Divorce Mediation

• Settling a case through mediation is much more likely to result in a healthier parenting relationship between divorcing parents.
• If you don't have children, the process allows you to leave a marriage with more peace of mind and dignity.
• Our trained attorney mediators help bring all relevant information to the table, which includes requiring the parties to submit affidavits about their financial status and documentation regarding assets, liabilities and income.
• At the end of a successful mediation, our attorney mediator puts together a written divorce settlement agreement.
• This agreement reflects what you and your spouse decided is best for your children and yourselves - not what a judge decides is best.
• Once an agreement is executed, the parties make a decision as to whether they want a divorce or legal separation.
• If they wish to remain legally separated (which some people do to possibly enable one spouse to stay on the other spouse's health insurance), no court involvement is necessary at that time.
• Once the parties are ready to complete the divorce, the required documents are submitted to the court and the judge is asked to grant the divorce. Usually, no court appearance is necessary if they have a signed Agreement.
• The terms of the Agreement arrived at in the mediation process become the terms of the divorce judgment.

• Reach common ground: We help you and your spouse focus on common interests such as the best interests of the children, a respectful and cordial or even amicable relationship when the process is done, financial stability for both parties and walking away seeing the agreement as fair to both of you.
• Get directly involved: You are directly involved in the mediation process and our skilled divorce attorney mediators can keep the process on track, even in moments of high stress, without either party being overpowered at the table. You make the decisions, not a judge in a courtroom, and not in an atmosphere where the attorneys are arguing at a negotiation table.
• Make informed decisions: While the mediator is not acting as the attorney for either party, he or she can teach you all about the law on each issue, so that decisions are made having context for what the law sets forth. Also, due to the mediator's requirement for financial transparency, information regarding assets, liabilities and income is put front and center so that both spouses can see the whole financial picture.
• Contain costs: Mediation is far more cost effective and time efficient than litigation - and saves you from emotional stress from a prolonged litigation process and potentially being in a courtroom.
• Privacy and confidentiality: Unlike in a courtroom where dirty laundry can be aired, mediation is a private process, and anything that is said in mediation by a party cannot be used against you if the mediation terminates and the parties proceed to litigation.

Our firm is proud to offer divorce mediation services for residents of all Western New York counties. We recommend that you read our articles and view our videos to more fully understand the divorce mediation process.

• Anatomy of a Divorce Mediation
• Mediation - The Wise Alternative
• How to Resolve Conflict Wisely

• 2019 Very High Rating in Both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards Peer Review Rating awarded to Steve Pusatier by Martindale Hubbell
• 2019 Very High Rating in Both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards Peer Review Rating awarded to Steve Sugarman by Martindale Hubbell
• Steve Sugarman has been selected as Best Lawyers' Mediation "Lawyer of the Year" for Buffalo in 2020 in addition to 2013, 2016 and 2018.