluntary, so both of you choose to take part. If the other person is hesitant, a calm invitation (or a neutral introduction from Steven) often helps.
The process is built so both people are heard, and any agreement has to be acceptable to both of you. Nothing is final until you both sign.
Not necessarily. Many people bring in an attorney near the end to review the agreement before it’s signed; some choose not to. Steven can’t give either of you legal advice. He helps you build the agreement; a lawyer can tell you whether it holds up.
It depends on what you mean by binding. Any contract signed by two people can be binding, and a mediated agreement is no exception. If it becomes part of your divorce or custody order, the court can enforce it directly. Terms about children always remain subject to the court’s review.
Custody, parenting schedules, and child support are among the most common things people bring to mediation. The goal is a plan built around your children’s best interests and your actual lives, not a generic template.
It depends on how many issues you’re working through. Most disputes can finish in a handful of sessions, often weeks rather than the months or years a contested court case can take.
No. He doesn’t decide what’s fair or tell you what your outcome should be. His job is to create the conditions in which the parties can work that out, and to make sure each of you understands the agreement you reach.
You’re not locked in. If you don’t reach an agreement, you keep every option you had before, including court, and the issues are often narrower than when you started.
Heated is different from unsafe. Strong emotions are common in mediation, and handling them is part of the work. If there’s been violence, threats, or fear of the other person, mediation may not be appropriate. Steven will talk this through with you privately in a free consultation and explain your options.
Start with a conversation.
A free 20-minute consultation to see whether mediation fits. No cost, no obligation.
Get your free consultation (888) 638-4763
- Maryland and DC Court Approved
- 5.0 on Google
- Free 20-minute consultation