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 [...]
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 [...]
7 Things Your Mediator Wants You to Know, Part 2
{2:42 minutes to read} In Part 1 of this article, we discussed 3 things that mediators want you to know before you call to make that first appointment. Here are 4 more things to think [...]
Blaming Your Spouse for Ending the Marriage Can Be a Critical Mistake
{1:43 minutes to read} When Hank and Wendy first came to me to help mediate their divorce, Wendy reported that it was Hank that wanted to end the marriage. He had moved out of the [...]
“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, [...]
A Time for Reflection and New Beginnings
{1:48 minutes to read} The end of one year and the beginning of another is a time of reflection for many people. We think about the events of the past 12 months and are sometimes [...]
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?
{3:30 minutes to read} In mediation, parents who are ending a relationship with each other come up with a plan for how they would like to continue raising their children. Mediators encourage parents to create [...]
But What About the Children?
{3:36 minutes to read} One of the biggest concerns couples face when going through a separation or divorce is how it will impact their children. This concern can result in people staying in an unhappy [...]
Why Mediate Maintenance?
{3:00 minutes to read} I was at a mediation conference recently and listened to a presenter talk about the new spousal maintenance guidelines. This got me thinking: a spouse who chooses to not work, or [...]