Family Mediation LLP

An important piece on the Op-Ed page of the New York Times this morning: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/opinion/17coontz.html?ref=opinion What begins as an article about no-fault divorce evolves into an endorsement of mediation.  We couldn’t agree more!

In addition to the no-fault bill, also pending in Albany is a bill that would do for spousal support/maintenance/alimony (call it what you will, a rose by any other name is still a rose) what was done years ago for child support: provide guidelines.  For parties in mediation, the guidelines would offer an additional possible [...]

No-fault divorce is the law of the land, with one glaring exception: New York.  Now, it should go without saying that we love NY.  But in some respects, it is really behind the times. Each year, it seems, a no-fault bill is debated in Albany.  This year, however, it may actually pass!  For years, divorcing [...]

While the world is scratching its proverbial head about the dissolution of a seemingly happy marriage, others see a cup half full. The Gores have shared a long life together and now each has the opportunity to move forward into another phase. While growing apart may not have been hoped for, as mediators we do [...]

Today’s New York Times, page A9, reports about the business of divorce in Italy — literally. Ciao Amore, complete with a logo of a broken heart, holds “divorce fairs” in which professionals in the divorce trade come together promoting their various services. There’s even a “seduction expert” advising the newly single. While divorce has only [...]

If you are having trouble de-coding one of the clues from yesterday’s New York Times crossword, it is with good reason.  The clue and the answer do not match up. As avid crossworders, we were pleasantly suprised to see mediation make it to the Sunday puzzle.  But we feel some clarification is in order:  The [...]

In this week’s New Yorker magazine (May 3, 2010 issue), Janet Malcolm writes about the Criminal, Civil and Family Court cases of a Queens, NY couple.  The couple, who made news several years ago, were in the midst of a divorce and heated custody battle over their young daughter when the father was gunned down [...]

Every month we meet with peers in a Support and Development Group.  This month we focused on  how consulting attorneys can be effective guides for clients in mediation.  They don’t have to push their clients toward an agreement that mimics what might happen in Court.  Rather, they can advise on the breadth of legally acceptable [...]

Just finished “Falling Apart in One Piece,” a memoir by Stacy Morrison. Morrison, the Editor-in-Chief of Redbook Magazine, writes in intimate terms about her divorce, and about moving forward as a single parent to her young son.  Most movingly, she is committed to a peaceful divorce process and post-divorce co-parenting relationship with her ex-husband.  Not [...]

A recent, blunt, excellent article in the Washington Post describes the impact of unemployment, underemployment and falling home values on divorcing couples: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/21/AR2010032103139.html.  In mediation, couples can tackle some of the all-too-common issues outlined in the article–perhaps creating an interim agreement until the home sells; or an understanding of how they can live under one [...]