JOSEPH T. MACCARONE
An Experienced New Jersey
and R. 1:40 Qualified Mediator
Today's legal fees are sky-rocketing. A divorce can cost a couple anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000 in legal fees, particularly in a contentious divorce proceeding. In a civil action, fees can easily exceed $100,000. And, when expert witness fees (ie. forensic accountants, etc.) are added, the costs are compounded. The litigation route not only is costly but it takes the parties out of the equation regarding how the matter should be resolved. Mediation offers a viable alternative.
Rather than having a third party in a public hearing resolve the differences, Mediation offers the parties themselves an opportunity to determine their own resolution in a private confidential setting. (In the family law setting, this is often crucial to the future
well-being of the parties and their children and the ability for each of
them to move on in their lives.) Mediation is a means of resolving differences with the help of a trained, impartial third party. The parties, with or without lawyers, are brought together by the mediator in a neutral setting. A mediator does not represent either side and does not offer legal advice. Parties are encouraged to retain an attorney to advise them of their rights during the mediation process. The Mediator helps the parties identify issues, gather the information they need to make informed decisions, and communicate so that they can find a solution agreeable to both. Mediation is designed to facilitate settlements in an informal, non-adversarial manner.
Of course, for mediation to be successful the parties must act in good faith, be reasonable and be willing to participate in the process. If you believe you can meet those standards, then the mediation process can be fruitful. Mr. Maccarone, as mediator, can be of invaluable assistance in allowing clients to determine their own destinies in a strictly confidential setting.
