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Contact Bruce Matez

Peaceful resolution is my primary goal! I have practiced divorce and family law for 30 years and have been mediating divorce and family law matters for over 25 years. Early in my career, I recognized that the judicial system is not the appropriate forum for resolution of divorce and family law disputes; these are personal, rather than legal disputes. The court system fosters hatred, anger, animosity, lack of communication, and a lack of trust between divorcing couples and those involved in other family law disputes; it destroys families.

While I continue to litigate in the court system when necessary and appropriate, most of my practice now consists of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) including mediation,arbitration, and Collaborative Divorce. In addition to my mediation practice both privately and as a court appointed mediator, I have been appointed by colleagues and judges to serve as a Parenting Coordinator, Guardian ad Litem, Binding Arbitrator, and Blue Ribbon Panelist. Currently, I teach Family Law Mediation at Rutgers Law School in Camden, New Jersey.

To date, I have mediated over 1000 cases involving all different types of family law issues including but not limited to divorce, pre-divorce (pendente lite) issues, post-divorce disputes, custody and parenting time, college expenses, modification of alimony or child support, termination of alimony, emancipation, grandparent visitation, and all other family law issues and I have been appointed as a Post MESP Mandatory Economic Mediator in 100s of matters by the court and colleagues.

Bruce has been practicing divorce and family law for almost thirty years primarily in Camden, Gloucester and Burlington Counties.

He is currently serving on the Family Law Executive Committee of the NJ State Bar Association, and participates on the Family Law Committees of the Burlington, Camden and Gloucester County Bar Associations. He has spoken at continuing legal education programs on a variety of family law topics including mediation and collaborative divorce.

B.A.-University of Maryland, College Park (1986)
J.D.-Villanova University School of Law (1989)

Peacemaking is my primary goal. I want my clients to live happy and peaceful lives post-divorce or after other family law disputes are resolved. Divorce and family law disputes can impact more than just the divorcing couple, the disputing parents, or the other disputants; it impacts children, grandchildren (current and future), extended family, friends, new significant others and their families, teachers, coaches, and so many more.

I am lucky that I have an ex-spouse with whom I have a wonderful ongoing relationship that is filled with mutual caring and support. We raised our son together in divorce from about age 4 and he is now a very well adjusted, independent, successful, thriving young man. There were many bumps and bruises along the way, times of dispute, anger, frustration, hurt, sadness, and so much more, but through it all, we were able to maintain a good and healthy relationship. I consider her my friend and co-parent and I believe she considers me to be the same. She remarried, has a wonderful husband with whom I also have a good relationship, and a step-son whom she raised to be a fine young man, currently serving in the US Marine Corps. We sometimes (not often enough) get together for lunch or coffee and talk by phone once a month or so. My relationship with my son's mother has allowed me to have so much peace in my life. We never saw the inside of a courtroom! I wish this for all of my clients!

$350-$400 per hour