The CDS Training

Divorce under any circumstances can be a very complicated and emotional process.  For families with special needs children, it is particularly challenging, especially when it comes to dealing with child support, decision making for minor children and guardianship after the child turns 18.  Decisions made by couples during the divorce process will affect the future of the child and the family.   Identifying the relevant issues, encouraging them to make a long-term plan for their child and then to make decisions based on the long-term plan leads to better outcomes for the family and the child.  This presentation  identifies issues that must be considered in a divorce involving a special needs child, including financial planning, creating trusts, determining guardianship, and drafting custody agreements, both residential and legal, that address special education and medical issues related to co-parenting a child with special needs.

Here are a few of the many topics they are covered:
Custody
Best Practices
Child Support
Supplemental Needs Trusts
Financial Considerations in Special Needs Planning
Guardianship

PANELISTS

Dina De Giorgio, Esq. is Partner at Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas, LLP in their Matrimonial, Family & Reproductive Law. Dina has 28 years of experience as an attorney and mediator in her own boutique law practice focusing exclusively on Divorce, Family Law, and Mediation. She is a tenacious advocate and problem solver for her clients both inside and outside the courtroom. Clients choose Dina to be their lawyer because she is solution-based, keeps her focus on their objectives and attempts to avoid protracted and unnecessary litigation.

 Dina is a member of the matrimonial committees of the Nassau County Bar Association, the Family Law Section of the New York State Bar Association, the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation, and the National Association of Divorce Professionals (NADP).  Dina serves as a co-director of the Special Needs Chapter of the NADP and volunteers as an Executive Board member of The Nicholas Center and as a Board member of the Art Guild, both not-for-profit organizations located in Port Washington, New York.

Dr. Susan Korb Bernstein is an experienced Certified Divorce Coach (CDC) and Certified High Conflict Divorce Coach (HCDC).  She earned her bachelors, masters and doctorate in Education, Leadership and Child Development and was a school teacher, administrator and college professor before entering the divorce world. This background helps her clients immensely in custody battles and parenting plans including her specialty of divorce with families that have a special needs child. 

Susan teaches the graduate Mastermind course for Divorce Coaches and is an Instructor for Tina Swithin's High Conflict Divorce certification program. Susan speaks at numerous local and national events and guest podcasts for national and international groups. She is known as the coach that other coaches and attorneys hire to get them through their own complex divorces! 

Dr. Bernstein is the Director of the Rockland, NY chapter of the National Association of Divorce Professionals (NADP) and co-director of the NADP special needs divorce chapter. She is a consultant for Vesta Divorce and is the coach and program manager for the Rockland/Westchester, Long Island and New York City Vesta Divorce HUBs. She is also a trained pre mediation divorce coach  (PMDC) to help with her amicable divorce clients! 

Diedre Braverman, Esq. is a special needs planning attorney in Boulder, Colorado who serves families in Colorado and California. A graduate of Stanford Law School, Diedre started creating special needs plans over 20 years ago, beginning with one for her brother who is a severely autistic man. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER(™), Diedre brings a financial perspective into her legal meetings to help each family plan completely for their child with special needs.

Tracy Young, ChFC®, CDFA® believes that the financial planning process is most successful when working in partnership with her clients.  As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® Professional, Tracy is trained to examine and analyze the unique financial issues in a divorce.  She helps clients navigate the financial chaos and confusion so they can have a clear view of the future and feel empowered as they move forward into the next stage of their lives.

Tracy earned her MBA in Finance from Fordham University and received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Scranton.  Tracy’s extensive knowledge of the financial markets and her educational background contribute to her expertise.

Actively involved in her community, Tracy serves on the board of the Port Washington Children’s Center and Beachway Estates Association.  She is also the Membership Chair for the National Association of Divorce Professionals, Special Needs Council. She resides with her husband and three children in Port Washington.

Mary Ann Hughes, founder of Special Family Transitions LLC, is a Certified Divorce Coach and Certified Divorce Specialist, helping families through the overwhelm and complexities of divorce involving children with disabilities.

Mary Ann received her BBA and MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, and worked at several Fortune 100 companies in Marketing, Sales, Process Reengineering and Change Management. Her life took a different turn when she became a special needs parent and advocate.  Mary Ann successfully advocated for and received an excellent result for her family in her complex divorce.  Her experience led her to form Special Family Transitions, to help other special needs families through divorce.  

Combining her personal and professional experience and certifications, and through her membership in The National Association of Divorce Professionals and NADP Special Needs Chapter, Mary Ann is committed to helping clients advocate for themselves and their children with special needs before, during, and after divorce.