Family Law Arbitration

In Family Law Arbitration, the parties involved typically retain lawyers, and present evidence and witnesses in a trial setting to resolve a dispute. An arbitrator will prepare a final decision and issue an award based on the facts and the application of the law to the facts at hand. The arbitrator’s decision will then be submitted to a Judge for the entry of a final binding Order which is non-appealable, except for instances of fraud or misconduct. Any awards issued using arbitration, since they are legally binding, may be enforced by the court. This process may be less costly and faster than going through litigation, as well as offering a more informal & private environment. The arbitrator will typically set forth a binding discovery schedule, and schedule a trial on all issues on a consecutive day basis, if more than one day is needed. Pre-trial Memorandums and/or Post-trial Memorandums may be required of Counsel. A Court Reporter may or may not be present at the trial depending on the agreed upon scope of the Arbitration set forth in an Arbitration Agreement. The parties are responsible for the payment of the Arbitrator’s fees and/or the Court Reporter, if one is utilized.

Family Law Arbitration can be used to resolve issues such as:

• Custody & Support Issues  
• Divorce  
• Equitable Distribution of Property  
• Special Relief Issues