At Kerker & Gleeson P.C., we believe that you have many options for resolving your divorce and family matters and in addition to our litigation practice, we offer mediation and collaborative law.

MEDIATION

Kathleen A. Gleeson and Valerie Kerker began operating Family Mediation Services in addition to our law practice. We continue to take advanced mediation training in addition to continuing legal education.

At Family Mediation Services, it is our goal to provide a safe and comfortable environment for couples to engage in creative problem solving.  This is done in the presence of a the mediator who acts as a neutral third party in an effort to facilitate communication and focus the participants on their interests, enabling them to bring peaceful resolution to their marital and family situation. This allows the couple to make their own decisions which are specifically tailored to their needs and those of their family, rather than having a third party decide their fate.

As mediators, we do not act as the attorney for either participant and we strongly encourage the participants to each have a legal consultation with an attorney of their individual choosing. At the end of the process the mediator, with the input of the couple, drafts a Memorandum of Understanding, which summarizes the agreements reached during mediation.

We offer a free thirty minute consultation at which time we discuss the mediation process, and determine whether the couple is suited for mediation. Please contact us if you are interested in receiving more information or in setting up an orientation session.

COLLABORATIVE LAW

In 2008 The Collaborative Divorce Association of the Capital District, Inc. was formed by a group of attorneys, mental health providers and financial planners.  Valerie Kerker and Kathleen A. Gleeson have been members since its inception. 

In a collaborative case, the participants, including the attorneys, mental health providers and financial planners, make a commitment not to litigate the matter and to exchange freely and honestly financial and other information.  The goal is to craft a solution that is best suited for the individual family while maintaining respect and dignity. 

Rather than relinquishing control of the process to a Judge or other third party, the couple works out their own agreement, with guidance from the experienced professionals.  The terms reached during these sessions then form the basis of an uncontested legal Separation Agreement, Divorce Judgment or a Family Court Order.