New York Mediation and Collaborative Law

Helping families and individuals resolve their legal disputes amicably
Alayne Katz is a skilled mediator who can help families obtain a lasting resolution while preserving amicable relationships. Both mediation and collaborative practice give you control over the process and can provide more expedient, predictable, amicable and cost-effective results than going to court. Both mediation and collaborative practice are more likely to preserve the stability of the family during the turbulent divorce process.

Mediation
Alayne Katz has been mediating divorces since 1998. Mediation gives you and your spouse the opportunity to negotiate a divorce settlement in a structured setting through a trained facilitator. The mediation process fosters cooperation between partners and removes the unpredictability and uncertainty associated with litigation. Mediation often reduces the time and costs of divorce, and puts the decisions in your hands. Mediation is not a legal process. The process is client-directed, transformative (teaches the parties to productively communicate and problem solve) and creates a lasting resolution.

Collaborative Practice
Collaborative practice is an alternative to litigation for resolving your divorce. Each client retains a specially trained lawyer whose role is to assist the client in resolving issues fairly, efficiently and without court intervention. Cooperative strategies, rather than adversarial techniques are used, namely analysis and reasoning to solve problems, generate options and create a positive atmosphere for resolution. All participants agree to work together in good faith in a series of meetings to find ‘win-win’ solutions which meet the needs of the whole family. The attorneys cannot go to court or threaten to go to court. If either client goes to court, both collaborative lawyers are disqualified from participation. Often a team approach is used, including a divorce coach, financial neutral and child specialist. The team offers the couple the resources of different disciplines- an accountant to deal with finances, a therapeutic professional to deal with parenting plans, etc. This process is more family-friendly, can deliver a resolution better-tailored to your family’s needs and  helps families maintain dignity during a very difficult and stressful time.

Contact an experienced mediator and collaborator to help you resolve your family law disputes: Call the Law Office of Alayne Katz, P.C. at 914-591-3278 or contact us online to schedule an appointment at [email protected].