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CoupleCouchSweaterMediation-300x200Litigation isn’t the only way to approach divorce in New York. In fact, many couples find that they prefer alternative dispute resolution options – particularly if they’re trying to avoid stressful courtroom appearances, or maintain amicable relationships for the sake of their children.

For residents of Putnam county, divorce mediation can be a convenient, collaborative way to make decisions at the end of a marriage. I’ve even seen situations where this process can save couples time, money, and heartache. The New York courts themselves even advocate for mediation – provided the circumstances are right. The only problem is finding the right mediator.

New York is home to at least hundreds of divorce mediators, all from different backgrounds and walks of life – but only a handful of those are local to Putnam county, and not every mediator you meet with is guaranteed to be the best option for your specific situation.

The good news is that virtual mediation offers a flexible alternative to working with a local professional – allowing couples to choose the support that resonates with them – regardless of location. Here’s why Putnam County residents might choose me as their virtual mediator. Continue reading ›

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Nice-Office-Mediation-300x158Getting separated or divorced is an emotionally charged experience to say the least.  It can seem like an incredibly complicated process, but working with the right professionals can make it as smooth as possible.  Ending a marriage, whether it’s an amicable split or not – creates a lot of headaches – from figuring out how you’re going to divide assets, to determining parenting time strategies.

For some couples in Tompkins County, the best option is to hand the case over to the New York courts, hiring their litigators, and trusting in them to identify an outcome that meets everyone’s best interests. However, other couples prefer to avoid court rooms, or maintain more control over the decisions made about their future lives – and that’s where mediation comes in.

I’ve found mediation to be an incredible solution for many of the people I work with– one that helps them to avoid the stress and headaches of standard divorce procedures, and even maintain some of the amicable relationship they have with their ex-spouse. Continue reading ›

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In-Office-Mediation-300x200From an emotional perspective, the end of any relationship can be difficult. But when you decide to end your marriage, the chances are you’ll have a lot of additional challenges to think about – from how assets and debts should be distributed, to what you’re going to do about parenting time, child custody, or even maintenance payments.

While couples in St Lawrence County can litigate and  ask the courts of New York to help them decide their own fates, many prefer to retain some level of control over what happens at the end of their marriage. That’s where mediation comes in, allowing couples to discuss their options, come to mutually acceptable agreements, and then present them to the courts to get an uncontested divorce.  Without the Judge telling them what it’s going to be. Continue reading ›

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Separation-Agreement-Mediation-300x200When it comes to ending a marriage, couples often face a daunting array of choices, from navigating litigation to negotiating settlements. As a practitioner in matrimonial law, I engage in all facets of this process—litigation, negotiation, mediation, and even collaborative legal methods. Of these, negotiating or mediating a Separation Agreement before filing for divorce can often provide the most straightforward path forward. Here’s why.

The Value of a Separation Agreement

A Separation Agreement is a signed contract that resolves all major issues between spouses that need to be resolved. When this agreement is finalized before a divorce is filed, it offers a solid foundation for pursuing an uncontested divorce—a divorce that avoids unnecessary delays, court battles, and unexpected costs.  Nowadays, since there is No-Fault divorce in New York, we can file for divorce right away, after the agreement is signed.  The Separation Agreement becomes the settlement agreement for the divorce.  There is no need to wait a year for the divorce after signing the Sepatation Agreement, like it used to be, before New York updated the Domestic Relations Law in 2010 (why did it take New York so long?) to include No-Fault divorce. Continue reading ›

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iStockCoupleblondedigital-300x200For couples all across New York, and Long Island, divorce mediation services have emerged as a valuable, effective alternative to traditional litigation processes.

Although any divorce can be complicated to navigate, particularly when it involves complex decisions about parenting time, equitable distribution, and maintenance, I’ve found that divorce mediation can streamline the journey for many clients. It can reduce the need for individuals to regularly appear in court to argue their case, reduce the stress of the divorce experience, and even help to preserve positive relationships between partners going their separate ways.

In Jefferson County, New York, divorce mediation has long stood as an appealing option to many couples – yet the nature of traditional mediation processes, usually dependant on face-to-face, in-person interactions has limited the number of mediators clients could choose to work with in the past.

Now that family law attorneys and certified mediators like me can offer access to digital mediation sessions, hosted through platforms like Zoom, Jefferson County residents have more freedom than ever before. They can choose any mediator they want to work with – regardless of their location.

Here’s why you might consider choosing me as your virtual divorce mediator. Continue reading ›

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Couplesofa-300x200The end of a marriage is difficult for any couple to navigate. Whether you’ve spent months or years with your partner, untangling your life, working out child custody, parenting time, child support, maintenance (alimony) and assets from theirs can be extremely complex. Often, the first step in streamlining the process, is choosing the right strategy.

For some couples, a traditional litigation procedure will be the most suitable option. For many residents of Oswego County, however, divorce mediation stands as a valuable alternative. While mediation doesn’t appeal to every couple, it can be extremely effective at minimizing the stress associated with the divorce journey, preserving amicable relationships, and accelerating results.

As both a family law attorney in New York, and a divorce mediator, I’ve seen for myself how successful mediation can be, which is why I recommend it to many of my clients. The main issue in the past, has been offering my services to Oswego County residents, located a significant distance from my office in Nassau County, Long Island. Continue reading ›

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Mediationpic21Zoomwomanonescreenmaninoffice-300x200Divorce is always a complex process, but sometimes having a certain level of control over how you approach the journey can make it a lot simpler to manage. For some couples, traditional litigation procedures may be the best, and most effective way to sever the ties created by a marriage.

However, many Chautauqua County couples can also benefit from alternative dispute resolution methods, like mediation. For years, divorce mediation has stood as an attractive solution to couples that want to streamline the divorce process, and avoid unnecessary stress.

Used correctly, it can even help some couples maintain amicable relationships at the end of their marriage, which can be a priority for those with children. When suitable, I often recommend mediation as an option for my clients, though I continue to work as a litigation attorney too.

I’ve seen plenty of evidence, as a divorce mediation lawyer, that meditation can make divorce proceedings less stressful, and more convenient for clients. The biggest challenge many clients have faced in the past, however, has been finding the right mediator for their needs. Continue reading ›

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Mediationpic12lawyersmanglassesblondewoman-300x200In 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 ›

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Mediationpic24Zoomwomanonscreenmaninoffice-300x200Though 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 ›

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Maintenance-Fight-300x200Divorce 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 ›

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Jericho, NY 11753
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