Can I settle my small claims court dispute without going to trial?

Yes, it is possible to settle a small claims court dispute without going to trial in Maryland. This is referred to as an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). ADR can take many forms, such as mediation, arbitration or conciliation. Mediation is an informal process in which a neutral third-party mediator facilitates negotiations between the parties. The mediator will try to help the parties reach an agreement, but they will not make a decision about the dispute. Arbitration is similar to mediation but uses a neutral third-party arbitrator to make a binding decision about the dispute. In small claims court, a hearing is held before the arbitrator and the parties are asked to present evidence and arguments. Conciliation is another form of ADR. This is when the parties discuss the dispute in the presence of the neutral third-party conciliator. The conciliator helps them come to a mutual agreement but does not make a decision on the matter. ADR is designed to be a faster and less expensive solution than going to trial and it can help resolve conflicts without the need for litigation. You can request an ADR hearing through the Maryland Small Claims Court and both parties must agree to take part in the ADR process for it to proceed.

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Can I settle my small claims court dispute without going to trial?

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