WhitsonLaw, PLLC.

WhitsonLaw, PLLC is a firm that is dedicated to family law matters as we walk side by side with our clients located in Elizabethtown, New York, and servicing areas in Keene, Essex, Clinton, Warren, and greater areas in the New York States.

Our team of attorneys, paralegals and mediators has the legal expertise to assist you both in and out of the courtroom. Our whole team is comprised of Certified Divorce Specialists™, which means we provide the utmost care and support to our clients. We believe that divorce should not be stressful, and we endeavor to resolve your family law matters speedily so that you do not have to rack up legal fees.

OUR MISSION
To steer our clients away from the traditional path of legal warfare. We do this by taking the time to understand our client’s goals and values. We are creative problem solvers who are not afraid to challenge the status quo. We work together with our clients from day one to develop settlement strategies that reduce conflict, stress, and cost so that they can get back to being happy much sooner.

We focus exclusively on the areas of Matrimonial and Family Law such as Divorce, Litigation, Collaborative Law, Adoption, Legal Custody, Child Rights, Child Support, Child Custody, and Joint Custody, Visitation Rights, Modification of Child Support, Grandparents’ Rights, and Prenuptial Agreements.

We have free resources that you can read and download for free!

How We Can Help You:
When it comes to family law, the state of New York does things a little differently than other states. Here at WhitsonLaw, we believe that the best clients to have are educated clients, which is exactly why we want to provide a general overview of the specific family law sub-practice areas in which we specialize. We are servicing Warren, Essex, Clinton, and Keene County.

Divorce:
In New York, you can file for divorce regardless of whether one spouse is at fault or not. This means that New York is a ‘no-fault’ divorce state, meaning not getting along with your spouse can be enough of a reason to split. While the state also allows divorce on the proven grounds of adultery, continuous abandonment for up to a year, cruel and inhumane treatment, three or more years of incarceration, or living separate and apart pursuant to a written agreement for a year or longer, these grounds are rarely, if ever used any longer.

Child Custody:
There are two components to custody. The first is legal custody. Legal custody involves the right and the obligation to participate in making important decisions about the upbringing of one’s child in areas such as health, education, and religion. It is presumed that parents will have joint legal custody, but in limited circumstances, one parent may be awarded sole legal custody. The second component of custody is referred to as “parenting time.” This prong addresses where the child will live and how custodial time is shared between the parents.

Visitation Rights:
Like custody orders, visitation orders are determined with the children’s best interest in mind. Usually, the custodial parent cannot mess with the non-custodial parent’s visitation schedule. What’s more, the custodial parent may be held in contempt of court if they try to prevent the non-custodial parent from seeing the children.

Child Support:
The state of New York takes the enforcement of child support laws very seriously. To illustrate this, a parent who is repeatedly past due on child support payments may have his or her professional license suspended until the outstanding payments are made. Other examples include expedited contempt proceedings for the parent who is late on child support payments, as well as laws that extend these child support orders to “any legally responsible relative” who can provide benefits, like health insurance, to the children who are suffering because of these late payments.

Grandparent Rights:
Under specific circumstances, grandparents may have the right to seek court-ordered visitation with their grandchildren. To have legal standing, the grandparent must demonstrate that: 1) they have an established relationship and bond with the grandchild; 2) the parents/guardians of the grandchild are unjustifiably denying contact between the grandparent and grandchild, and 3) it is in the grandchild’s best interest to have continued visitation with the grandparent. In more extreme circumstances, such as where the parents are unavailable (due to death, hospitalization, or incarceration, for instance) or grossly unfit to raise a child (due to addiction or serious mental health issues, abuse, or neglect for instance), grandparents may apply for and obtain custody of their grandchildren.

Adoption:
New York does not prohibit anyone from being adopted; that means that even adults can be adopted, too. However, the age of consent for adoption in this state is 14 years old. Any adult can adopt. If that adult is legally married, though, then both spouses must legally adopt the person. New York also does not place any restrictions on same-sex couples or people with non-conforming genders who wish to adopt.

However, you must be a New York resident to adopt. This means you must have lived in the state of New York for at least three months before the adoption is finalized. Fortunately, hopeful parents-to-be can start the adoption process before they satisfy the residency requirements.

Collaborative Divorce:
Collaborative divorce can be a great option for preserving the emotional health of the couple’s children. Not only are spousal disputes settled privately outside of court in a collaborative divorce, but the proceedings are generally much quicker and less expensive than standard divorce proceedings. Less time and money spent means a less stressful family life altogether–now that’s a win-win.

Mediation:
Mediation is a process for parties to resolve their disputes and restructure their family and their finances without going to court. Mediators are neutral third parties who use their training and skills to guide the parties through civil discussions and negotiations and help the parties reach creative solutions to their problems. However, keep in mind that this process may not be the best solution for couples with a history of serious domestic violence. If you are looking for a reason why you should consider mediation, do not hesitate to reach us at 518-412-4111 and schedule a consultation with our Attorneys/Mediators/Certified Divorce SpecialistsTM.

At Whitson Law Firm in Elizabethtown, NY, we offer mediation of the following issues: Divorce, Child Custody, Child and Spousal Support, Separation Agreements, Cohabitation Agreements, and Prenuptial Agreements and Postnuptial Agreements. We also help our clients mediate modifications to existing court orders or agreements.

WhitsonLaw also offers three service packages to our mediation clients, namely “Our Family in Two Homes”, “Designing Our Future Together” and “Our Family In A Few Homes”.

Our Family in Two Homes is an innovative, practical service package providing you with a low-conflict way to separate that fosters cooperative co-parenting.

If you are concerned that your communication problems which led to your relationship difficulties will influence your co-parenting relationship, this service package is for you. It helps you avoid the warfare associated with divorce and ensures that your children do not become collateral damage.

We have helped thousands of clients resolve their divorce amicably and go on to raise healthy, happy children.

Designing Our Future Together is a ground-breaking, visionary service package for clients who are planning a future together- whether you are blending your family, preparing for cohabitation, or engaged to be married.

If you are worried that you aren’t fully prepared for whichever obstacles life might throw your way during your relationship, this service package can help you become fully prepared for a better future, together. We help you work out all the little details- whether it’s the household expectations, finances, or simply protecting your assets and your children in the future, we can assist you!

Our Family In A Few Homes is an ingenious, resourceful service package that encourages positive communication between separating parents with adult children to help you reach an agreement that supports your family’s future and preserves relationships with your children, grandchildren, and extended family so that you can have a drama-free holiday and other events such graduations, weddings, and other milestones will still be happy gatherings for all of you.

If you are worried about how your adult children will react and cope with their parents divorcing at this stage in your life (and theirs), this service package can assist you in avoiding a bitter and costly battle in court that can fracture your family. It ensures that you can deal with the unique challenges of divorcing later in life while keeping your extended family intact.

We have helped thousands of clients separate amicably and preserve their relationships with family, all without jeopardizing their financial security.

Debra Whitson, the CEO/ Owner of WhitsonLaw, PLLC. is an Attorney, Mediator, and Certified Divorce Specialist™ specializing in Matrimonial and Family Law. She is an experienced mediator and collaborative divorce practitioner as well as a recognized expert in working with victims of domestic violence.

Debra Whitson believes that legal battles are more harmful to families than helpful and is passionate about helping people find ways to make their own decisions for their families.

She has recently released her first book “Divorce Like A Pro: A Better Way To Break Up” which helps families going through divorce make the best decisions and choose the most peaceful option during their separation. Her book is available on Amazon for purchase, and for a limited time, available for download on our website!

Everyone can benefit from finding self-directed, peaceful ways to resolve family disputes without
resorting to the court, and this book provides you with options- ways to divorce peacefully and
amicably.

If you or your spouse has decided to start the divorce process, it can be daunting to know how to
proceed. You might consider the traditional method, which is litigation, but did you know that there
are other options available to you?

You can get divorced without launching an all-out attack in court, without your kids becoming
collateral damage, and without spending thousands of dollars just to have your future decided by a
stranger in a black robe.

“Divorce Like A Pro: A Better Way To Break Up” by Debra Whitson, Author, Family Law Attorney,
Mediator, and Certified Divorce SpecialistTM provides you with better ways to resolve your conflict,
so that you can shift the focus to reclaiming your life. This book helps you take all the hassle out of
divorcing, for a peaceful resolution between you and your ex, while going your separate ways.

“I want people to understand that there are better options- like mediation and collaboration. The
more people are informed of and understand other options, the more likely they are to seriously
consider them. This book is designed to help people do just that. Everyone can benefit from finding
self-directed, peaceful ways to resolve family disputes without resorting to the court.
– Debra Whitson, Family Law Attorney, Mediator and Certified Divorce SpecialistTM.

Debra began her career as a prosecutor, and for the last 28 years has specialized in Family Law.
She is a Mediator, Divorce Attorney, and expert in Domestic Violence matters. Debra believes that
litigation is harmful and strives to help her clients separate amicably. When court is necessary, she
aims to make the process less stressful.

Experience: Cornell University Graduate, Pace University School of Law.

In “Divorce Like A Pro: A Better Way To Break Up” Debra Whitson explains the divorce landscape
with elegant simplicity to empower divorcing couples to minimize grief, cost, time, and harm. This
candid book has the wisdom to save each reader tens of thousands of dollars.

She also regularly hosts Facebook Lives, webinars, publishes articles and is featured on several podcasts.

Give us a call at 518-412-4111 today or email us at info@whitsonlawfirm.com