Save your money - mediate instead of litigate

Mediation: Who Pays?

One of the nice things about meditation is that it costs incredibly less than litigation. One reason for that is because in mediation, there is only one professional getting paid (the mediator). And the cost of the mediator is typically shared by all parties to the mediation. So for instance, if three siblings are in dispute over how their father's estate should be settled, each sibling would pay one-third (1/3) of the mediator's fee. If the hourly fee is $300, then each sibling pays $100. This, of course, is much different than each party paying 100% of their own lawyer's hourly fee.

And unlike most lawyers, mediators typically do not ask for a retainer up front. Rather, they bill for their time at the conclusion of each mediation session. As such, fees are generated in a manner that is fair, equitable and transparent.

If you find yourself in any type of civil dispute, consider mediation as an initial approach to resolving things. You may be surprised and pleased by the experience.

For those interested in mediation, the Conflict Resolution Center of NJ is now open and accepting new cases. The Center will focus exclusively on non-adversarial approaches to conflict resolution, principally through mediation and private arbitration. The Center is located at 3594 U.S. Highway 22 W. in Branchburg, NJ, just east of the Ryland Inn. For more information about our services please call us at (908) 691-2707 or visit us at www.crconj.com.