ADR · Maryland
Alternative dispute resolution
Mediation, arbitration, and collaborative law can help resolve disputes when the process fits the facts and the parties can engage productively. Some disputes still belong in court. A consultation helps sort whether settlement structure, arbitration, collaborative process, or litigation is the better fit.
Mediation and arbitration
Many disputes spend meaningful time in negotiation, mediation, or arbitration before or alongside court deadlines. Those processes can narrow issues, control cost, and give parties more direct input than a single trial outcome when everyone participates in good faith and the structure matches the problem.
In family matters, ADR often works best when both sides understand the documents, risks, and court posture before settlement discussions begin.
They are not automatic substitutes for litigation. Contracts may require arbitration; courts may order mediation; facts or urgency may still require motions and hearings. Rob Kamrad can discuss whether mediation or arbitration is appropriate for your situation and how it would interact with any pending case.
Collaborative law
In collaborative family law, both parties and their counsel agree to resolve issues without going to court, using structured meetings and shared disclosure instead of adversarial motion practice. The model works best when both sides are committed to transparency and compromise.
Teams sometimes include neutral financial or child-focused professionals to keep discussions organized. Collaborative law is one settlement path among others; it is not the right fit for every family, especially where safety, imbalance, or litigation deadlines already control the file.
When court still matters
ADR does not erase court rules, discovery, or hearing dates when they apply. If an agreement cannot be reached, or if court intervention is required to protect rights or children, the file proceeds under the judge’s calendar and standards of proof. Preparation should track both settlement and hearing paths until the posture is clear.