# Escrow and Dispute

The TalentLayer Escrow and Dispute Resolution Module allows for secure payments between users on TalentLayer integrated marketplaces and between TalentLayer integrated marketplaces. TalentLayer's Escrow and Dispute Resolution allows for users on different marketplaces to remit transactions and handle disputes associated with [specific Services.](/readme/basics/jobs-and-proposals.md)

## Capabilities

TalentLayer Escrow is a highly flexible escrow contract that allows you to, via your platform's user interface, allow users to conduct payments including: 

* Partial release of escrow to the counter-party by the employer. 
* Milestone-based projects, where based on the delivery of certain sub-services, an employee can receive payments.
* Periodical payment of hourly work; for example, weekly pay for hours worked.

Escrow contracts can not currently be refilled after the full amount has been released. After the full amount has been released, the service will automatically be marked complete and prompt the users to leave a review. Future transactions will have to be completed in a subsequent service.

It is possible for a freelancer to voluntarily opt-out of a service and be compensated partially for work completed, with the employer receiving the remaining amount of escrow back to their own wallet.

## TalentLayer Escrow With or Without Dispute Management

At the platform level, you can decide whether to allow your users to initiate disputes or not. If you choose to allow for disputes, you must choose which type of arbitration to support. 

For current arbitration options, please see the following page: 

{% content-ref url="/pages/691tpTpFU07IfJXZvZeg" %}
[Arbitration](/readme/basics/escrow-and-dispute/arbitration.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

## Fiat Management

Currently, if a platform wants to manage fiat-based payments, this requires off-ramps and on-ramps be created on either side of the transaction. 

In the soon-to-be-released TalentLayer Abstracted SDK and API we will support fiat off-ramp and on-ramp nativley, so users can leverage fiat payments in a seamless manner. 

## Learn More About The Tech

Learn more about the technical side of escrow and disputes in our Technical Guide on the smart contract. 

{% content-ref url="/pages/UBuLl4u6jTNwzR8Avtth" %}
[Escrow & Dispute Contracts](/technical-guides/lower-level-guides/smart-contracts/escrow-and-dispute.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.talentlayer.org/readme/basics/escrow-and-dispute.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.