Mediation is a type of alternative dispute resolution often used in family law disputes such as divorce throughout NY including Poughkeepsie, New Paltz and Kingston. In mediation, each spouse agrees to meet with a neutral party, the mediator, and agrees to work in good faith to discuss and attempt to reach a compromise on all relevant issues. The mediator’s job is not to offer legal advice but instead to facilitate communication and assist the parties with writing out a mediation settlement that will eventually be filed with the court.
When couples opt for mediation with legal representation, they benefit from the services of a skilled family law mediator like Mr. Katz and they are protected by their own personal family lawyers. This process offers a level of legal protection that is not only missing from the traditional mediation process but is an extremely important component of making sure the entire effort works well. When attorneys join the mediation sessions, says Mr. Katz, each party has their own lawyer by their side offering legal guidance, explaining their rights and representing their short and longer-term interests.
Mediation is non-binding until an agreement is signed and filed with the local family court. If either spouse wants to end mediation they can file for a traditional divorce and appear before a family judge who will make decisions about assets, debts, the children, support and more.