Family Law

• Divorce
  Divorce Mediation Services Offered to Rocky Point and the Surrounding Villages and Towns of Shoreham, Wading River, Ridge, Sound Beach, Miller Place and Mount Sinai
• Child Support
  During these sessions we will discuss important issues such as child support and financial settlements. Fred Klarer, one of our divorce mediators, will work with you to prepare a Stipulation of Settlement agreement. This is a legal contract that states the resolutions.
• Child Custody and Visitation
  During our mediation sessions we will focus on issues such as child custody and suport, and financial distribution. These can be difficult conversations to have, but we will work together to come to an agreement that satisfies both parties.
• Spousal Support
  Assuming that mom has residential custody then she will receive child support that is almost assuredly based on the New York State Child Support Standards Act (see this New York State goverment site for a calculator: (Note: the site appears to have been taken down.) There are some extras, such as uncovered medical expenses of children, but that is about it. Mom may be entitled to spousal maintenance (used to be called alimony, which is actually somewhat different from maintenance), but it is based on a long list of factors, of which one is maintaining the family’s life-style. However, other than child support, which is based squarely on a formula, any other support issues on constrained by the realities of income of both the husband and the wife.
• Legal Separation
  Many people call us at asking about preparing a mediated separation agreement. They don’t want a divorce, but what some clarity between them about money and children and houses. Some want to sign a Separation Agreement to gain a legal separation in New York State, but want to continuing living in the same house. Others are going to live apart for a time, but don’t want to commit to a divorce — a trial separation Suffolk County — and they need a marriage separation agreement. Others want to keep the other spouse in health insurance or some other benefit they would lose if they got divorced but to resolve everything else — a divorce in all but the legal sense. In almost all cases, employers allow spouses to stay on each other’s health insurance if there is a legal separation but not a divorce.

Business and Corporate Law

• Business Disputes
  I have over thirty years of experience in divorce mediation and in business negotiations — both as a mediator and as an attorney. I seek an amicable and realistic solution to the issues of divorce. Together the three of us — you, your spouse, and I — can work out a settlement of all issues in your divorce.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  The Husband is a retired New York City police officer. The portion of his pension that he earned during the marriage is a marital asset, and is subject to distribution between the husband and the wife based on the laws of equitable distribution. However, a common complication arose. A portion of his pension was awarded for a line-of-duty injury. Any compensation that one receives for a personal injury is separate property, is not a marital asset, and is not subject to distribution. Since 1/3 of his pension was awarded for disability, only the remaining 2/3 of the pension is subject to distribution.

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  It is a rare matrimonial attorney who is expert in any or all of those matter, like iras in divorce or QDROs or teachers’ pensions. A qualified financial planner can be very helpful in structuring a future for a divorced family.
• Wills

Finance Law

• Bankruptcy
• Tax Law