Collaborative Divorce Lawyer Ulster County
What You Need to Know About Divorce Mediation
As alternative dispute resolution continues to attract interest as a potentially cost-effective option for divorcing spouses in New York State, you owe it to yourself to become informed as to the benefits and disadvantages of divorce mediation, collaborative law approaches, or divorce without a lawyer at all.
Contact Jonathan D. Katz, Attorney at Law to get independent advice about the pros and cons of alternative dispute resolution in your case. From my office in New Paltz, I serve clients throughout the Hudson Valley and the Catskill region, including Ulster, Dutchess, Orange, Greene and Columbia counties.
Make sure the proposed alternative will protect your interests
The main attraction of divorce mediation or collaborative divorce is that it can save you money while promoting agreement. While those are perfectly sound objectives, the risk of alternative dispute resolution approaches is that you will agree to compromise positions without a full understanding of your own rights and responsibilities.
This risk is all the greater in situations where divorcing couples use do-it-yourself forms - sometimes completed by a lawyer who represents neither spouse - to divide property, arrange for spousal support, and finalize child custody and visitation arrangements. In my experience, the client who is told they don't need a lawyer actually needs one more than ever.
Experienced divorce lawyers favor settlement out of court anyway
Contrary to popular belief, divorce attorneys do not go out of their way to encourage litigation. A reputation for reasonableness and fairness on the part of divorce counsel will serve a client better in court if a compromise cannot be worked out on a particular issue. Family court judges tend not to reward divorce lawyers for sticking to extreme positions.
I know how to pick the battles that are worth fighting. Over the years, my clients have appreciated my ability to achieve their primary objectives through negotiation backed up by a credible threat of a contested hearing or trial. If you're too quick to agree to divorce mediation or a collaborative law approach to your divorce, you might find yourself giving up rights that you'll later wish you had protected.
I advise and represent Ulster County and Dutchess County divorce clients
If your divorcing spouse has suggested divorce mediation or another alternative dispute resolution technique, contact my office to learn about the full range of considerations that bear upon your decision. I can address all of your questions and concerns. Call the New Paltz law firm of Jonathan D. Katz, Attorney at Law.
