New Jersey Complimentary Dispute Resolution

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is offered by the state of New Jersey under the name Complimentary Dispute Resolution (CDR), as the state views the dispute resolution process as a complement to the traditional trial process, rather than an alternative to it. The primary programs offered by the state are Settlement Proceedings, Mediation, and Arbitration. The Supreme Court has approved many CDR programs for use in the Municipal, Family, and Civil courts. Some programs are mandated by statute, the Supreme Court requires others, and some are pilots or optional in selected situations. Trained citizen volunteers, attorneys, judicial personnel, and community agencies provide complimentary dispute resolution services.

Three of the primary CDR programs are:

Settlement Proceeding, where the parties appear before a neutral third party or panel, who assists in attempting to resolve the dispute by voluntary agreement, by providing a suggested settlement;

Mediation, where a neutral third party, without any power to legally bind the parties, facilitates communication in an effort to promote settlement without imposition of the mediator's own judgment, and makes a non-binding decision; and

Arbitration, where each party and/or his or her attorney presents its case to a neutral third party, who then renders a decision, which may be binding or non-binding, according to statute, rule, or the parties' prior agreement.

Some of the major goals of the CDR program are to protect the rights of litigants, be accessible to all, and provide a fair avenue for the resolution of disputes. Not all CDR programs are available in every vicinage. To determine which programs are available in your vicinage or to learn more about a particular program, visit the New Jersey Courts’ Complementary Dispute Resolution website. 

For further details visit New Jersey Family Law Attorneys or wants an appointment contact Bergen County Divorce Attorneys here: 3 University Plaza, Suite 350 Hackensack, NJ 07601
Telephone: (201) 771-1808