When being reasonable stops working.

It depends. If you and your spouse can talk through most issues and agree on the big stuff, you may only need a consultation to make sure you're not missing anything. If things are more complicated or more contentious, mediation is often a good next step. But if your case is already in court, you're almost always better off with an attorney in your corner. The more conflict there is, the more help you're likely to need.

Generally, no. An attorney represents one side, and even if you agree on most things, your interests and your spouse's interests are different. There are some limited exceptions, but in most cases it's not the right move. What you can do is use the same mediator. A mediator is a neutral third party who helps you both reach an agreement but doesn't represent either of you. If you go the mediation route, each of you can still hire your own attorney to review the final agreement before signing.

It depends. Reaching a settlement can take anywhere from a few months to over a year. If your case goes to trial, just getting a court date can take years. Once everything is resolved, expect another few months to a year before the court officially grants the divorce.

Not necessarily. Even with a difficult spouse, many cases settle outside of court. The challenge is that they still need to cooperate with the process, like producing financial documents when requested. If they refuse, you may need the court to compel them. But a difficult spouse doesn't rule out settlement. It often just requires a more strategic approach.

Your case is divided into stages, and each stage has a set fee you agree to in advance. You only pay for the stages your case actually reaches, and you can call, text, and email me without the meter running. You can see how it all works on my fees page, and if you want the reasoning behind it, I wrote about why I work this way.

Before your consultation, spend a few minutes thinking about what matters most to you when this is over. Is it staying in the house? Protecting time with your kids? Getting through this quickly? Knowing your priorities helps us figure out the best path forward together.

You can switch attorneys at any time. If your current situation is not working, I can step in and take over your case wherever it stands. During your consultation, I will review what has been done so far and give you an honest assessment of where things are and what comes next.

In New York, what you acquired during the marriage is marital property and gets divided. The house, the equity in it, retirement accounts, brokerage accounts, and pensions all get looked at. What you brought in before the marriage is usually separate. The complications are real: separate funds mixed into marital ones, retirement accounts with pre-marital and marital portions, one spouse growing what the other brought in. We sort that out early so you know what's actually on the table before you negotiate anything.

A business started or grown during the marriage is a marital asset, even if only one of you runs it. The work is figuring out what it's worth, what's fair to pay out, and how to do that without breaking the business. Most cases involve a forensic accountant or business valuator. Sometimes a buy-out gets structured over time instead of a lump sum. If you own the business, the goal is keeping it intact. If your spouse does and you haven't seen the books, the goal is making sure the valuation is honest.

Most prenups in New York are enforceable if they were signed properly and with full financial disclosure on both sides. They can still be challenged on specific grounds: fraud, duress, missing disclosures, or terms that have become grossly unfair over time. I read it carefully before we do anything else. Even an enforceable prenup usually doesn't cover everything. Custody, child support, and assets built after the wedding often sit outside it. The strategy depends on what the document actually says and how it was signed, not on what either of you remembers about that day.

You do not need to be married for me to help. If you and your co-parent need to establish custody, visitation, or support, I handle those cases too. The process is different from divorce, but the goal is the same: a clear plan that protects your kids and your time with them.

Yes. If you and your partner want a straightforward prenuptial agreement, I can help. I require at least six months before the wedding to do it right. Prenups need time for honest conversation, proper review, and negotiation if needed. Rushing the process only makes it more susceptible to challenge down the road.