Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Services in Cecil County

Community Resources

Cecil County Community Mediation Center
224 E. Main Street
Elkton, MD 21921
(p) 443-207-5159
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.cecilmediation.org/

The Cecil County Community Mediation Center provides FREE mediation and alternative dispute resolution services to everyone in Cecil County, MD, regardless of their ability to   pay. Mediation offer individuals experiencing conflict an opportunity to be heard, increase mutual understanding, and collaboratively develop their own solutions. These processes provide families, friends, neighbors, schools, businesses, faith communities, nonprofit      and community-and community -based organizations, and government agencies constructive approaches to addressing conflict while actively involving all affected parties in resolving their disputes.
Participants may self-refer or be referred by others. 

In addition to general mediation, Cecil Mediation offers specialized mediation to support parent planning, attendance/truancy diversion, family and community re-entry after incarceration, military service, and substance use recovery. Mediation may also be used    to resolve eligible small claims and criminal misdemeanor court cases through referrals    from the District Court ADR Office and the Cecil County Office of the State's Attorney. The center also offers Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting facilitation in partnership with    the MD Department of Education and Cecil County Public Schools. 

Cecil Mediation recruits and trains volunteer mediators who reflect the diversity of the       community. These volunteers play a key role in supporting accessible, community-based conflict resolution.

Please visit the website for a complete listing of services and hours of operation.

Court Programs

Circuit Court for Cecil County
129 E. Main Street
Elkton, MD 21921

If you have a civil case pending in the Circuit Court, you may be able to use mediation or a settlement conference to resolve your case prior to trial. These processes are often used in family cases, such as contested custody and visitation, parenting plans/child access, and separation of marital property. The court may also use these processes for non-family cases, such as contract, personal injury, employment, environmental, workers’ compensation, and real property, to name a few.

Contact the court to learn more.

District Court of Maryland ADR Office
251 Rowe Boulevard
Suite 307
Annapolis, MD 21401
Website: www.mdcourts.gov/district/adr/home.html

If you have a civil case pending in the District Court of Maryland, you may be able to take advantage of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to resolve your dispute. You can use ADR before your trial date and on the day of your trial. There are two types of ADR services offered, mediation and settlement conferences. ADR services in the District Court are free to the participants.

Day of Trial ADR services are offered in-person on the trial date. Pre-trial ADR services may be available in-person, remotely (on a computer, tablet, or smart phone), or both. The services offered at each District Court location vary; please visit the District Court ADR Office website to see what is available in this county. Please contact the ADR Office according to how you would like to participate in an ADR session, in-person or remotely:

Before Your Trial (available 3 weeks or more prior to your trial date)
Pre-Trial Mediation: Cases are referred to approved mediators or a partner organization and can be scheduled on a mutually agreeable date, time, and location convenient for all parties. If the case is not resolved at the pre-trial mediation, the case goes forward to trial on the scheduled trial date.

Pre-Trial Settlement Conference: Cases are referred to approved settlement conference attorneys. The District Court ADR Office will schedule sessions on a mutually agreeable date for all parties in the case. If the case is not resolved during the pre-trial settlement conference, the case goes forward to trial on the scheduled trial date.

Day of Trial
Day of Trial ADR: In the courtroom, cases may be referred to mediation or settlement conference by the judge, or parties may request these services if available. All parties in the case must appear for the case to be referred to ADR. The ADR process will take place in a private room in the courthouse. If the case is not resolved in ADR, the parties will return to the courtroom for the scheduled court process.

To learn more about alternative dispute resolution programs in the District Court of Maryland and to find out which services are available at the courthouse where your case is scheduled, visit “the” District Court ADR Office website, or call 410-260-1676 or 1-866-940-1729. 

Office of the State’s Attorney for Cecil County 
State’s Attorney James A. Dellmyer
Cecil County Circuit Courthouse
129 East Main Street
Suite 300
Elkton, MD 21921
Phone: 410-996-5335
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://cecilstatesattorney.org/

The Office of the State’s Attorney identifies cases in which disputes may be better resolved through mediation rather than criminal prosecution. For appropriate cases, mediation is offered at no charge. Cases may include neighbor disputes, family disputes not involving domestic violence, landlord/tenant problems, and contractor/client disputes. The cases deemed appropriate for mediation are referred to the Cecil County Community Mediation Center (CCCMC) and the Office notifies those involved by letter that the case has been referred. Mediations are scheduled by CCCMC and occur prior to trial.