As a divorce mediator and collaborative law attorney, I am frequently asked what the benefits are to choosing divorce mediation or collaborative divorce, as opposed to proceeding with a traditional divorce. There are many advantages to both mediation and collaborative law. Here we will touch on the most basic yet significant advantages which apply to both divorce mediation and collaborative divorce:

Personal

You and your spouse choose the process that meets your needs. You and your spouse make the decisions about how ...

DIVIDING RETIREMENT ASSETS – Getting it RIGHT so you can get it WRITTEN.

Dividing retirement assets is an important issue for couples entering the process of separation and divorce. Retirement assets are often the most valuable marital assets a couple has along with their marital residence. Whether the couple is in mediation, using Collaborative Law, or negotiating in a traditional litigation model the first step is to gather all the information that is available about each asset before negotiating.  It is very ...

As a Divorce Mediator and Collaborative Law Attorney I am often asked what is the difference between mediation and collaborative law? And then I am asked “which process is going to be better for me?” The answer is not one-size- fits all. There are many factors to take into consideration. Each participant in the process has different needs, and couples have different needs and communication styles. I find the following chart useful to describe the both processes and how they ...

For parents, attorneys, mediators and anyone else that has an interest in Child Support and Temporary Maintenance calculations there have been changes effective January 31, 2014.  These changes are required by the statute to occur every year on January 31^st.

The new income levels that may affect the amount of a child support obligation are as follows:

• Combined Parental Income Amount: $141,000
• Self-Support Reserve: $15,755
• Poverty Income Guidelines Amount (single person): $11,670

You can find the New York State Child Support Standards Chart online at ...

“Balanced is the New Busy: Practicing Self-Care in a Frantic World”  — Keynote Kristen Skarie.

The New York State Council on Divorce Mediation is presenting a fantastic conference Saturday September 6, 2014 at the Inn on the Lake, in Canandaigua, New York where the Keynote Speaker- Kristen Skarie will speak on the topic “Balanced is the New Busy: Practicing Self-Care in a Frantic World”. This promises to be a great opportunity for to refresh ...