Skip to content

Mediation and ADR

Self-determination

The parties' right to make voluntary, uncoerced and informed decisions in mediation, including whether to settle and on what terms.[1][2]

In more detail

Maryland's standards require mediators to support self-determination and to resist outside pressure to settle, including pressure from courts.[1] Virginia's standards forbid a mediator from pressuring anyone into an agreement or recommending a particular solution.[2] Maryland's courts describe self-determination as the principle mediation revolves around.[3]

Varies by state

Mediator standards word self-determination differently from state to state. Find your state’s rules.

Related terms

  • ImpartialityActing without favoritism, bias or prejudice toward any participant.
  • PartyA person or organization that takes part in a mediation and whose agreement is needed to resolve the dispute.
  • Good faith participationWillingness to take part in mediation sincerely, without any duty to settle.
  • Facilitative mediationA style of mediation in which the mediator doesn't decide or evaluate the case but helps the parties communicate, identify issues and reach their own agreement.

Read next on MediationList

Sources

The official documents this definition is based on, with the date we last read each one. Definitions are in our own words.

  1. Maryland Standards of Conduct for Mediators (eff. Jan. 1, 2020)mdcourts.govchecked ↩
  2. Standards of Ethics and Professional Responsibility for Certified Mediators (eff. July 1, 2011)vacourts.govchecked ↩
  3. Mediation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR)mdcourts.govchecked ↩

General information, not legal advice. MediationList is not a law firm. Spotted an error? Tell us.

Cite this page

Page updated

MediationList. (2026, October 28). Self-determination: Definition. https://mediationlist.com/glossary/self-determination/

APA 7th ed. A retrieval date is included only for pages whose content changes, such as maps, data and tools.