Family Law Mediation Attorneys

Jacoby & Meyers offers a wide array of family law mediation services. Mediation offers a superior alternative to the long and expensive process that has defined the typical divorce proceeding. In mediation, a skilled neutral party helps guide both sides in the dispute to a solution that more closely addresses the best interests of everyone. The couple works in a collaborative manner to identify and resolve all of the most pressing issues, providing both parties with a logical, fair, and equitable settlement.

Our law firm offers the following mediation services:

  • Divorce mediation
  • Parenting plan mediation
  • Premarital mediation
  • Estate planning mediation
  • Same-sex couples mediation

Conservatorships

Conservatorships are similar to guardianships, but refer to the case when an adult is physically or mentally incapable of caring for his or her own person or estate. They are most often granted to close relatives with a demonstrated desire and ability to care for the disabled adult.

A conservatorship may be established if:

  • Mental deterioration or physical incapacity prevent the adult from fully managing his or her person or estate
  • Mental illness or developmental disability prevent the adult from fully managing his or her person or estate
  • Gambling, idleness, debauchery, or excessive use of alcohol or drugs lead to the wasting of the person or his or her estate

If you would like to establish a guardianship over the person or estate of a disabled adult, please contact us to receive help in making all necessary legal actions to quickly and effectively establish the guardianships.

Child Custody and Visitation

Child custody is divided into physical custody, where the child primarily resides; and legal custody, which involves decision-making regarding the health, education, and general welfare of the child. Any arrangement is possible by agreement; generally, a decision made by both parents would be better than a verdict imposed by a judge. The rights of the non-custodial parent to see their child is known as a visitation agreement. At Jacoby & Meyers, we will fight for this parent to be able to have as much parenting time as possible with their child. We can also help you with the following:

  • Enforcement by a non-custodial parent of visitation
  • Modification of the parenting plan by a non-custodial parent
  • Adjustment of a visitation schedule by a parent with primary custody
  • Grandparents seeking visitation rights with their grandchildren.

The real focus in any custody dispute should be the child. Please contact our child custody attorneys for experienced and compassionate representation.

Guardianship

A guardianship is the establishment of a person who has the legal responsibility to care for a minor who is taken from the parents’ charge. Know that if you voluntarily pass on guardianship of your child, you will no longer have the power to make decisions about your child’s life. An aspect of guardianship that is often overlooked is the establishment of a guardian over a child in the event of the parents’ death. None of us expects to die, but if you have a child, establishing a guardianship in the event of your death is a crucial step to take in ensuring their well-being.

Guardianship of the estate occurs when a minor receives assets from a deceased person, either through probate court proceedings, or is the beneficiary of a life insurance policy. If a minor receives property, the property must be under the charge of a guardian. Please contact our guardianship attorneys to receive help in making all necessary legal actions to quickly and effectively establish your guardianship.

Health Care Proxies

A health care proxy (often referred to as a “living will” or a “health care directive”) is a legal agreement that grants one individual the responsibility of making health care decisions on behalf of another who is unable to do so independently.

The health care proxy documents the wishes of an individual to be carried out if one day he or she becomes unable to do so. That individual maintains control over his or her own health care matters up until he or she is determined to be incompetent. To establish a health care proxy, please contact us today.

Spousal Support (Alimony)

Many complex issues can arise in the calculation and awarding of alimony, and those can change over the years. When a court awards spousal support, it considers the following:

  • Standard of living during the marriage
  • Stock options
  • Whether one spouse needs support while going to school or learning marketable job skills. In this case, they might also need child care payments
  • Whether one spouse is too ill or elderly to launch a new career
  • How long the marriage lasted
  • Whether one spouse is unable to obtain medical insurance

Change in spousal support can occur if the supported spouse dies or remarries, or when support payments end. If the marriage was long-term, either spouse can petition for the amount to be adjusted based on change of their circumstances since the previous court order. Jacoby & Meyers has extensive experience handling family law issues, and can provide you with reliable legal guidance. Please contact us today.

Trusts

A trust helps to avoid the costly and lengthy proceedings of probate court. Trust laws are set in place to allow the designation of trustees to handle your estate before your death in the event of your mental or physical disability. Trusts are beneficial in protecting assets from creditors. They allow you to pass property to your children to hold in trust for your grandchildren, without subjecting the property to two rounds of estate taxes (with some limitations).

Prenuptial Agreements

Prenuptial agreements are frequently important at the start of a marriage, especially if you or your spouse has substantial assets. Yet this process can be uncomfortable for both parties involved. Opting to mediate your agreement can help reduce some of the bitterness often associated with the oppositional nature of this process. Before you create a premarital agreement, you will want to consider the following issues:

• Premarital assets and debts
• Acquired marital property
• Management of assets and incomes
• Credit and debt
• Spousal support/alimony if applicable

Wills

A legal will designates the division of a person’s property to heirs and beneficiaries following his or her death. Probate proceedings are initiated following a person’s death to confirm the validity of the will and to execute the terms. In order to avoid the lengthy probate process, it is necessary to establish a living trust. Wills can be used to name guardians over minors and give directives to the guardians as to where the children should live and how their assets should be controlled.

Furthermore, a will can name an executor to make discretionary decisions about properties not explicitly named in the will. A will is a simple but necessary precaution that even relatively young people should take to minimize court proceedings and costs in the event of an unexpected death.

At Jacoby & Meyers, our mediators can help guide you through all of the issues pertaining to a prenuptial agreement in a way that keeps the process as positive and fair as possible. Please contact us today to arrange for an initial consultation.

Contact Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, through a live chat with one of our representatives, our online contact form, or at (877) 565-2993 today.

Jacoby & Meyers, LLP
39 Broadway Suite 1910,
New York, NY 10006
(212)-445-7000

Client Testimonials

“If it were not for the integral legal team of experts at Jacoby & Meyers I would not be where I am today with my recovery. I highly recommend hiring Jacoby & Meyers should you ever find yourself injured in an accident, and an individual or company needs to be held accountable for their negligence.” -C.J.
★★★★★

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