Why Is Getting a Divorce in New York So Expensive?
{4 minutes to read} I am often asked by my divorce mediation clients why it costs so much to get an uncontested divorce. My answer is that the system for obtaining a divorce in New [...]
I am Not a Neutral Mediator
{3 minutes to read} In my previous post, I addressed a concern raised by a client about my neutrality. In this post, I detail why, as a divorce mediator, I do not take sides. However, [...]
I’m a Mediator, not just a Scrivener
{3 minutes to read} I received a phone call from Kelly* last week expressing some concern about the comments I made during our last session. Apparently, Kelly felt that I was taking sides when I [...]
Spousal Support and the New Guidelines
{2:30 minutes to read} Before New York adopted spousal support guidelines in 2016, the amount and duration of spousal support was very unpredictable. Some awards were very generous while others were very conservative, based upon [...]
Don’t Look Back, You’re Not Going That Way
{3:00 minutes to read} So, you found out that your spouse is having an affair and that your marriage is over. Does that mean you need to hire an expensive attorney and go to court? [...]
Maintenance Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — Part 2
{3:00 minutes to read} In my last article, I outlined how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changed the amount each spouse pays or receives by eliminating the tax deductibility of maintenance. The original purpose of [...]
Maintenance Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — Part 1
{4:00 minutes to read} On December 22, 2017, the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” (TCJA) was signed into law. One of the most significant changes found in the TCJA for couples seeking a legal separation [...]
Wants vs Needs: How Much Life Insurance Do You Really Need?
{2:00 minutes to read} Many couples who are going through a divorce are struggling to find a way to live separately on the income that was previously supporting only one household. This often means reviewing [...]
To Caucus or Not To Caucus
{3:00 minutes to read} In mediation, a caucus is a private meeting between one of the parties and the mediator. This is routinely done in commercial mediations, with the mediator shuttling back and forth between the [...]
College Costs and Child Support Part 2
{3:30 minutes to read} In my last post, I suggested that a parent that is paying both college costs and child support might be entitled to a reduction in his/her child support payment while the [...]