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 [...]
College Costs and Child Support Part 1
{3:24 minutes to read} In my last post, I suggested that parents should mediate their divorce, and especially child support, in order to control if and how they would pay college costs for their children. [...]
Keep College Costs Out of Court
<https://burnsmediation.com/keep-college-costs-out-of-court/"> {4:18 minutes to read} Did you know that a judge can order a parent to pay some or all of the college expenses of a child? While most parents do want to help a [...]
Becoming Involved With Someone Else During Your Divorce Can Be a Critical Mistake
{1:30 minutes to read} Even if you met someone long after you felt that the marriage was over, it is possible that your current spouse will still feel that this other person contributed, at least [...]
Why is Mediation “Alternative” Dispute Resolution?
{2:06 minutes to read} I recently did a presentation at the Annual Conference of the New York State Dispute Resolution Association. As part of the presentation, I proposed that ADR should not stand for “Alternative” [...]
Cohabitating Instead of Getting Married? Get an Agreement First! Part 2
{3:18 minutes to read} In Part 1 of this series, I proposed that an unmarried couple enters into a cohabitation agreement if they decided to live together. In Part 2, I outline what they might [...]
Cohabitating Instead of Getting Married? Get an Agreement First! Part 1
Why You Should Have a “Cohabitation Agreement” {2:42 minutes to read} If a married couple in New York ends their relationship, the Equitable Distribution Law determines how they will divide any of the assets and [...]
Getting Married? How a Prenuptial Agreement Can Benefit Both of You!
{3:00 minutes to read} The Equitable Distribution Law has a specific provision that allows couples to enter into an agreement, both before (Prenuptial) and after (Postnuptial) a marriage. In addition to making a provision for [...]
Involving Your Children in Your Divorce Can Be a Critical Mistake
{2:30 minutes to read} No matter how hurt and angry you may be with your spouse, your children need both a father and a mother. Involving your children in any way as you are working [...]