Helping Northern Westchester Families
Jun 1, 2017BY: Meg Sussman
IN: Collaborative Law,Dealing with Divorce
Lately I have been thinking about how people decide to divorce. As anyone who has gone through a divorce will tell you, it is one of the hardest, if not the hardest decision a person makes. The collaborative divorce team starts with an understanding that the history leading up to, and the decision to divorce, […]
May 1, 2017BY: Margaret A. Nicholson
IN: Children and Divorce,Collaborative Law,Divorce and Money
The phrase “Attorney for the Child” sounds like an oxymoron. Why should a child need an attorney? For most people, the attorney-client relationship is a relationship between adults. It is difficult to imagine a child fully grasping principles such as attorney- client privilege or professional responsibility. Why should a child have to?
Feb 27, 2017BY: Ivan Alter
IN: Dealing with Divorce
In my years of working with divorcing spouses, I have come to understand that divorce is an act of hope. Although it can be tempting to view the end of a marriage cynically, the decision to divorce is ultimately about forging a new beginning. A rejection of continued unhappiness, the choice to start one’s life […]
Feb 23, 2017BY: Amy Carron Day
IN: Post Divorce Issues
January and February tend to be a busy time of year to hear from new clients, mostly because people do not wish to initiate a separation before the December holidays but then they make New Year agreements with themselves to build up the courage to call a family/divorce attorney for the first time early in […]
Feb 20, 2017BY: Margaretha L. Gravett
IN: Collaborative Law
Divorce has been equated to passing a kidney stone. It hurts like crazy, it takes what seems like forever to pass, and it inevitably results in an enormous bill. That is certainly true of a traditional litigated divorce. Luckily, divorcing couples don’t have to litigate. These days, we have several alternative dispute resolution options at […]
Feb 19, 2017BY: Margaret A. Clark
IN: Dealing with Divorce
Divorce is a major life transition. We know that such transitions can be painful and stressful – deepening wounds and divisions. In fact, they can harden opposing positions to a place that negates the humanity of the other, closing off the possibility of fruitful communication. This can easily happen in a contentiously-litigated divorce, leading to […]
Feb 3, 2017BY: Melissa Goodstein
IN: Dealing with Divorce
Divorcing couples are often times forced to live together during divorce negotiations. This is especially true when there is only one significant income supporting the household and where the cost of living is high. In many cases as well, the marital home represents the biggest asset and until the house is sold and equity split […]
Dec 13, 2016BY: Arnold Cribari
IN: Collaborative Law
A highly regarded Collaborative Divorce lawyer in California, Pauline Tesler, has written the authoritative book on Collaborative Divorce: Collaborative Law, Achieving Effective Resolution in Divorce Without Litigation. The third edition of that book was published in 2016, and it includes a “Collaborative Divorce Handbook.” This handbook is a must read for anyone considering a collaborative […]
Nov 29, 2016BY: Meg Sussman
IN: Communication in Divorce
This election season has gotten me thinking about the concept that “words do matter.” This is especially true, but also more challenging, when you are talking to people with whom you disagree or who are your “competition.” My idea of a good politician is someone who can respectfully put forth his or her point of […]
Nov 22, 2016BY: Jeff Zimmerman
IN: Children and Divorce
People commonly confuse a divorce with the end of a family. The two are not synonymous. Marriage is created when two people enter a marital union and become spouses. Family is created when children come into the picture and the spouses become parents. Divorce is only the untying of the marital bond. The responsibilities, commitments, […]