DivorceNet

Bass & Abrams, P.C. Email Us 109 Grand Street Croton-On-Hudson, New York 10520 Phone: 914-271-9529 Fax: 914-271-1184 Additional # 212-490-5678

Our Mission Is To Provide Our Clients With Legal Representation That Meets Their Needs and Protects Their Interests, in a Timely and Efficient Manner, with Understanding and Respect.

The law office of BASS & ABRAMS, P.C., is centrally located in Westchester County enabling us to service clients in Westchester County, Putnam County, Dutchess County, Ulster County, Rockland County, Orange County, New York City, and Long Island.

Divorce does not have to be an emotional and economic battle. There is an alternative to a traditional litigated divorce. Collaborative Divorce enables a couple to have a say in the divorce process and allows the couple to divorce with dignity, civility, and on terms that are fair. Collaborative Divorce takes into consideration the needs of the divorcing couple and their children.

Collaborative Divorce and Collaborative Law

The Collaborative Divorce process is comprised of two different ways to collaboratively end the marriage. The first is Collaborative Divorce. Collaborative Divorce follows a team approach. Collaborative Law is similar to Collaborative Divorce; however, in Collaborative Law the parties only retain the services of their attorneys and do not have the benefit of the team approach.

The following is a description of Collaborative Divorce. In Collaborative Law item “5” would be excluded.

Collaborative Divorce is:

1. An out of court process.
2. Each spouse has his or her own attorney whose objective is to help the parties settle their disputes. While the lawyers advocate for their client, there is no threatening, deception, or coercion.
3. The attorneys agree not to litigate. If the clients cannot resolve the matter using the collaborative process and want to litigate, the attorneys must withdraw and the clients will have to hire new attorneys to litigate. This requires the attorneys and clients to have common goals in working toward resolving the issues and a dissolution of the marriage.
4. Discovery proceedings are open. No one can hide relevant information. If information is hidden or concealed and the deception is discovered the process will break down. In addition, concealed information can lead to an agreement that will be subject to attack and may not be binding. For those fearing that assets may be hidden, an asset search can be done. (The dilemma of a party hiding assets can exist whether you are using the collaborative process, mediation, or litigation).
5. The parties work with a team of professionals in addition to the attorneys, which includes a coach for each party (one of which may be the case coordinator), a neutral financial planner, and may include a child specialist. The types of professionals on the team may vary depending on the individual needs of the clients.
   The team approach takes into consideration the emotional and financial issues facing the individual spouses as well as issues which center on the children. This is done by making available specially-trained professionals to address each spouse’s individual concerns and the concerns of the children. When these issues are not addressed in this manner, the divorce process may be subject to greater conflict, delay, and increased legal expenses. 
6. The Collaborative Process is designed to end the marriage:
• With dignity.
• Within a reasonable time. Clients participate in setting the pace within which the case moves. You are not subject to the court’s calendar.
• With a workable framework for co-parenting.
• With a workable framework for future life cycle events such as graduations, weddings, family gatherings, birthdays, and religious events.
• With privacy.
• With understanding and respect.
7. The Collaborative Process allows the divorcing couple to make the decisions about their family, finances, and future at their own pace, rather than leaving those decisions to an overburdened court system and the adversarial process.
8. The Collaborative Process works with the divorcing couple to end the marriage with civility on terms that are equitable and fair.

As set forth above, the Collaborative Law model does not use the team approach; however, individual specialists may be used in the Collaborative Law model if needed and agreed to by the parties.

Attorney Mark K. Bass

Mark K. Bass started his own law practice in 1990. Before starting his law practice, Mark was an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the New York City Law Department from 1984-1988. From 1989-1990, Mark was a trial attorney for the law office of Finkelstein, Levine, Gittelson and Tetenbuam. In 1990, Mark left the firm to open his own practice.

Based on over 20 years of litigation experience, Mark sees the need for an alternative to litigating sensitive family issues in court, where both the emotional and economic costs can be overwhelming. Mark has become actively involved in Collaborative Law and Collaborative Divorce and recognizes the collaborative process as a viable alternative to litigation in resolving disputes. Mark is limiting his matrimonial practice to only representing divorce clients within the Collaborative Process.

Mark earned his J.D. in Law from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York City (1984). He has a B.A. in Political Science from the State University College at Buffalo, in Buffalo, New York (1979). Mark is admitted to the New York State Bar and the United States District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Mark is a member of Bass & Abrams, P.C. He is on the Board of the Hudson Valley Collaborative Divorce Association, www.collabdivorce-ny.com, and is Chair of its marketing committee. Mark is also on the coordinating committee of the Collaborative Divorce Group of Westchester and Putnam, www.collabdivorce.net, and is a member of the Collaborative Divorce Team of the Hudson Valley.

Mark has taught Political Science and law-related classes as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Politics Program at Marymount College of Fordham University, teaching and designing courses in Constitutional Law and Civil Rights, The American Judicial Process, American Government, and Public Policy Making. Mark has also taught classes in American Government at Westchester Community College and Mercy College.

Please email us or visit our website for additional information.