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

Mediators for Economic Aspects of Family Law

Mediator Qualifications Hourly Rate
Lawrence Law LLC
776 Mountain Boulevard, Suite 202
Watchung, NJ 07069
Fax: (908) 645-1001
$450.00
Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti, LLP
1 Speedwell Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07962
Fax: (973) 451-8677
$400.00
Legband & D'Onofrio, LLC
93 South Finley Avenue
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
Fax: (908) 696-8432
Approved for DV Cases
$425.00
PO Box 1575
Paramus, NJ 076531575
Fax: (201) 261-5821
Approved for DV Cases
$375.00
92 East Main Street, Suite 206
Somerville, NJ 08876
Fax: (908) 800-7677
Qualified Mentor
$400.00
Leslie Law Firm, LLC
6 South Street, Suite 203
Morristown, NJ 07960
Fax: (973) 298-6959
Approved for DV Cases
$295.00
1288 Rte 73 South
Mt Laurel, NJ 08054
Fax: (856) 354-0020
$250.00
147 Columbia Turnpike, Suite 101
Florham Park, NJ 07932
$325.00
1288 Route 73 South, Suite 301
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054
Fax: (856) 482-1001
$225.00
575 Route 28, Suite 202
Raritan, NJ 08869
Fax: (908) 704-0900
$300.00
Fox Rothschild, LLP
49 Market Street
Morristown, NJ 07960
Fax: (973) 992-9125
$475.00
55 Harristown Road, Third Floor
Glen Rock, NJ 07452
Fax: (201) 612-1179
$200.00
2350 South Avenue
Scotch Plains, NJ 070764622
Fax: (908) 232-6065
$250.00
Weinberg, Lieberman & Co.
155 Passaic Avenue, Suite 420
Fairfield, NJ 07004
Fax: (973) 403-1653

I am both a mediator and financial expert with over thirty years of accounting experience. I am regularly jointly selected and court appointed to assist parties with financial issues, and frequently assist parties in settling their financial disagreements. I am a certified public accountant, accredited in business valuation and certified in financial forensics by AICPA.

$350.00
1576 US Highway 130, Lake Farrington Plaza
North Brunswick, NJ 08902
Fax: (732) 422-7772
$250.00
Weinstein Lindemann & Weinstein, P.C.
101 Eisenhower Parkway
Roseland, NJ 07068
Fax: (973) 403-7872

Ms. Lindemann has exclusively practiced family law for more than 25 years. She sits frequently as an Early Settlement Panelist and she has fulfilled the training requirements for Economic Mediation with Domestic Violence Final Restraining Orders. She is on the Economic Mediation roster in the counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic and Union.

Approved for DV Cases
$410.00
Gold, Albanese & Barletti
211 Broad Street, Suite 207
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Fax: (732) 936-9904
$400.00
Ford, Flower, Hasbrouck & King
199 New Road, Suite 42A
Linwood, NJ 08221
Fax: (609) 653-8887
$200.00
Cipriano Law Offices
175 Fairfield Ave, Suite 4C/D
West Caldwell, NJ 07006
Fax: (973) 403-8610
$350.00
Lomberg & Del Vescovo, LLC
Two University Plaza, Suite 602
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Fax: (201) 342-9411

I have 20 plus years experience in family law. I have served on Early Settlement Panels in Bergen and Essex Counties. I am a Certified Matrimonial Attorney who brings creative talents to successfully mediate resolutions to matrimonial proceedings. In addition to being a qualified Family Law Mediator, I am a Collaborate Law Attorney.

Qualified Mentor
$375.00

Become a Mediator

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