Articles Posted in Financial

Summer brings vacations, camps, and schedule changes that can challenge even the most cooperative co-parents. With thoughtful planning, flexibility, and a child-centered approach, parents can reduce conflict, strengthen communication, and help their children enjoy a positive and memorable summer break.

Finalizing a divorce agreement often brings a sense of relief. After months, and sometimes years, of stress and uncertainty, many people are eager to move forward and begin rebuilding their lives. Even when a divorce is resolved thoughtfully and cooperatively through mediation, the transition afterward can present unexpected challenges. Adjusting to separate households, new financial…

Divorce mediation is a thoughtful and collaborative way to navigate the end of a marriage. But even the most carefully crafted agreements can’t always predict every twist life might throw your way. Changes in finances, parenting dynamics, or unexpected life events can lead to new disagreements between former spouses—sometimes months or even years after the…

Second marriages bring the opportunity to build something new—but when either spouse has children from a prior marriage, planning ahead becomes more than smart: it’s essential. Many people assume that a Will is enough to ensure their children will inherit what’s intended for them. But under New York law, that’s not always the case. If…

Divorce mediation is designed to foster cooperation and reduce conflict, helping couples reach amicable agreements without the stress and expense of litigation. While mediators guide discussions and facilitate fair negotiations, bringing a financial professional into the process can significantly enhance the outcome for both parties. Whether working with one or both clients, financial experts offer…

In New York, “Maintenance” is simply another word for “Alimony.” Maintenance is a legal obligation placed on one spouse (the spouse with greater income) to provide financial support for the other spouse (the spouse with less or no income) for a specified duration of time. If your divorce was commenced after January 25, 2016, the…

One of the many topics discussed during divorce mediation is parenting time with the children.  My clients often ask whether an equal, or 50/50 parenting schedule, eliminates the child support obligation. The short answer is NO; but because mediation gives clients the flexibility and power to create their own agreement, there are options to consider. …

During the mediation consultation, clients often ask what documents and information they need to gather to prepare for mediation. It’s important to understand that the more time spent preparing outside of mediation, the more efficient mediation will go, which may result in substantial time and cost savings. In this article, you will find some helpful…

One of the many uncomfortable conversations that I often need to have with my mediation clients involves the sensitive topic of retirement assets. As you can imagine, the division of retirement assets can be a very emotional topic; both for the retirement asset holder and for the spouse who may not have had the opportunity…

One of the issues to be decided in mediation is how frequently child support will be recalculated. In New York, child support is calculated pursuant to the Child Support Standards Act (CSSA) In calculating child support, the CSSA looks at the gross income of the parties, minus standard deductions such as FICA, and then calculates…