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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
1312 Atlantic Avenue
Manasquan, NJ 08736
Fax: (855) 556-0012
$350.00
Catherine Ottilio-Maggio, Attorney at Law
68 Ridge Road
Tenafly, NJ 07670
Fax: (201) 816-1873
$200.00
Beattie Padovano, LLC
50 Chestnut Ridge Road
Montvale, NJ 07645
Fax: (201) 573-9369
$350.00
Murphy & Murphy, P.A.
PO Box 852
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Fax: (732) 747-3742
$200.00
900 Route 9, 6th Floor
Woodbridge, NJ 07095
Fax: (732) 634-8602
$250.00
Pallarino & Bogan, LLP
65 Madison Avenue, Suite 240
Morristown, NJ 07960
Fax: (973) 539-1160
$375.00
Buchan & Palo, LLC
818 Shrewsbury Ave, Suite C
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Fax: (732) 328-9933

Stephanie Palo, Esq. is an experienced family law attorney who is trained as both a family law mediator and collaborative divorce practitioner. Stephanie is dedicated to using alternative dispute resolution as a means to resolve family law matters She also serves as an Early Settlement Panelist in Monmouth County.

$325.00
Insight Counsel, LLC
10 Harvard Terrace
West Orange, NJ 07042
$290.00
25 Homestead Place
Bergenfield, NJ 07621
Fax: (201) 387-8344
$250.00
John Paragano, Esq., LLC
1945 Morris Avenue, Floor 1
Union, NJ 07083
Fax: (908) 688-6505

I graduated from George Washington University in 1990. Since then I have worked as General Counsel in the General Assembly of the State Legislature, served as Municipal County judge for the Township of Union, served as an Early Settlement Panelist for 16 years and for the last three years have served as a mediator for matrimonial matters. I have been in business for 25 years.

Qualified Mentor
$350.00
Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group, LLC
83 South Street, Suite 201
Freehold, NJ 07728
Fax: (732) 414-2770

I am a Certified Matrimonial Attorney and have practiced Family Law exclusively since 2003. In addition to private practice, I have been volunteering as an ESP Panelist in Middlesex County since 2012 and conducting private mediations for all types of Family Law matters since 2016.

$500.00
Weiseman, Hely, DiGioia
1299 Route 22 East
Mountainside, NJ 07092
Fax: (908) 789-9010
$300.00
One Main Street, Suite 101
Chatham, NJ 07928

If requested, I will travel to the office of one of the attorneys of record to conduct mediation and will not charge for travel time. I understand the multi- dimensional issues at stake and target clients to the optimum settlement solutions.

$450.00
51 Main Street
Little Falls, NJ 07424
Fax: (973) 427-0166
$300.00
Gomperts Penza & McDermott, LLC
959 South Springfield Avenue
Springfield, NJ 07081
Fax: (973) 258-1556
$250.00
65 North Duau Street
Englewood, NJ 07631
Fax: (201) 784-7550
$250.00
8455 Midnight Pass Road
Sarasota, NJ 34242
$225.00
Petrie, Cotroneo & Reenstra
PO Box 230
Riverdale, NJ 07457
Fax: (973) 831-6689
$350.00
Linda L. Piff, Esq., P.C.
1540 Highway 138, Suite 203
Wall, NJ 07719
Fax: (732) 556-0246

I am a divorce attorney, certified divorce mediator and a pioneer in the field Collaborative Law. I practice collaborative law mediation exclusively. I am the past President of the Collaborative Divorce Professional Practice Group and the Jersey Shore Collaborative Law Group.

$350.00
Starr, Gern, Davison & Rubin, P.C.
105 Eisenhower Parkway, 4th Floor
Roseland, NJ 07068
Fax: (973) 226-0031

For 35 years, I have practiced exclusively in Family Law. I have litigated and tried to a conclusion many divorce actions, including issues of custody determnation, parenting issues, alimony and a wide variety of equitable distribution issues including business and property valuations. I have been an Early Settlement Panelist in Union and Morris counties for many years.

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.