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Ms. Barbera's Blog Follow Ms. Barbera's online column at the Long Island divorce examiner Bearing the Divorce Maze and Winning Ms. Barbera's Book, "Braving the Divorce Maze and Winning" is now available!

"In a world where knowledge is power, this book is meant to empower all those in relationships or entering relationships about what to be aware of and prepared for in case they or someone they know is in need of a divorce. This book outlines what every spouse should be aware of in their marriage and takes the reader through the entire divorce process including how to pick the right attorney. A must read in this highly litigious society."

The Law Offices of Barbera & McElhone, P.C.
428 Route 25A, P.O. Box 5595
Miller Place, NY 11764
Phone: 631-791-9693
Fax: 631-473-2648
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Financial Advantage of Mediation

New York Divorce Mediation Lawyer

Even when the economy is spiraling downward taking jobs and property values with it, relationships still end. Sometimes couples will cite the poor economy when rationalizing that they cannot afford a divorce. Though there is never a good time to get divorced, in some situations, couples cannot afford to delay.

At the Law Offices of Barbera & McElhone, PC, Long Island families can find affordable and cost-effective resolutions to their family law issues. Contact the firm for a free initial consultation.

An Affordable Alternative to Traditional Divorce

It is not cheaper to stay in a bad relationship just to wait out the bad economy. Even if assets have lost some of their value, but when relationships degrade to the point that strife and contention fill the home, the emotional and psychological costs can be unbearable. When living conditions have disintegrated to the point that couples are living in separate parts of the house or are avoiding contact altogether, it is time to take action.

The good news is that an affordable option for marriage dissolution is available: divorce mediation. The financial advantages, alone, are significant. With mediation, clients pay a flat rate while in traditional divorce situations, clients pay thousands of dollars in retainer fees as well as other costs being added. Additionally, mediation allows parties to control what happens with their lives, their possessions and their children. In the divorce courts, the judge makes the decisions regardless of what you want or need.

The Mediation Process

In mediation, extra expenses are whittled out. Professional after professional will not be meeting with spouses and their children, or about spouses and their children, while charging you by the hour. Rather, the husband and wife come together with a neutral third party mediator to discuss concerns and to find an agreeable settlement covering all the important topics such as property division, child custody and child support.

A word of caution, however, is essential: Because certification is not required to be a mediator, many people, such as social workers and counselors/therapists, enter the field. However, they are not allowed to practice law and are unable to provide counsel. By choosing an attorney experienced in mediation, you can be assured the agreement reached is fully legal.

Complimentary Consultation

In turbulent economic times where money is an issue yet families are falling apart, there is an alternative to costly divorce. At Barbera & McElhone, the attorneys have nearly 50 years of combined experience in practicing law and facilitating mediation. They are well-respected in the field and in the communities having helped hundreds of families find creative and cost effective settlements to divorce and family law disputes. Contact the firm to schedule a complimentary consultation.


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Long Island attorneys Janine A. Barbera and James E. McElhone practice all aspects of Personal Injury, including Automobile/Car Accidents, Truck/Trailer Accidents, Construction Site Accidents, Animal Bites, Premise Liability, Landlord Liability, Defective Products/Product Liability, Slip and Fall, Wrongful Death, Pedestrian Accidents, Bicycle Accidents. The firm serves Miller Place and surrounding areas of Suffolk County, Long Island, including Rocky Point, Port Jefferson, Islip, Smithtown, Farmingville, Centereach, Selden, Bohemia, Stony Brook, Setauket, Holbrook, Coram, Middle Island, Medford and Lake Ronkonkoma. The other practice areas include Family Law and Criminal Law.

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