Articles Posted in Divorce

In the right circumstances, divorce mediation can be an excellent way for couples in Rensselaer County to come to terms about how they want to navigate the end of their marriage. While litigation is an extremely effective option, which can be necessary in certain circumstances, when alternative dispute resolution options aren’t appropriate, mediation offers numerous benefits.

As both a divorce mediator and family law attorney, Mr. Darren Shapiro frequently recommends divorce mediation as an option, highlighting the opportunity to reduce the stress involved in litigation proceedings, and sometimes accelerate the decision-making process.

In the right circumstances, mediation can be a more convenient, and less stressful way to bring an end to a marriage, and leave a partnership on the right terms. However, finding the ideal mediator hasn’t always been easy, as many Rensselaer County residents have been limited to choosing local professionals, regardless of whether they address their needs completely. Continue reading ›

Though the litigation process can be extremely effective, and sometime essential in certain cases, alternative dispute resolution methods have grown increasingly popular over the users. Divorce mediation, for instance, can offer couples a more comfortable way to make decisions at the end of their marriage, eliminating or reducing the time spent in court rooms, or presenting information to judges.

Though I’m both a family law attorney and divorce mediator, I frequently recommend divorce mediation to couples for various reasons. It can help reduce the stress involved in the divorce journey, and even allow individuals to preserve amicable relationships with their former partners.

However, though divorce mediation is now common in New York, Long Island, and throughout the US, finding the right mediator hasn’t always been simple. Many Schenectady County residents, for instance, have long been restricted to local mediators, because mediations were traditionally hosted face-to-face. Fortunately, this is starting to change.

Since the pandemic, my Law and Mediation Office has implemented new processes that allow mediators like me to offer virtual mediation options to Schenectady County residents, and couples all over New York. Here’s your guide to the benefits of virtual mediation. Continue reading ›

Divorce mediation is one of the most popular forms of alternative dispute resolution, and a process I recommend considering for New Yorker’s contemplating dissolving their marriage. In an article referenced on Mediate.com it was stated that studies have shown that mediation can drive amicable resolutions in around 80% of cases. While I have not reviewed the stated studies I think it is fair to say that eighty percent or more of the couples that start mediation with me end up resolving the case and reaching a settlement.  I litigate and mediate and can honestly say that mediation is in almost all instances also less expensive, less stressful, and less complex than litigation.

In the past, usually, the way to access mediation services was to book face-to-face sessions with a professional. For the many clients who don’t want to have to drive long distances to find a mediator, this often limited their option on who they could work with.

However, all that has begun to change. Since the pandemic, the digital world, and the courts of New York, through e-filing, have begun supporting mediators like me with virtual options and digital filing. We can host sessions with residents of Broome County, or any other locations over channels like Zoom, and even e-file documents with the courts, to make the mediation process more convenient than ever. Continue reading ›

Relationships can end for a variety of reasons, but even if the split is amicable, most couples want to part ways with a dispute resolution method that’s as painful and convenient as possible.

That’s one of the reasons why divorce mediation is so popular in New York and the rest of the country. It can offer a less stressful alternative to litigation, and can even save couples time and money when ending their marriage. However, while couples in Ulster County, New York, have had access to divorce mediation services for some time, their options for choosing the right divorce mediator have often been limited.

A focus on face-to-face mediation sessions over the years has prompted many people to choose local mediation services, even if they don’t adhere to their specific needs. Fortunately, virtual mediation is now an option, allowing mediators like me to conduct meetings with Ulster County couples through channels like Zoom, and e-file documents with the courts. Continue reading ›

Just as there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all marriage, there’s no single process for navigating a divorce that works for everyone. While some couples find the only way to effectively negotiate the end of their relationship is with the help of a litigation attorney (which I am), others prefer the flexibility and comfort offered by mediation services (which is my favorite process for people that are able to do it). In recent years, divorce mediation has grown increasingly popular.

Many of the couples I’ve worked with in the past believe mediation helps to remove some of the stress associated with the litigation process, and can even speed up dispute resolution. However, accessing a reputable, friendly, and available mediator to handle your Saratoga County divorce mediation isn’t always easy.

In the past, many couples have been restricted in their search for a divorce mediator based on their geographical location. Now that the legal landscape is beginning to digitally transform, allowing mediators like me to e-file documents and communicate with customers through virtual conferencing methods like Zoom, Saratoga County residents have a lot more options. Continue reading ›