Law and Mediation Office of Helene Bernstein, PLLC Legal Blog
I Just Filed My 65th Legal Brief
I can't believe I just filed my 65th appellate brief! As an appellate attorney specializing in family and child welfare law, I file briefs with the 1st and 2nd Judicial Departments in New York on all sorts of issues -divorce, child custody, child support, orders of...
Considering a Prenup? Try Mediation
Getting married is an exciting time, but it's also important to have practical conversations about your financial future. Prenuptial agreements can help both parties feel secure, but negotiating the details can be stressful. This is why mediation is increasingly...
Start Your Best Life with a Prenuptial Agreement Created Through Mediation
With wedding season around the corner, it’s time to speak with your affianced about the idea of a prenuptial agreement prior to walking down the aisle. A prenuptial agreement allows a couple to understand and discuss their financial interests and goals in a...
DIVORCE DOESN’T MEAN THE END OF YOUR FAMILY
I am a big fan of the television show This Is Us. Although I am sad to see the show end, I was excited to see the show highlighting the use of divorce mediation by the characters Toby and Kate as the respectful and collaborative alternative to divorce litigation....
Joining Family Kind Helene Bernstein
By Helene Bernstein, Esq. of the Law and Mediation Office of Helene Bernstein, PLLC. As New York begins to reopen, I’m excited to announce that I have joined the Board of Directors of FamilyKind. Since joining FamilyKind over a decade ago as a founding member, I’ve...
Marital Mediation- How can we stay married without going to therapy?
As a mediator, I come across clients who tell me they want to stay married but either marital therapy didn’t work for them or their spouse has no interest in attending therapy. I recently attended a training on the topic of Martial Mediation in order to provide...
POST-DIVORCE MODIFICATION OF CHILD SUPPORT
During this pandemic and COVID-19, many divorced or separated couples have requested modification of their child support orders pursuant to their divorce agreement or Family Court court orders. However, asking a judge or a support magistrate to make such changes is...
ATTORNEY FEES IN DIVORCE- THE COURT’S DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY TO AWARD FEES
I recently received a favorable decision for my client, the former husband, in the case of Christina Giasemis v. Peter Giasemis, 2020 N.Y.Slip Op. 5491 (October 2020, Second Department ) a post-divorce judgment case where the appellate court reversed the lower court...
Mediating with Attorneys in the Room, A Webinar Sponsored by Familykind
As a mediator/attorney who offers private mediation services and consultant mediation services through Familykind (www.familykind.org), an organization that provides services to families experiencing separation and divorce, I had the opportunity this month with Andrea...
Helene Bernstein, Esq. on the Financially Every After Podcast
I recently had the opportunity to join Stacy Francis on the Financially Ever After podcast. As we discussed on the show, COVID-19 is having a profound impact on the world of divorce. Here are a few highlights discussed on the program: A key point to consider is that...