Scheduling & Fees

Scheduling

At BDRS, we try to make the scheduling and intake process, and our fee structure, as simple, efficient, and transparent as possible.  If you have questions, please do not hesitate to Contact us.

Time

Mediations, conciliations, and business facilitations are scheduled for either half-day 0f four hours or full-day sessions of eight hours. Case evaluations are scheduled for either half-day sessions of three hours or full-day sessions of six hours .

In addition, BDRS now offers a shortSession mediation for personal or small-business disputes involving two parties and an amount in controversy of less than $10,000.  Each ShortSession includes up to two hours of time for a modest flat fee, with additional time available at a reduced hourly rate.

Location

Where parties are represented by counsel sessions are typically held at the office of counsel for one of the parties.  Where neither side has counsel, or where the parties cannot agree on an office, the session can be held at some other location, with room charges, if any, to be divided
equally among the parties.

How to schedule

Please click on the calendar image below (or where it appears on other pages) to review available dates and schedule a session using our online booking system.

Parties are welcome to call BDRS to schedule a date if they are unable to access online booking, but will likely find the online process to be the most immediate and efficient way to schedule a session.  

If you need a particular date, but it shows  as unavailable, please send BDRS an email noting your desired date; we are usually able to rearrange schedules to accommodate parties with particular date requirements.

For information about what happens after a booking request is submitted, including when sessions are confirmed,  please see What Happens Next.

Fees & expenses  |  Mediation services

BDRS uses a simple fee structure for its standard dispute resolution services, where each party pays a flat fee based upon the total number of parties and the scheduled duration of the session. There are no additional fees for time spent on pre- or post-session phone calls or for standard preparation for a session. 

BDRS is pleased to offer these competitive rates in order to make its services cost-effective for a wide range of disputes. 

Fee rates

• Mediation & Conciliation

• Case Evaluation & Business Facilitation

• ShortSESSION

• Divorce Mediation

Special situations

Fees for extraordinary preparation time due to voluminous documents submitted by the parties and other non-standard arrangements will be included in the written ADR agreement.

Travel expenses

For in-state sessions, mileage, tolls, and parking are billed at cost. In instances where the daily round-trip mileage is 25 or fewer miles, the mileage charge is waived. Information regarding fees and travel expenses for out-of-state or overseas sessions is available upon request.

Rescheduling & cancellation

Rescheduled sessions*

• There is no charge to reschedule a confirmed session if (1) there are at least 14 days between the date of the request to reschedule and the date of the confirmed session, (2) the party seeking to reschedule has obtained one or more agreed new dates from all parties, and (3) the new date is within of the original date.

• Otherwise, there is an administrative fee of $250 for matters involving fewer than four parties and $500 for matters involving four or more parties, which is immediately due and payable from the party requesting the cancellation. 

Cancelled sessions*

• If a session is cancelled with more than 30 days between the date of the request to cancel and the date of the confirmed session then fees paid will be refunded.

• If a session is cancelled with fewer than 30 days but more than 15 days between the date of the request to cancel and the date of the confirmed session then 75 percent of fees paid will be refunded.

• If a session is cancelled with fewer than 15 days but more than 3 days between the date of the request to cancel and the date of the confirmed session then 50 percent of fees paid will be refunded.

• If a session is cancelled with three or fewer days between the date of the request to cancel and the date of the confirmed session then no fees will be refunded.

* These cancellation rules do not apply to ShortSession or divorce mediations.

Fees & expenses  |  Arbitration and insurance references or appraisals

Fee rates

Fees for time spent on pre-hearing, hearing, and post-hearing work, and travel time, are at an hourly rate.

Travel expenses

For in-state proceedings, mileage, tolls, and parking are billed at cost. If the daily round-trip mileage totals 25 or fewer miles, the mileage charge is waived. Information regarding travel expenses for out-of-state or overseas sessions is available upon request.