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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
Paras, Apy & Reiss, PC
"2 Bridge Avenue, The Galleria", Suite 601
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Fax: (732) 219-9020
$450.00
Himber & Stork, PC
630 Lacey Road
Forked River, NJ 08731
Fax: (609) 971-6070

Certified Matrimonial Attorney with over 20 years of family law experience. Panelist in Ocean & Monmouth counties. Approved Domestic Violence mediator.

Approved for DV Cases
Qualified Mentor
$350.00
159 Millburn Avenue, 2nd Floor
Millburn, NJ 07041
Fax: (973) 467-7832

Certified matrimonial attorney dedicated to full time practice of family law. Serves as ESP panelist in Monmouth & Ocean Counties & an Economic Mediator for over 10 years. Reasonable and consider settlement in all cases as a service to clients, Bar and Bench.

Qualified Mentor
$350.00
Gomperts Penza & McDermott
959 South Springfield Avenue
Springfield, NJ 07081
Fax: (973) 258-1556
$325.00
Ceconi & Chiefetz, LLC
25 DeForest Avenue, Suite 105
Summit, NJ 07901
Fax: (908) 273-4797
$375.00
Resnick Law Firm, LLC
51 JFK Parkway, Suite 128
Short Hills, NJ 07078
Fax: (973) 576-8700

I am a matrimonial and family lawyer and one of NJ's trailblazing practitioners in the area of parental alienation and has experience in family law for almost 20 years. I am a highly skilled litigator and handle all aspects of matrimonial and family law relating to divorce, equitable distribution, high net-worth, as well as many other areas.

Qualified Mentor
$450.00
Dario Albert Metz Everman Canda Concannon Ortiz Kr
345 Union Street
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Fax: (201) 968-5801
$300.00
Richardson & Richardson, LLC
17 Pica Place
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
$300.00
Riordan Family Law
305 Palmer Road, Suite C
Denville, NJ 07834
Fax: (973) 537-1711
Approved for DV Cases
$400.00
Divorce with Less with Remorse, LLC.
350 Springfield Ave., Suite 200
Summit, NJ 07901

Linda Robayo is fluent in Spanish and is a first-generation American. She is a family law attorney offering divorce mediation and attorney review and consultation services supporting mediation/the review of the Memorandum of Understanding. Linda is available virtually throughout New Jersey and in-person at her Union County office.

Approved for DV Cases
$300.00
AMR Law, LLC
361 Route 31, Building E, Suite 1402
Flemington, NJ 08822
$350.00
Hartman & Winnicki, P.C.
West 115 Century Road, Suite 120
Paramus, NJ 07042
Fax: (201) 967-0590
$330.00
LTA Mediation
1 Birch Place
Norwood, NJ 07648
$300.00
125 Glendale Drive
Ewing, NJ 08618
Fax: (732) 323-7550
$250.00
Marc J. Rogoff, Esq.
770 King George Road
Fords, NJ 08863
Fax: (732) 738-8588

I am an approved mediator on the Family and Civil roster. I serve on the Middlesex County Family Law ESP Panel as well as the ISP Program. I am an arbitrator for Superior Court, Middlesex County.

$400.00
Witman Stadtmauer, PA
26 Columbia Turnpike
Florham Park, NJ 07932
Fax: (973) 822-1188
$300.00
Romanova Family Law, LLC
300 Main Street, Suite 21 #572
Madison, NJ 07940
$300.00
19 Eaton Place
Ocean, NJ 07712
Fax: (732) 603-8580
$350.00
Barbara Ronca, PhD, LCSW
1124 Highway 202 South, Suite A2
Raritan, NJ 08869
Fax: (908) 218-9062
$200.00
149 West Main Street
Freehold, NJ 07728
Fax: (732) 780-6447
$200.00

Become a Mediator

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