The Choice Is Yours

Sometimes people in the middle of divorce litigation realize that the court system just isn’t working for them. Time is going by, the costs are piling up, and they seem further from resolution than ever.

At this point, it may be time for them to look at an alternative process, such as mediation, but where do they start? For divorcing couples in New York City for whom finances are tight, I highly recommend looking into FamilyKind, which has been a great resource for many who have found themselves caught in expensive litigation with few results to show for all the money and efforts they’ve expended.

FamilyKind, working on a sliding scale based on income, provides a variety of resources for families in the midst of divorce or separation. Offerings include:

• Mediation
• Divorce and separation classes for adults, children and teens
• Various educational workshops for families in transition
• Support and networking groups

A Story of Success

A client came to me asking if I could help him reach an agreement with his wife. They had recently started the litigation process and my client was already clear that it was going to be a long and treacherous process with unguaranteed results.

I told him that I did not litigate, but I could represent him as a consulting attorney if he and his wife were willing to try mediation. I suggested he call FamilyKind and find out if they could provide a mediator for him and his wife.

The couple was referred to an excellent mediator and they told their respective litigation attorneys that they wanted to try this process. The wife’s attorney was supportive of trying mediation, the husband’s attorney did everything he could to dissuade his client from trying any process other than litigation.

As I warned in a prior blog post Changing Course (in your divorce), litigation attorneys are there to help fight and argue the case in court, but may not be as motivated to help you settle the case, come to an agreement or work with your soon-to-be-ex to determine what’s best for your children.

I’m happy to report that after just 3 mediation sessions, this couple was able to return to court with a signed settlement agreement they reached in mediation.

If you don’t like the way things are going with your divorce, explore a different approach. FamilyKind is a great place to start.

If you have questions about divorce mediation and collaborative law and how they can change the tone of your divorce into one characterized by cooperation, call me at 212-768-1115 or visit my website.