Arbitration & Mediation Fees Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

All arbitration claims have a filing fee. The filing fee is based on the total amount of your claim, excluding interest, attorneys' fees and expenses. 

You may request a filing fee waiver if you are experiencing financial hardship. Documentation is required. FINRA will review your submitted documentation and provide written notice of its decision.

Also, later in the case, there can be other fees that an arbitrator may assess in whole or in part to any party. For more information about the possible fees in an arbitration, visit the Fees page.

Use the Fee Calculator to estimate filing and hearing session fees. Please note, it does not estimate other fees.

When a case is settled or withdrawn more than 10 calendar days before a scheduled hearing, FINRA will issue a partial refund of the filing fee, less any fees or costs owed by that party. Any refund will be issued directly to a named party, even if a non-party made payment on behalf of that named party.

In the DR Portal, you can pay the filing fee by credit card or Automated Clearing House (ACH) bank transfer. If you’d like to pay by check, make it payable to FINRA Dispute Resolution Services. Please note on the check the name of the party filing the claim. Send the check along with a copy of your statement of claim to:

FINRA Dispute Resolution Services
Brookfield Place 
200 Liberty Street
11th Floor
New York, New York, 10281-0001  

If a fee is assessed to more than one party jointly and severally, it means that each of those parties is liable for the entire fee until it is paid in full. FINRA is entitled to determine which of those parties to invoice and may assess all or part of the fee to any liable party.

Payment is due upon receipt. The invoice shows the fees assessed during a billing cycle.

If fees are assessed during different billing cycles, you will receive more than one invoice. Certain fees will only be assessed at the close of the case, such as hearing session fees, motion-related fees and contested subpoena fees.

In the DR Portal, you can pay the invoice by credit card or Automated Clearing House (ACH) bank transfer. If you’d like to pay by check or by wire transfer, see below. Please do not send payments to a regional FINRA office.

Send checks to:
FINRA P.O. Box 418911
Boston, MA 02241-8911

Send Wires to:
Bank Name: Bank of America
ABA: 026009593
Credit To: FINRA
Account: 226005684771
Reference #: (Your Invoice Number)

An invoice reflects the fees assessed during a billing cycle, while a Statement of Account reflects all fees assessed and payments received. You will receive a Statement of Account within 30 days after a case closes and each month until paid in full. Parties can request a Statement of Account at any time during the case by contacting [email protected].

Refunds are issued approximately 45-60 days after case closure. Refunds are made payable to a named party but are mailed to the representative, if you are not representing yourself.

All invoices and statements will be sent to your representative. If you are representing yourself, all invoices and statements will be sent to you.

Your assigned Case Administrator will answer all questions regarding fee assessments. The FINRA Finance Department will answer all questions regarding balances due and payments. Contact the FINRA Finance Department at (240) 386-5992 or [email protected].

Please contact the FINRA Finance Department at (240) 386-5992 or [email protected] to review your options. If you are unable to pay the balance in full, you may request a payment plan. Additionally, customers and Associated Persons may request a financial hardship waiver. Documentation is required. FINRA will review your submitted documentation and provide written notice of its decision.

A member surcharge and process fee are assessed against each member that employed, at the time the dispute arose, an associated person who is named as a respondent in a claim, counterclaim, cross claim or third-party claim.

The Mediation Filing Fee is assessed and billed when parties agree to mediate and open a case with FINRA. All fees are payable upon receipt of a FINRA invoice.

Fees range based on geography, experience and demand. However, an approximate average is between $350 and $550 an hour.

After the conclusion of a case, the mediator submits their Mediator Payment Form, and then FINRA staff will issue invoices. On occasion, a Mediation Session Deposit will be collected prior to the mediation, based on the mediator's request.

Parties sometimes receive an invoice for anticipated costs prior to the start of a mediation. The costs are divided equally between mediating parties, unless parties agree in writing to a different arrangement. Any unused funds will be applied to any outstanding case fees, including arbitration fees. FINRA will refund the remaining balance about 45 days after the case concludes.

Parties may agree to a different arrangement and should communicate that information to the Mediation Case Administrator assigned to their case, or to the mediator during the mediation or at the conclusion of the mediation session. FINRA will invoice accordingly.

Invoices have a detachable remittance stub. Please return the stub with your check made payable to "FINRA". Please write the invoice number on your check, and mail payments to: 

FINRA
P.O. Box 418911
Boston, MA 02241-8911 

Please do not send payments to the regional Dispute Resolution office.

A statement of account is a record of all transactions that have occurred in your account. Statements include all invoices, as well as payments, and any other activity. You will receive a final statement of account (with a complete listing of all your fees, credits and payments) within 45 days after FINRA closes your case. You will also receive a statement of account when there is an unpaid balance for more than 30 days.

Generally, you should pay the Total Amount Due on the most current invoice, because any balance due from a previous invoice will carry over as the Balance Forward Amount.

An invoice represents the fee assessments in a one-week period. The date of each assessment is listed under the column, "Current Assessments." Weekly Invoices are generated only for parties that have incurred fees in that period.

The FINRA Finance Department will answer all questions regarding balances due and payments. You may contact the FINRA Finance Department at (240) 386-5910, or by email.

The first time that parties postpone their arbitration hearing to mediate through FINRA, DRS will waive the adjournment fee. Parties will, however, continue to be responsible for additional fees described in FINRA Rule 12601(b)(2)/13601(b)(2) for late postponement requests. If parties postpone the hearing within 10 days of the first regular scheduled hearing, even if it is their first postponement to mediate or the panel waives a subsequent postponement fee, the parties will be assessed a late cancellation fee to be paid to the panel.