What is the difference between divorce mediation and collaborative law in New York?

In New York divorce mediation, a single neutral mediator helps both spouses reach their own agreement and does not represent either side. In collaborative law, by contrast, each spouse retains their own attorney, and those attorneys represent their individual client’s interests throughout the negotiation while committing in writing not to go to court. In both, the parties may bring in neutral financial or mental health professionals, and both keep the matter out of a contested courtroom. The choice between them usually comes down to whether each spouse wants their own dedicated advocate at the table (collaborative) or prefers a single neutral guiding the discussion (mediation).