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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
Bernstein & Kalosieh, LLP
279 Franklin Avenue
Wyckoff, NJ 07481
Fax: (201) 891-7420
Qualified Mentor
$450.00
TMO LAW LLC
95 Route 17 North, Suite 109
Paramus, NJ 07652
Fax: (201) 839-3431
Approved for DV Cases
Qualified Mentor
$475.00
1 South Woodland Avenue
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
Fax: (732) 418-9773
Qualified Mentor
$375.00
750 Cooper Street
Woodbury, NJ 08096
Fax: (856) 251-0662
$400.00
Leanne Pike Treese, Attorney at law
65 South Main Street, Suite B101
Pennington, NJ 08534
$250.00
David W. Trombadore, Attorney at Law
1 Eastern Avenue
Somerville, NJ 08876
Fax: (908) 203-5233
$250.00
1 Eastern Avenue, Suite 2W
Somerville, NJ 08876
Fax: (908) 526-2412
$500.00
1 Quarry Street
Lambertville, NJ 08530
Fax: (609) 773-0599
$275.00
32 Mercer Street, Second Floor
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Fax: (201) 800-4591
$300.00
Marotta & Tuchman, LLC
25 East Spring Valley Avenue, Suite 320
Maywood, NJ 07607
Fax: (201) 368-7723
Approved for DV Cases
Qualified Mentor
$350.00
29 Washington Street
Toms River, NJ 08753
Fax: (732) 244-3591
$200.00
Faith A. Ullmann & Associates, LLC
97 Main Street
Newtown, NJ 07860
Fax: (973) 597-9707
$325.00
Ulrichsen Rosen & Freed, LLC
114 Titus Mill Road, Unit 200
Pennington, NJ 08534
Fax: (609) 730-3860

I have over 40 years expertise in handling complex matrimonial matters. I have successfully served as a mediator & blue ribbon panelist on numerous complicated family law cases involving both financial & custodial issues. I am totally committed to the philosophy that family law matters should be amicably resolved.

$375.00
Urbach & Avraham, CPAS, LLP
1581 Route 27, Suite 201
Edison, NJ 08817
Fax: (732) 777-1161

I have over 35 years experience in finacial forensics, divorce taxation, business valuation, and general accounting. I have been qualified in NJ courts as an expert witness. I am trained in Collaborative Law and am a founding member of the Mid-Jersey Collaborative Law Alliance and the NJ Council of Collaborative Practice Groups.

$400.00
Manzi Epstein Lomurro & DeCataldo
546 Valley Road, Suite 201
Montclair, NJ 07043
$475.00
Laura Van Tassel, Esq., LLC
645 Westwood Avenue, Suite 301
Rivervale, NJ 07675
Fax: (201) 383-0248

I have focused my practice & professional development on alternative dispute resolution which includes mediation. Working together in an atmosphere of respect & dignity, we will craft a mutually satisfying outcome for both you & your spouse in an informal though structured setting. Personal attention is the hallmark of my professional career. I handle every case myself.

$325.00
242 St. Paul Street
Westfield, NJ 07090
Fax: (908) 232-7214
$300.00
141 S. Black Horse Pike, Suite 102
Blackwood, NJ 08012
Fax: (856) 401-9802
$200.00
438 Hamilton Avenue
Trenton, NJ 08609
Fax: (609) 989-0142
Approved for DV Cases
$300.00
2106 New Road, Suite E-8
Linwood, NJ 08221
$250.00

Become a Mediator

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