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, [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
“Cohabitation” Agreements?
{3:24 minutes to read} A couple planning on getting married can enter into a prenuptial agreement to deal with such issues as the distribution of marital assets, rights to the estate of the other person, [...]
Don’t Try This at Home! Part 2
{2:30 minutes to read} When couples come to me seeking divorce mediation, the first thing we do is meet for a consultation. This meeting is important because it gives clients a chance to meet me and [...]
Don’t Try This at Home! Part 1
{3:30 minutes to read} When I first met Hank and Wilma, Hank provided me with a 3-page typewritten summary of their “agreement.” As is my practice, I then went through the summary with them point [...]