The New York State Unified Court System offers free instruction booklets and forms for people starting a divorce. This page provides basic information about divorce and a general overview of the divorce process in New York.Arbitration is a more informal and private approach to divorce. Divorce arbitration allows couples to resolve their disputes in front of an arbitrator rather than a public courtroom. What Is Arbitration? In arbitration, you and your spouse agree that you'll hire a private judge, called an arbitrator, to resolve the disputes in your divorce. ADR is a group of processes such as arbitration, mediation, or negotiation, in which the parties work to resolve their dispute outside of litigation. New York "favors and encourages arbitration as a means of conserving the time and resources of the courts and the contracting parties". Learn how divorce mediation works in New York, including when you might be referred to mediation, how much mediation costs, and what happens after mediation. Divorce arbitration allows couples to resolve their disputes in front of an arbitrator rather than a public courtroom.