Presumptive Mediation in NY

Blog

Climate change has reached NY’s Court system. Chief Judge Janet DiFiore has handed down an initiative requiring all of the state’s courts to shift to a Presumptive Mediation model.  The impetus for the change is an over-burdened court calendar and the recognition that...

One Size Fits One

Agreement, Blog, Custom

In mediation, I help divorcing couples work through the details of their settlements. Most areas for decision making: parenting, property and support are generally the same for the vast majority of couples. After a session or two, however, the distinct needs of each...

The Parenting “Transparency”

Blog

Do you remember those overhead projectors? Actually, they are still in use. I checked Amazon. In my memory, the teacher would draw on a transparent sheet, lay it on the lighted glass and it would show up on the wall. As the lesson progressed, the teacher would add...

Red Flag or Gold Star?

Blog, Conflict Resolution, Fairness, Preparing for Mediation, Self-Determination

Red Flag or Gold Star? Most couples that come to see me have chosen divorce mediation because they would like to arrive at a fair settlement with as little acrimony and expense as possible. These couples have a sense of practicality and confidence in their ability to...

Mediation, The Right Tools for the Job

Blog, Fairness, Rational Thinking, Self-Determination, The Law

In my experience, most couples that wish to work with a divorce mediator have a demeanor that’s open to arriving at a fair settlement. Sometimes, however, issues pop up that arouse great passion and the idea of what’s fair is challenged. Lately, I’ve mediated some...

7 Habits to a Successful Divorce Part 2

Blog

In Part 1 of this article, I enumerated how the first 4 habits in Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People are universal and how they can be applied in divorce mediation. Here are my thoughts about habits 5-7. 5. Seek first to understand then to be...