Equitable Mediation to Open Three New Locations in Bergen County

Equitable Mediation Services announced today that it will now be serving divorce mediation clients in Bergen County, New Jersey in the towns of Paramus, Saddle Book and Hackensack, expanding the number of it’s New Jersey office locations to 12.

Managing Partner and Equitable Mediation founder Joseph Dillon said “I know I speak for everyone here at Equitable Mediation when I say that we’re pleased to be able to assist divorce mediation clients in an office location that’s convenient for them during their time of need and by expanding into Paramus, Saddle Book and Hackensack, we’re able to do just that for Bergen County couples.”

Until recently Equitable Mediation Services focused mostly on Central NJ and the lower part of Northern NJ with office locations in Bedminster, Bridgewater, East Brunswick, Iselin (Metropark), Morristown Princeton, Short Hills, Red Bank and Roseland.  With the expansion into Bergen County and the towns of Paramus, Saddle Book and Hackensack, clients in those areas will still be able to obtain the benefits of mediation in NJ but in a location that’s much closer to their home.  This is especially convenient for those individuals who may live in New Jersey but work in New York City which many Bergen County resident do.

“Our clients come to us from all over the state and up until recently, for those individuals who phoned us seeking mediation services in Paramus, Saddle Book or Hackensack, the best we could do was offer them a meeting in one of our other office locations which for some, wasn’t convenient.  Having these three new office locations is going to make it easier on our clients in Bergen County to get the services they need from a firm they can trust.  We’ve been mediating for a long time and divorce mediation is our full time profession.  Using an unknown firm without Accredited Professional Mediators just isn’t something clients should want to take a chance on.”

Because the laws of the State apply to all clients who are eligible to file for divorce in New Jersey,  Equitable Mediation Services is able to service clients no matter where they live.  Adding three new Bergen County office locations is in line with the Equitable Mediation philosophy of reducing the stress of an already uncomfortable situation by being where the clients need divorce mediation services the most. For information on the new Equitable Mediation Services office locations, please see the addresses below.

• Paramus Divorce Mediation: 140 East Ridgewood Avenue – Paramus, New Jersey
• Saddle Brook Divorce Mediation: (the Park 80 West building)- 250 Pehle Avenue, Suite 200 – Saddle Brook, New Jersey
• Hackensack Divorce Mediation (opening winter 2012) – 401 Hackensack Avenue – Suite 200 – Hackensack, New Jersey

If you have any questions about divorce mediation in NJ or our services, please call us at (908) 864-2177.

Full Mobile Version of Equitable Mediation Services Website Now Available

Did you know that 10% of the visitors to the Equitable Mediation Services website are using mobile devices? In order to make it even easier on our visitors, we have developed a true mobile version of our website that works seamlessly with your Android, iPhone or Blackberry device. Simply visit our regular website at www.equitablemediation.com and you’ll be automatically redirected. Or if you’re one of those folks who are smart enough to access it direct, please visit www.equitablemediation.mobi.  As always, we welcome your feedback and would love to know what you think.  Please call us at (908) 864-2177 with comments or questions.

One Stop Mediation Firms: Illegal, Unethical or Both?

While most NJ divorce mediators perform mediation services on a part-time basis, divorce mediation is my full-time role.   Many of those practicing mediation part-time are also attorneys and have added mediation to help expand their practice.  And while I am perfectly fine with attorneys trying to expand their practices by offering mediation services, I do take issue when they claim to be able to act as your mediator and your attorney playing the role of a neutral third party to start and then representing only one of you when drafting your property settlement agreement.  For NJ couples seeking mediation services, a one stop shop where they can hire both their mediator and their attorney in the same place or better yet in the same person may seem like a great idea but I ask you this: who’s watching out for whose interest and who is getting the short end of the stick? Is this illegal, unethical or both?  The answer may surprise you.

Divorce Mediators are neutral third parties that provide legal information and help facilitate the discussions necessary to help two parties come to agreements regarding the issues surrounding their divorce.  Mediators do not represent either party and cannot give advice or tell the parties what to do.  Mediators have no stake in the outcome as we don’t view divorce as a win-lose situation.

Attorneys are advocates whose only job is to represent their client (and their client only) to get them the best possible deal.  They aren’t focused on fair and equitable and they aren’t watching out for both parties’ interests. They do have a stake in outcome as their success in getting you and only you the best possible deal will most certainly impact your satisfaction with them as an attorney and ultimately their professional reputation.

So now here’s the dilemma: how does an attorney go from being a neutral third party mediator for the first part of your divorce and then to being an advocate as an attorney for another part of it?  Isn’t that illegal? Since they can only represent one of you, who do they choose?  Does that mean one of you now has to get your own new attorney?  Do you go unrepresented?  What happens if there is a problem in the future?  Do you have any recourse?  How much will it cost you to resolve?  Do you think they may be biased against one of you knowing they’ll ultimately wind up representing the other party?

Hiring one individual or firm to be both your mediator and attorney is like hiring the fox to watch the chicken coop: it’s not a good idea.  Period. I believe it to be unethical, illegal and just plain wrong.

Seek the services of an Accredited Professional Divorce Mediator in New Jersey who can hep you and your spouse resolve all of the issues surrounding your divorce without any bias towards each of you.  It is only by doing so that each of you can rest assured that you’ll get a fair and equitable solution to your divorce.

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Joseph Dillon is an Accredited Professional Divorce Mediator in New Jersey and can be reached at (908) 864-2177.

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