Divorce Mediation Attorney in Westchester County

Resolve Your Divorce With Clarity & Control in New York

When you are facing the end of a marriage, the idea of a long court fight can feel overwhelming. Mediation gives you a way to work through parenting, finances, and the future of your family in a more private, structured setting. As a divorce mediation attorney in Westchester County, Proto, Sachs & Brown, LLP helps you approach this process with clarity instead of chaos.

We know you may be worried about protecting your children, paying for two households, and keeping your life on track while everything feels uncertain. Our role is to guide you through mediation in a way that respects your goals and keeps conflict as low as possible. With more than 100 years of combined legal experience, our family law team provides grounded advice at each step.

From our offices in White Plains and Cortlandt Manor, we work with spouses throughout the county who want a more thoughtful way to end a marriage. Your first consultation is free, so you can sit down with us, ask questions, and learn whether mediation is a fit before making any commitment.

Begin your next chapter without the stress of a courtroom. Contact a divorce mediation attorney in Westchester County at Proto, Sachs & Brown, LLP by calling (914) 840-5104 or reaching out online.

Understanding Divorce Mediation Laws in New York

Divorce mediation in New York is a voluntary and confidential process governed by both the Domestic Relations Law (DRL) and specific court rules. Unlike litigation, where a judge in the Westchester County Supreme Court makes final decisions about your life, mediation puts the decision-making power back into your hands.

The New York State Unified Court System has solidified its "Presumptive ADR" initiative. This means that many matrimonial cases filed in Westchester County are now referred to mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution early in the process. However, mediation is distinct from "Collaborative Law" or "Negotiated Settlements." In mediation, a neutral third party—the mediator—facilitates communication between the spouses to reach a consensus on all marital issues.

Is Mediation Right For Your Divorce?

Mediation can be a good fit for divorcing couples who are willing to communicate honestly, share information, and consider compromise, even if they do not agree on everything at the start. Many parents choose mediation to reduce conflict and create practical parenting plans that reflect their children’s needs, school schedules, and daily realities, helping establish cooperation that can last beyond the divorce.

However, mediation is not right for every situation, particularly where there is severe domestic violence, substance abuse, or intimidation, and other legal approaches may be safer. Some worry mediation sacrifices legal protection, but attorneys help by explaining how New York law typically handles property and outcomes in White Plains Supreme Court, giving clients a clear framework to evaluate proposed agreements.

Questions that can help you decide whether mediation may fit your divorce include:

• Are both of you willing to attend sessions and exchange financial information in good faith.
• Can each of you voice your concerns in a conversation if there are clear rules and a mediator present.
• Is there a shared desire to protect children from ongoing conflict and court battles.
• Do you both want more control over the outcome than a judge would provide in a contested trial.
• Are you open to creative solutions that take into account work schedules, housing, and other local realities.

If you are unsure how to answer these questions, we can talk them through with you. Part of our work as a divorce mediation attorney in Westchester County is helping you decide whether this route makes sense before you invest too much time or energy in a particular approach.

Key Elements of a Successful Mediation

For a mediated agreement to be converted into a legally binding Judgment of Divorce, several core elements must be addressed and resolved. These are the "pillars" of your settlement:

• Equitable Distribution of Marital Property: Under DRL § 236, New York is an equitable distribution state. This does not always mean a 50/50 split. Mediation allows you to decide how to divide the family home, retirement accounts, and business interests in a way that is fair given your specific contributions to the marriage.
• Spousal Maintenance (Alimony): We utilize the 2026 updated maintenance formulas as a baseline to help you negotiate support that reflects the length of your marriage and the future earning capacity of both parties.
• Child Custody and Parenting Plans: Mediation is often the best venue for parents. It allows for the creation of "Child-Inclusive" parenting plans that address everything from holiday schedules to educational decision-making without a "Lawyer for the Child" or a forensic evaluator's intervention.
• Child Support: While couples have some flexibility, New York courts will not approve an agreement that does not substantially comply with the Child Support Standards Act (CSSA) unless a valid "opt-out" reason is provided.

The Westchester County Divorce Mediation Process

The process at Proto, Sachs & Brown, LLP is designed to move at the pace that works for your family, rather than the pace of the court calendar. Here is how the divorce process usually deploys:

1. Free Initial Consultation: We begin with a joint meeting to explain the process, determine if your case is suitable for mediation (checking for any power imbalances or history of domestic violence that might make mediation inappropriate), and outline the 2026 legal requirements.
2. Financial Disclosure and Identification of Issues: Using the updated NY financial forms, we help both parties gather and exchange all necessary documentation. We identify the "sticking points," whether they involve the valuation of a Westchester professional practice or the division of a family residence.
3. Negotiation Sessions: In a series of structured meetings, we facilitate discussions on each identified issue. With our 100+ years of combined experience, we are able to suggest creative solutions that traditional litigation might ignore, such as "nesting" arrangements for children or specific tax-advantaged property transfers.
4. Drafting the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): Once an agreement is reached, we draft a comprehensive document outlining every term. Each spouse is then encouraged to have this MOU reviewed by an independent "review attorney" to ensure their individual rights are fully protected.
5. Finalizing the Judgment of Divorce: We then convert the agreement into a formal "Stipulation of Settlement." Once signed and notarized, we process the "uncontested" divorce paperwork through the Westchester County Clerk’s office, often resulting in a Judgment of Divorce within three to six months without you ever having to step foot in a courtroom.

Why Choose Our Firm For Your Divorce Mediation

Choosing the right lawyers for mediation matters, especially when your future finances and your children’s routines are at stake. At Proto, Sachs & Brown, LLP, our attorneys bring over a century of combined legal experience to family law matters, including divorce and related issues. This depth means we have seen many versions of the problems you are worried about and can help you anticipate challenges before they derail discussions.

Our team includes both seasoned divorce lawyers and former prosecutors. For families in this county, this combination is particularly helpful when a divorce involves domestic disputes, orders of protection, or criminal charges that may affect parenting time or safety concerns. We understand how these issues may be handled in the Westchester County Supreme Court in White Plains, and we work to factor that reality into any mediation plan.

Clients turn to us because we have been recognized for quality and client service. Our attorneys have been included in Super Lawyers listings, and our firm has received Avvo Clients’ Choice Awards in both family law and criminal defense. These honors come from peers and clients, and they reflect our commitment to careful preparation and responsive communication.

Most importantly, we approach divorce mediation with a client first philosophy. We spend time learning what matters most to you, from your children’s schedules to retirement security, and we build a strategy around those priorities. For many local families, that means focusing on creating a durable parenting plan and a practical financial agreement, rather than winning a fight in court.

Preparing For Divorce Mediation in Westchester County

Preparing for divorce mediation does not require having every issue resolved in advance, but some reflection helps. Thinking about your goals and gathering basic information can make early meetings more productive and less stressful. In an initial consultation, attorneys review your family situation, identify key issues, and discuss whether mediation is appropriate, including concerns about safety, finances, or power imbalances.

Because many families in Westchester County juggle demanding jobs and complex schedules, practical realities matter. Mediation often addresses commuting demands, child care logistics, and school locations across the county. Discussing these day-to-day details helps shape realistic parenting and financial agreements that reflect how your family actually lives, rather than abstract or impractical solutions.

To make the most of your first meetings, it helps to prepare a few key items:

• Recent financial information, such as pay stubs, tax returns, mortgage statements, and retirement account summaries.
• A list of your main priorities, including concerns about children, housing, and long term financial security.
• Notes about your children’s schedules, school locations, and activities throughout local communities.
• Any existing court documents, such as orders of protection or previous family law filings.
• Questions you want to ask about the mediation process, possible timelines, and how our attorneys will work with you.

We understand that this preparation can feel like one more task during a stressful time. Our team is here to walk you through what is most important and to help you organize information in a way that supports focused, productive mediation sessions.

Talk With Our Team About Divorce Mediation

Taking the first step toward divorce is difficult, but you do not have to navigate it on your own. Meeting with our attorneys gives you a chance to learn whether mediation could help you resolve your divorce more privately and efficiently, while keeping your children and long term stability in focus.

At Proto, Sachs & Brown, LLP, we bring extensive experience, recognized legal skill, and a client centered approach to every family we serve. Your consultation is free, and our goal is to provide clear information so you can choose the path that fits your life now and in the future.

Call (914) 840-5104 or reach out online to schedule your confidential consultation with out divorce mediation attorneys in Westchester County today.