June 5, 2024 -   How can considerable separate assets owned by one spouse impact the equitable distribution of marital property? In mediation, it's up to the couple to determine what they consider equitable, rather than leaving it to a judge or lawyers. This can be approached in several ways, but no matter what a couple decides, they must involve a financial professional to assess the implications of their different options.For more information about mediation, divorce, and famil [...]

May 15, 2024 -   Clare Piro, a family and divorce mediator and attorney, advises against pressuring a spouse into choosing a mediator they don't like. Instead, she suggests identifying the qualities each of you seeks in a mediator and using those criteria to evaluate potential mediators. If your spouse continues to reject all options, it might raise questions about their willingness to engage in good faith mediation. In that case, you may need to reassess if mediation is the ri [...]

March 27, 2024 -   In this video, Clare introduces the idea of using objective standards to evaluate a separation agreement, especially when spouses have differing views on what's fair. If you would like more information about mediation, prenups, and family law, check out my website — ClarePiroMediation.com. [...]

October 25, 2023 - The past couple of videos have dealt with mediating your divorce if there are trust issues with your spouse. The most distressing and emotional trust issue is, of course, infidelity. A successful mediation will require you to focus on what your spouse is saying, not how you feel. And most importantly, you must base everything on the best interests of your entire family, including the unfaithful spouse. If you would like more information about mediation, prenups, and fa [...]

October 11, 2023 -   In my last video, we explored the viability of mediating if you can not trust your spouse. In this video, we question whether the trust issue is due to financial impropriety. If you're receiving support, are you afraid the other person isn't going to pay it? Will the agreed-upon terms actually be implemented? If you would like more information about mediation, prenups, and family law, check out my website — ClarePiroMediation.com. [...]

September 27, 2023 -   You would think that a lack of trust would definitely make your mediation really tough, if not impossible, but it can be done and a settlement reached. Some couples even find their way to begin the process of rebuilding some of the trust that was lost. If you would like more information about mediation, prenups, and family law, check out my website — ClarePiroMediation.com.   [...]

September 19, 2023 -   Pay maintenance in a very short-term marriage? Pay the same amount of maintenance even when income is decreased? Pay maintenance even when a spouse remarried? Agree to share income equally for the rest of your lives? Why would someone agree to do something like that? If you would like more information about mediation, prenups, and family law, check out my website — ClarePiroMediation.com.  [...]

November 1, 2022 -   It’s that time of year when ghosts and goblins abound, scaring the kids and sometimes the adults as well. The overall feeling of being scared, anxious and out of control is very similar to how divorcing parents feel, especially when it comes to their children. A Child Specialist can advise you in ways to help combat those emotions. [...]

October 13, 2022 -   In New York, there is a statute that gives a surviving spouse the right to elect against the Will of a deceased spouse, if that Will leaves them with less than the greater of a third of the estate or $50,000. In a prenup, you can waive that Right of Election if circumstances warrant it. Mediation is a good place to talk about your expectations and what would be appropriate to maintain your standard of living. If you would like more information about mediation a [...]

September 15, 2022 - {3 minutes to read} If you and your spouse have a lot of conflict between you, you're going to want to have as much detail as possible in your parenting agreement. Here are a few tips that can help you to achieve that during your mediation.  1. Speak Up.    Clearly, your mediator is going to be aware of the level of conflict between the two of you and will raise the issues that are most commonly addressed in Separation Agreements in terms of parent [...]

July 13, 2022 - Sometimes there isn’t a lot of conflict between you and your spouse, and you feel that you won’t have any problems with joint decision making but including a default provision in your agreement, just in case things don't go as expected, might be wise. If you would like more information about mediation and joint decision making, check out my website — ClarePiroMediation.com. [...]

February 2, 2022 - No one can tell you how long your divorce will take. If you are litigating, you are at the mercy of your attorney’s schedule, your spouse’s attorney’s schedule, the judge’s timetable and the court’s agenda. This can increase the level of anxiety and uncertainty that you feel. In mediation, the timetable is up to you and your spouse. [...]