Negotiating favorable divorce settlements is an art form.  It takes a high degree of skill and experience to perfect.  A lawyer entering a divorce negotiation not only needs to have a mastery of the law but needs to be skilled in the art of negotiation.  Hiring the right attorney to represent you through divorce negotiations can potentially save you thousands of dollars in your divorce.

A good negotiator can negotiate directly with your spouse if he or she has not yet retained an attorney.  If your spouse has hired an attorney, then you definitely want to have an attorney of your own to negotiate directly with the opposing attorney.  Remember, your spouse’s lawyer represents them not you.  They have their vest interest in mind, not yours.  Don’t fall for a smooth lawyer who claims that he or she has your best interest in mind too.  This is not only a lie, but is unethical…

Having a divorce lawyer on your side during any negotiation process is a plus.  An attorney can be persuasive and achieve results that you didn’t even know were possible.  There is no guarantee that your lawyer will be able to achieve the exact results that you desire, but you certainly will have a better chance at achieving such results with him or her on your side.

A good negotiator can potentially convince your spouse:

• that an uncontested divorce is the best way to go
• to pay you spousal maintenance to avoid a costly contested divorce
• that a compromise is necessary regarding child custody and visitation
• that you should receive a certain asset to avoid costly litigation
• that your spouse should take responsibility for a certain liability or debt thereby releasing you from such responsibility
• that you and your spouse are better off reaching an agreed upon settlement outside of court than leave the results up to the court

If you think that your impending divorce could benefit from having a negotiating lawyer on your side, please call our toll-free number (866) 830-2064 to schedule your free divorce consultation now…

I get phone calls every day where a woman or man calls with the following type of story.  I hate getting these calls.  Not because we choose not to represent them, but because I tell them the truth, the harsh reality of New York divorce law, and the truth really sucks… (pardon my language, but its true)

Monique gets served with divorce papers from her husband Tommy’s attorney.  She reads the uppercase words explaining the documents: SUMMONS WITH NOTICE.  The papers go on to state that Tommy is alleging that Monique abandoned him and treated him in a cruel and inhuman manner.

Wait a minute… “He abandoned me!” she exclaims outloud.  “Cruel and what, total b.s.” she thinks.

Tommy had just agreed with Monique that their most affordable option would be to get an uncontested divorce.  Now, unknown to Monique, Tommy’s mother is footing his divorce attorney bill and is encouraging him to “protect himself.”

Monique finds herself in a situation which is all too common.  Tommy hasn’t been giving her any money since he took off last October. She can’t afford the average contested divorce attorney retainer of $4,500.00.  If she doesn’t respond Tommy will get a default judgment against her and she will lose all her legal rights.  The clock is ticking…

Monique finds our law firm’s number on Google by typing in “affordable uncontested divorce ny.”  She sets up a free consultation and the first thing she wants to know is what she should she do.  Does she qualify for an uncontested divorce?

This is the situation that I hate.  The harsh reality is:

• her divorce was filed against her in a contested manner
• she needs to come up with the money to hire a contested divorce attorney
• we might be able to help her, but her divorce will not cost the usual $499 that we charge for an uncontested divorce
• her husband is likely looking to screw her at every turn and she needs legal representation to protect her rights
• she needs a lawyer in order to file an Order to Show Cause for Pendente Lite Relief to request that the court order Tommy to pay her spousal support and pay her attorney’s fees

If it is in any way possible, we try to work with you if you find yourself in this situation and cannot afford a contested divorce attorney’s retainer fee.

Unfortunately, whether your divorce is contested versus uncontested is not your choice alone.  Your spouse must be on board…

If you are in a similar situation, please call our law office for your free divorce consultation to learn how we can help you in an affordable manner. (866) 830-2064.

Our law office continues to strive to make the legal system accessible to you, regardless of your current financial situation.  With the economy putting the hard press on all of us, I try to be as flexible as possible.  Not everyone needs to get divorced has the same financial flexibility as Tiger Woods or John Edwards whose names have recently been scattered across divorce news.

Our uncontested divorce rate starts at just $499 and is one of the most reasonable divorce fees in all New York State.  Our usual payment plan option for our already affordable uncontested divorce package is that we accept 50% up front and require the remainder before we officially file your divorce documents with the court.

If you feel that your situation is deserving of a more flexible payment plan, by all means let us know.  We are willing to work with you within limits.  Again, we will just hold off on officially filing your divorce documents until we are paid in full.

These arrangements allow us to put food on our families’ tables while giving you the leeway to so the same.  Everyone is happier this way.

If you are not sure if you can afford a New York uncontested divorce, contact our law office at (866) 830-2064 to set up your free divorce consultation today…

The Law Office of David Centeno, PLLC is able to serve all New York State (which is extremely large, when it comes to states) because we focus solely on New York uncontested divorces.

New York uncontested divorces (versus a contested or disputed divorce):

• does not require any court appearances by you or us
• is much more affordable than a contested divorce (you will save thousands of dollars)
• is much faster than a contested divorce (we will save you time)
• is much less painful than a contested divorce (where spouses often want to air the couple’s dirty laundry, sling nasty allegations at one another, and fight tooth and nail over every last dime or minute with their children)

Because New York uncontested divorce doesn’t require court appearances, we are able to serve all New York State.  If, in the unlikely but possible situation, where your divorce becomes contested we will refer your divorce to one of our colleagues in our network who focus on contested divorces.

Additionally, if your divorce becomes contested, we will refund any unearned portion of our fee.  This goes above and beyond our 100% satisfaction guarantee, where we will also refund any unearned portion of our fee if you are unsatisfied with our representation.  No questions asked.

We offer one of the most affordable uncontested divorce rates in all of New York State, just $499…

If you want to see if you qualify for a New York uncontested divorce, or just have some divorce questions, call our toll-free number now and schedule your free divorce consultation. (866) 830-2064…

Today’s attorney’s fees have become astronomical.  I recently read an article by a New York divorce lawyer who charges $700 per hour.  Given that the average contested divorce can take hundreds of hours, if you are in the market for a divorce and can do math your stomach probably just dropped.

$700 an hour is on the high side.  The average New York contested divorce attorney fee is approximately $250 an hour.  Again, hundreds of hours…  I wouldn’t want to be paying those fees.

Our New York Uncontested Divorce Attorney law firm offers affordable flat fee services for uncontested divorces.  There are no hidden fees.  No surprises.  You know what you are getting into up front.

I recently received an email from a woman stating that she had already spent $125,000 on her New York divorce and was wondering if I could represent her pro bono.  I wish I could have helped, but our law office only offers uncontested divorces.

Be smart.  If you and your spouse are considering divorce, be grownup about it (if you can, its definitely not always possible).  Try to reach an amicable agreement regarding the division of your assets and custody and support issues if you have children.  If you can you will save yourselves thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars on your divorce.

Our NY divorce law office offers free consultations.  Call toll-free (866) 830-2064 now to schedule your free consultation to learn how you too can save thousands of dollars on your divorce.

My law office, the Law Office of David Centeno PLLC, is not your average law firm.  That is, we are not your average antiquated brick and mortar firm (i.e., we don’t keep a storefront).  We have discovered a way to use today’s technology to make the legal system more accessible to you.  This is how we offer you such affordable New York divorce services…

Over the last few days I have received numerous phone calls from potential clients who at first seem excited about the affordable divorce prices that we are able to offer.  “Wow, that’s like $2,500 less than I have been quoted,” one exclaimed.

Yet, when the question arises regarding setting up an appointment to physically come meet me, I explain that we only offer phone or internet teleconference consultations.  “Okay, goodbye…” one woman said right before I heard the click as she hung up the phone!

This also occurs around payment options.  I explain that we accept all major credit cards via PayPal (today’s longest-standing, most reputable internet payment company).  I am always amazed when people say “No, I want to meet you in person and physically hand you a check.”  Please mail us a check or pay us online, but again, we don’t have a brick and mortar storefront to meet in.  This is how we give you such affordable rates.  (Sorry for being repetitive, but I am trying to make a point.)

When I ask people why they demand meeting in person, I am usually met with some vague fear about doing business online.

The problem with meeting me in person is that this would cost you extra money.  Money for a law office, money for a consultation, and money for the cookies and coffee we would offer you in the waiting room to be hospitable…

I do understand those in our technologically savvy generation who have been instilled with the fears of “doing business online.”  I wouldn’t want to give my credit card payment to any Tom, Dick or Harry over the Net, yet I argue that we are neither Tom, Dick nor Harry.  We are a law firm.  We are attorneys licensed to practice law by the state of New York.  We would not risk losing our valuable licenses just to rip someone off for $499.  That would be insane.  Plus, we offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

Personally, I bank online, purchase items online, have hired attorneys online, and communicate with friends and clients online.  Our society is increasingly based online.

Taking the lead from society, our law office is predominantly online.  We advertise online, get found by most of our clients online, accept payments online, teleconference with clients online via Skype, receive faxes and voicemails online.  I like to think of our law office as more resembling the law offices of the future, rather than the uptight Big 10 law firms (some of which I have worked for in the past, YUCK!).

The year is 2010.  It sounds reminiscent of a futuristic space movie of sorts.  The internet has allowed our society great freedom.  In doing so, it has eliminated the need for brick and mortar office fronts.  Because I don’t have to pay the overhead costs of a traditional office, I am able to pass that savings onto my clients.  This is how we are able to offer such affordable divorce services to you.

My law firm caters to those people who understand that today’s technology is the single factor which allows us to offer such amazing prices.  If you found us online because you need our help, please don’t let our online way of doing business deter you from hiring us.  We offer what few New York lawyers can:  affordable divorce representation, while maintaining the quality you demand and deserve.

If you want to meet face to face, lets do it over Skype!  Saves us both time, and as they say, “Time is money.”

Contact our divorce law office to set up your free divorce consultation now by calling (866) 830-2064…

Often I get calls from husbands or wives, talking in hushed tones, asking for advice regarding how they can convince their spouse to get an uncontested divorce versus a contested one.  I don’t blame them.  In today’s economy, I too would want to at least try my best to get an uncontested divorce that is more affordable, far faster and less painful that its contested alternative.

[I recently wrote an article discussing a term that I coined: The "Affordable Divorce." I recommend that you read it before continuing this blog post.  In it I describe some divorce strategies that may help you save thousands of dollars on your New York divorce.]

I am always willing to counsel couples regarding the harsh realities of divorce in New York State.  New York fault-based divorce law provokes costly, time consuming, and heart wrenching litigation.  I try to help couples realize that an uncontested divorce is likely their best alternative.  I do charge a small fee for these joint consultations, as they usually are more intensive and time consuming than the regular 20 minute free divorce consults that our office offers.  The tens of thousands of dollars in savings that you may reap from this legal advice, far outweigh the $150 consultation fee that I charge…

If you would like to set up a joint consultation to discuss your legal alternatives as a couple facing divorce, please call toll-free (866) 830-2064 to schedule your low-cost consultation now…

www.NYUncontestedDivorceAttorney.com

New York is not only one of the most expensive places to live, its also one of the most expensive places on earth to get divorced.  New York divorce is exceedingly expensive for various reasons:

• New York still requires fault grounds for divorce (as the New York Times recently editorialized and I commented on),
• New York’s custody laws seem to encourage litigation, and
• professional licenses and educational degrees are classified as marital assets,

all which promotes litigation.  New York state doesn’t make it easy to get divorced.

Yet, don’t fear.  Our law office offers an affordable alternative to the average litigious New York divorce.  Our law office has coined the phrase “Affordable Divorce” to describe the inexpensive, out of court, often amicable divorce settlements that our law office reaches for our clients.

The Affordable Divorce should be the goal for every couple facing the end of their marriage in today’s economic recession.   No matter whether you work as an Investment Banker on Wall Street or are a Maintenance Worker for Macy’s, you are faced with the harsh reality of the economic recession: declining home prices and equity, rampant foreclosures, shrinking 401k investments, and decreasing paychecks and savings accounts.  You may have had to face job loss, cut back on your hours at work, and ever-growing credit card debts. You, like every other New Yorker, are probably concerned about saving money and preventing loss of your hard-earned assets during your divorce.

In order to reap the rewards of an “Affordable Divorce” you will have to be committed to doing the following:

Most importantly, you and your spouse have to commit to giving your all to negotiate an out of court settlement with the help of your attorneys.  Litigation should always be your last resort.  You should also reach an agreement regarding the grounds for divorce, which will prevent future litigation.

Secondly, if you have children, you and your spouse should reach a custody and visitation agreement which is in the best interest of your children.  Discuss joint custody and joint parenting.  If your household consists of two working parents, shared parenting may be in the best interests of the children.  Attorneys can help you customize a parenting schedule to meet everyone’s needs in the family.

Aside from child custody and visitation, financial issues usually give rise to explosive emotions.  Its extremely important for you to have realistic expectations when it comes to finances, and always follow your attorneys advice.  Always be up front about financial issues, including assets and income.  Don’t try to hide things.  If you do, it may end up costing you far more in the end.  In the current economy, be willing to compromise when its comes to extra expenses above and beyond meeting basic needs, such as private school, camp, tutors, etc. Remember that none of these issues are set in stone and later may be amended.  You will need an experienced attorney to help guide you smoothly through these issues.

Unfortunately, not every marriage is capable of doing the above.  Litigation may be inevitable.   Its always a shame to see couples who let their emotions get the best of them and lash out in vindictive ways.  The negotiation needed to have an “Affordable Divorce” will likely not bee possible in those situations.

We offer a free consultation to determine whether an “Affordable Divorce” is an option based on your specific circumstances.

The Law Office of David Centeno, PLLC concentrates solely on divorce and family law.  Our divorce law office has coined the phrase “Affordable Divorce,” and helps clients reach their goals in a cost-effective and amicable way.  Our law office offers free divorce consultations.  Call (866) 830-2064 to see if you qualify for an “Affordable Divorce” today…

How do I offer cheap New York divorces?  Before I get into the details I want to discuss why I dislike the word cheap…

The word “cheap” has various connotations as evidenced by Dictionary.com:

cheap

Show Spelled Pronunciation [cheep]  adjective, -er, -est, adverb, noun
–adjective
1. costing very little; relatively low in price; inexpensive: a cheap dress.
2. costing little labor or trouble: Words are cheap.
3. charging low prices: a very cheap store.
4. of little account; of small value; mean; shoddy: cheap conduct; cheap workmanship.
5. embarrassed; sheepish: He felt cheap about his mistake.
6. obtainable at a low rate of interest: when money is cheap.
7. of decreased value or purchasing power, as currency depreciated due to inflation.
8. stingy; miserly: He’s too cheap to buy his own brother a cup of coffee.
–adverb
9. at a low price; at small cost: He is willing to sell cheap.
—Idioms
10. cheap at twice the price, exceedingly inexpensive: I found this old chair for eight dollars—it would be cheap at twice the price.
11. on the cheap, Informal. inexpensively; economically: She enjoys traveling on the cheap.

Although my NY divorce services are inexpensive (and hopefully more affordable for you), they are certainly not “shoddy.”  I go so far as to offer a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee to all my clients.

The way that I am able to offer such low cost New York divorces is that I have found ways to cut my overhead costs, while not sacrificing the quality that you demand and deserve.  Offering inexpensive New York divorces is tricky.  I have to balance earning a living with providing affordable divorce services so that you can have access to the legal system.  That’s my goal at least…

For a free NY divorce consultation, visit my website www.NYUncontestedDivorceAttorney.com or call toll-free (866) 830-2064 now…

It is pretty awesome witnessing firsthand the landscape of New York divorce changing for the better…  My NY Uncontested Divorce Attorney website is now offering one of the most affordable divorce rates in all of New York State, just $499. Most uncontested divorces cost on average $3,000. We offer up to a $2,500 savings…

By cutting my overhead costs to a minimum, my law office is now able to offer you the low cost divorce you need without sacrificing the quality that you deserve.

My goal is to make the legal system as accessible as possible by offering affordable divorce rates to people across New York State. Our NY Uncontested Divorce Attorney website is truly a revolutionary concept that is changing the legal field.

We now offers free, no obligation divorce consultations.  Call toll-free (866) 830-2064 to claim your free divorce consultation today…