Long Island Family Law and Mediation Blog

Online, Zoom or Virtual Divorce Mediation has become more available for Monroe County residents and people everywhere throughout New York State. Although there are always situations wherein litigation or lawyer to lawyer negotiation is the chosen method to try to reach an agreement in the family law landscape, mediation offers many unique benefits. Used correctly, it can provide couples with a less stressful, more convenient way to navigate the end of their marriage.

Unfortunately, many couples have struggled to access the benefits of family law or divorce mediation in the past, simply because they’re unable to find a trustworthy and knowledgeable mediator local to their Monroe County address. My office aims to address this issue by offering versatile mediation options, with virtual sessions, hosted on platforms like Zoom.

Today, I can offer clients all over New York and Long Island, including those in Monroe County, access to comprehensive support and guidance, through mediation sessions tailored to suit them. Here are just some of the reasons Monroe County clients could choose me as their divorce mediator. Continue reading ›

For residents of Erie County, flexible divorce mediation services can offer an excellent alternative to the traditional, litigative process of ending a marriage. While there will always be situations wherein litigation may be the only option to reach agreements on the decisions you’ll need to make at the end of your marriage, many couples achieve incredible success with mediation.

As a popular method of alternative dispute resolution, mediation gives couples more freedom to negotiate and find their own solutions to issues like handling the equitable distribution of assets and debts. During my time as a divorce mediator, I’ve seen countless couples preserve and protect their best interests, while minimizing the stress and complexity of divorce with mediation services.

Residents in Erie County even save time and money choosing mediation over standard litigation. This is part of the reason why mediation was often seen as a popular choice for navigating divorce, even before the New York courts implemented presumptive divorce mediation guidelines. The presumptive divorce mediation happens when people start litigating. But, it is possible to mediate before court cases are even started. Nowadays, too, my office offers divorce mediation all over New York State, including for Erie County as we can do it online, over platforms like Zoom and submit the papers to the court for an uncontested divorce via electronic filing. Continue reading ›

Rockland County Divorce Mediation: Virtual and In-Person

Divorce is complicated. No matter how your marriage ends, there’s more than just an emotional toll to navigate for those seeking out divorce. You also need to make a number of complex decisions, which can have a massive impact on your future. While litigation and lawyer to lawyer negotiation are often common ways to handle a divorce, it’s not always the most convenient, or comfortable option. I am a big fan of divorce mediation, which now can be done online, so to speak, or virtually with a trained New York divorce mediator regardless of everyone’s locations.

For residents of Rockland County, New York, working with a divorce mediator may represent a less stressful, time-consuming, and expensive alternative. My years as both a family law attorney, New York divorce mediator, and practicing litigation lawyer, have given me a first-hand insight into the law, and various processes and just how effective divorce mediation as the chosen process can be.

For many couples, it offers a way to avoid spending long hours in court rooms, or the tedious preparation for the time in court.  It is a better way to maintain more control over your choices, and even preserve some of the relationship you may still have with your ex. I believe every couple should have an opportunity to access the benefits of divorce mediation. That’s why I offer flexible in-person and virtual mediation sessions to residents of Rockland County and beyond. Continue reading ›

When it comes to dealing with something as complex as divorce, most couples want to seek out a process that’s as quick, painless, and convenient as possible. With virtual and in-person divorce mediation, residents of Staten Island (Richmond County) have an excellent alternative to the stressful experience of litigation.

Although some cases will require litigation, I’ve found many couples have been able to successfully negotiate the terms of their divorce with the support of the right mediator. In fact, mediation has been so successful that the courts of New York have even implemented presumptive divorce mediation, requiring many individuals to at least explore the potential of mediation for civil disputes. Continue reading ›

Virtual and in-person divorce mediation offers residents of Westchester County, New York, one of the most flexible and smooth ways to navigate the complexities of a family law case. Though divorce is never simple, it can often be made more complex by the process of litigation. Presenting cases to the courts, and waiting for them to make decisions about your future can be time-consuming, gambling and stressful.

While working with a divorce mediator for your Westchester County legal separation or divorce doesn’t remove the involvement of the courts entirely (since ultimately a judge has to sign your divorce papers), it does allow couples far more freedom to manage the divorce process according to their own needs and priorities. That’s one of the reasons why so many residents of New York embraced mediation, even before “presumptive divorce mediation” systems were implemented.

As a New York local, trained and experienced New York State divorce mediator, and long time family law attorney, I have shaped the mediation services offered by my office in Jericho, New York Nassau County specifically to address the flexible needs of today’s couples, throughout Westchester County and beyond.  It is very easy to cover the entirety of New York State now with the advent of mediation by Zoom and E-filing uncontested divorce papers with the court.

New York State is one of the most innovative and dynamic regions in the world. Not only is it a hub of creativity for the media, technology, and science landscapes, but it’s also a state with a forward-thinking approach to matrimonial law.

In 2019, New York implemented a presumptive divorce mediation system which requires couples to at least attempt to resolve civil litigation issues through mediation, rather than the open court.  Since I still litigate, in addition to mediating, I can report that it seems to this Divorce Lawyer that during the pandemic, the presumptive divorce mediation requirement seemed to become less of a requirement.  The reason I say this is it does not seem that every case that lands in court still gets sent to mediation at first, although, I can attest that it still does happen to some cases. However, even without this legal guidance, many couples have embraced the benefits of alternative dispute resolution methods over the years. In fact, many couples in New York use at least one alternative dispute resolution method – the most popular option being mediation. Continue reading ›

While studies show divorce rates in New York can often be lower than those elsewhere in the United States, this information provides little comfort to those who do choose to end their marriages. A marriage can fall apart for a number of reasons, and even if the decision to end your relationship is amicable, unravelling the threads of the life you’ve built together can be extremely difficult.

For residents of Bronx County, a thriving borough of New York City, divorce mediation can offer a valuable alternative to the stressful, time-consuming, and often expensive process of litigation.  We can help residents all over New York State now as people can mediate from the comfort of their own homes via zoom.  We can e-filed uncontested divorce documents with the court as well.   As a divorce and family law attorney, I have offered litigation support to residents of Bronx County and people throughout both New York and Long Island for many years. Continue reading ›

Ending a marriage is never easy. It’s not just the emotional turmoil that makes the process difficult to manage. You also have to handle everything from negotiating outcomes with your soon-to-be-ex partner, to presenting agreements and requests to the courts if litigation is the chosen process.

As a family law and matrimonial attorney, I have been through the litigation process many times and still offer residents of Brookyln (Kings County) the guidance and support they need to navigate the litigation process if they choose to take their case to court. However, I often find that divorce mediation offers a less stressful, and more streamlined approach to dispute resolution for many New York-based couples.  Nowadays we are doing divorce mediation by Zoom or in person making our services convenient for people wherever they are situated.  There is no longer the need to travel to see this divorce mediator. Continue reading ›

Beautiful couple doing arm wrestling challenge

Divorce can be a complex and emotionally exhausting experience for any couple. Even if two people decide mutually to end their marriage, there are various challenges to overcome before each party can move on with their separate lives. One effective way to minimize the stress and complications of a divorce, is to consider mediation – a collaborative method for dispute resolution.

Divorce mediators like me, Mr. Darren M. Shapiro, can support parties throughout regions of Long Island and New York to help people address everything from equitable distribution to child support issues. For residents of Manhattan, a reliable divorce mediator can offer an excellent combination of support, guidance, and insight, tailored to suit your specific needs. Continue reading ›

Marriage is more than just a commitment, it’s a legal contract, tying your life and assets with that of another person. Unfortunately, this means if you decide to split ways with your partner, there are sometimes complications in navigating how to unravel the threads you’ve joined together in matrimony.

For many, the simplest, and most painless approach, involves working with a divorce mediator, to come to important legal agreements with your soon to be ex. The right New York divorce mediator can be an incredible resource in a difficult time, offering expertise, guidance, and direction when you need it most. From my office in Nassau County, I aim to offer the specialized service residents across New York need to navigate their divorce with relative ease.

For decades, I’ve dedicated my practice to serving the citizens of Long Island and the New York City area, from couples in Brooklyn (Kings County), to Manhattan, Queens County, Bronx County, and Staten Island (Richmond County). Continue reading ›