White Plains, New York, Collaborative Law Divorce

I am a family law attorney who is trained in collaborative law, which is an alternative way of getting a divorce in New York.

With collaborative law, both parties agree to enter into a participation agreement to use the collaborative process instead of going to court to resolve issues such as fair and equitable distribution of property, fair property valuation, issues of child custody, securing parenting time, maintenance ("alimony"), and child support.

In the traditional divorce process, people tend to get polarized in their positions. People go to court armed with strong positions, such as "I want the house" or "I want sole possession of the children." The collaborative process says we're not going to do that. We're going to sit at a table with our attorneys, who are going to advise us about the law, and guide us though this process, help us to talk with each other. We'll bring in specialists such as financial advisors and child specialists to help us resolve specific issues if we need. The collaborative law process helps the two parties look beyond the polarizing statements to the interests of the two parties — work toward a settlement that is mindful of each other's interests.

Because the collaborative process is resolved by the parties themselves and not the court, it moves more quickly and often at a lot less cost.

The gem of the collaborative divorce is that it helps the parties transform their relationship. Rather than hating each other at the end of the divorce, the goal is to create a more functional family relationship. This is especially important where children are concerned, since the parents aren't severed from the children after divorce. The collaborative process helps the couple have a more respectful relationship going forward. People are people and will always have disagreements. The collaborative process is a way disagreeing agreeably.

Contact me if you are seeking a collaborative law attorney to help you with your divorce.

My law office is conveniently located just five minutes from the Westchester County Courthouse and 10 minutes from highways 684 and 287, near the Westchester Mall. You will find ample parking nearby. I provide family law services to clients in all cities and towns in Westchester and Putnam counties in New York State, including White Plains, Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mt. Vernon, Yorktown, Peakskill, and Goshen.