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Economic Mediation in Family Law Cases

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Economic Mediation Program Overview

Contested divorce cases are first reviewed by an early settlement panel (ESP). This panel, made up of two experienced divorce attorneys, will recommend a settlement in the case. If the parties do not agree with the recommendation, and there are unresolved financial disputes after ESP review, the court may order them to participate in economic mediation. Economic mediation can help divorcing couples find common ground to divide shared property and determine support.

Economic mediation is a means of resolving financial issues with a trained, impartial third party. It is designed to facilitate settlements in an informal, non-adversarial environment. Mediators do not represent either party and do not offer legal advice. Parties are encouraged to retain their own attorney for the mediation process. If they do not have an attorney, they may choose someone else to accompany them in mediation.

Benefits of mediation include:

  • Confidential proceedings.
  • The opportunity for the parties to create their own, mutually acceptable agreement.
  • Allowing parties to take an active role in resolving their dispute.
  • Saving both parties time and money.

All mediators on the roster of Judiciary-approved mediators have completed 40 hours of mediation training. Mediators on the roster with a domestic violence designation completed training that qualifies them to conduct Domestic Violence Economic Mediation. Mediators are attorneys and other experienced professionals in the financial or mental health fields.

After the first two hours, the mediation costs are paid by the parties.

The first two hours of mediation are free. These two hours include the time it takes for the mediator to prepare for the first session and for the session itself. Travel time is not included in the first two hours and mediators are not allowed to charge for their travel.

During the mediation, the mediator will let you know when the two free hours have been reached. Either party can then choose to end the mediation. If the mediation goes beyond the free two hours, the court decides the amount each party will be responsible for to cover the mediator’s fee.

Economic Mediation and Final Restraining Orders

Generally, the law prohibits mediation when there is an active final restraining order between the parties. The Domestic Violence Economic Mediation Program allows mediation only if the protected party (the person with the restraining order) requests it. The protected party must consent to amending the final restraining order to allow mediation. The protected party may terminate the mediation process at any time and for any reason. 

The protected party must initiate the request for economic mediation.

The protected party must

  1. Read and understand the Frequently Asked Questions for Protected Parties 
  2. Meet with a domestic violence advocate or trained court staff; and
  3. Complete and file a certification which is a formal request to the court that the case be referred to economic mediation. It is also a request for the court to amend the Final Restraining Order to permit economic mediation. Filing the certification does not guarantee that the court will refer the case to the program.

After reviewing the certification and confirming that the protected party consents to economic mediation, the court will ask the other party if they agree to mediation. If they do not agree, they will be asked to provide an explanation. The court may still decide to refer the case to economic mediation.

If the court refers a case to economic mediation, both parties will work separately with court staff to agree on the selection of a mediator. If they are unable to agree, the court will assign one.

If there is a final restraining order, the parties will not be in the same room for mediation.

Domestic violence economic mediation takes place in a secure room at the courthouse where security is on site, or it may take place on-line using videoconferencing. Domestic violence economic mediation will not be conducted at the mediator’s office or any other location.

The mediator assigned to the case will use a process called “shuttle diplomacy” to facilitate the mediation. This means that each party will be in separate rooms the entire time, and the mediator will communicate with them separately. This eliminates direct communication between the parties. Similarly, if the mediation is conducted online, the parties will be in separate virtual meeting rooms and will not have any contact.

Only mediators who completed domestic violence mediation training are eligible to mediate cases where there is a restraining order between the parties.

The protected party can choose to end mediation at any time.

This program was created to give victims of domestic violence the same opportunity to resolve their case as litigants who do not have a restraining order. If the protected party does not feel comfortable about moving forward with economic mediation, they can let their attorney know. If they do not have an attorney, they can contact the court. This will not be held against them in any way.

The mediator cannot address other issues such as custody or parenting time.

This is prohibited by law and violates provisions of the Domestic Violence Economic Mediation program.

Read the Frequently Asked Questions for Protected Parties and Frequently Asked Questions for Non-Protected Parties for more details about the program.

Mediators by County

If you want to become a mediator, you need to apply. Current mediators can change or update their roster status.

Mediators must complete the Economic Mediation Results Form after the mediation session.     

Mediators for Economic Aspects of Family Law

Mediator Sort descending Qualifications Hourly Rate
Harold Johnson, Esq.
BorgerMatez, P.A.
1415 Route 70, Suite 201
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
$400.00
Amanda P. Johnston, Esq.
Jacobs Berger, LLC
16 Washington Ave, Suite 201
Morristown, NJ 07960
$350.00
John A. Jones, Esq.
Borger Jones Matez & Keeley-Cain, P.A.
1415 Route 70 East, Suite 305
Cherry Hill, NJ 080342210
Fax: (856) 424-3690
$300.00
Sanford M. Kahan, Esq.
60 Washington Street, Suite 301
Morristown, NJ 07960
Fax: (973) 401-1516
$325.00
Robert J. Kane, Esq.
Weinberger Law Group, LLC
2001 Route 46 East, Suite 310
Parsippany, NJ 07054
Fax: (973) 257-5005
$325.00
Ira C. Kaplan, Esq.
Law Offices of Ira C. Kaplan, P.C.
190 Moore Street, Suite 430
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Fax: (201) 457-1414

Since 2002 Mr. Kaplan has served as a Court Approved Mediator. He is also a collaboratively trained divorce attorney. For twenty-five years Mr. Kaplan has served on the Bergen County Matrimonial Early Settlement Panel as Chair and Panelist. Mr. Kaplan is regularly appointed by the court as Mediator, Parenting Coordinator, and Guardian ad litem.

Approved for DV Cases
$350.00
Steven J. Karch, Esq.
Winegar, Wilhelm, Glynn & Roemersma
305 Roseberry Street, PO Box 800
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
Fax: (908) 454-3322
$250.00
Jeffrey S. Karl, Esq.
Jeffrey S. Karl, P.A.
1820 Chapel Avenue West, Suite 195
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
Fax: (856) 488-5690
$250.00
Robert A. Karlin, PhD.
330 North Harrison Street, Suite 6
Princeton, NJ 08540
$330.00
Carol Katz Sicheri, Esq.
Sicheri & Sicheri, P.C.
1160 Beacon Avenue
Manahawkin, NJ 08050
Fax: (609) 597-1536
$300.00
Jeffrey I. Katzelnick, Esq.
124 Saint Paul Street
Westfield, NJ 07090
Fax: (908) 233-8312
$325.00
Lydia F. Keephart, Esq.
Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman
989 Lenox Drive, Suite 101
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Fax: (609) 452-8796
$400.00
Carol J. Kernan, Esq.
Litwack & Kernan, LLC
817 East Landis Ave
Vineland, NJ 08361
Fax: (856) 455-5600
$250.00
Donald Kessler
Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith and Davis, LLP
75 Livingston Avenue
Roseland, NJ 07068
Fax: (973) 577-1873

Judge Kessler was a Superior Court Judge for 10 years, serving in the Family and Chancery Divisions. In Family, he presided over matrimonial cases involving alimony, child support, equitable distribution, custody, relocation and domestic violence. In Chancery, he handled complex business matters and decided complicated financial and valuation issues.

$475.00
Michael W. Kiernan, Esq.
20 Brace Road, 4th Floor
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
Fax: (856) 810-0129
$200.00
H. Sarah Kim, Esq.
Law Offices of Sarah Kim
20 Mercer Street, Suite 3M
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Fax: (201) 699-0953
$350.00
Brian W. Kincaid, Esq.
Fein, Such, Kahn and Shepard, P.C.
7 Century Drive, Suite 201
Parsippany, NJ 07054
Fax: (973) 397-2976
$265.00
Karen Kirchoff Saminski, Esq.
616 Summit Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07306
Marina Kirshenbaum, Esq.
McIntyre and Kirshenbaum, LLC
316 E. Broad Street
Westfield, NJ 07090
Fax: (973) 467-8554
Email:mk@mkllc.com
$275.00
Amy B. Klauber, Esq.
Klauber & Klauber, LLP
1500 Allaire Avenue
Ocean, NJ 07712
Fax: (732) 663-1501
$250.00