Why WhitsonLaw, PLLC Exists
Every powerful brand begins with a moment — a moment when someone decides the world needs something better.
For Debra Whitson, founder of WhitsonLaw, PLLC and Mediated Online Solutions, that moment came at just 14 years old.
Her small community was shaken by a devastating tragedy: the murder of her brother’s best friend. As the case unfolded, Debra witnessed something shocking — despite overwhelming evidence, a technicality threatened to prevent the truth from ever being heard in court.
At fourteen, she didn’t fully understand constitutional jurisprudence.
But she understood injustice.
And she made a promise:
“I will fix what’s broken.”
That moment ignited a lifelong mission — a mission that would eventually redefine how thousands of families experience divorce.
We make the complicated make sense, giving families a better, faster, and more dignified way to move forward. Because families deserve more than legal representation. They deserve a new beginning.
Where the Mission Began
Debra became a prosecutor specializing in special victims cases. For more than a decade, she walked beside survivors of domestic and sexual violence, children harmed in unthinkable ways, and families whose lives were splintered by trauma.
She didn’t just prosecute cases — she became a voice for the unheard. A guide for the frightened. A trainer for judges, police officers, and first responders across New York State.
Her purpose wasn’t a profession.
It was a calling.
The System Was Still Broken — Just in a Different Courtroom
When public life pushed her toward a new chapter, Debra entered family and matrimonial law, expecting a gentler environment.
Instead, she saw a different kind of harm.
At that time, New York still required grounds for divorce. The process forced couples to weaponize their worst memories against each other. Parents who loved their children were turned into adversaries. Families already struggling were pushed into deeper pain.
Debra’s heart broke again — this time for children pulled into litigation, for parents entrenched in conflict, and for a system that rewarded fighting instead of healing.
She saw the same pattern she had recognized at fourteen:
The system wasn’t working. And families were paying the price.
The Spark That Became Our Brand
Debra asked the question that would define her legacy:
“Why are we pouring gasoline on fires when we could be helping families heal?”
From that question, a new brand was born — not just a law firm, but a movement!
WhitsonLaw, PLLC: A New York Family Law Firm Reimagined
- Compassion
- Strategic clarity
- Trauma-informed practice
- Child-centered advocacy
- Efficient, humane pathways to resolution
- A no-drama, no-gasoline philosophy
Mediated Online Solutions: Divorce Without Destruction
- Peaceful resolution
- Expert mediation
- Empowering education
- A faster path to a new beginning
The Story Behind the Brand Values"
Debra’s brands are built on her core “Why”:
Make sense of the complicated.
Find better ways to do things.
Solve problems no one else is solving.
This is why her team is curated with purpose.
This is why clients describe the experience as “white glove,” “transformative,” and “healing.”
This is why her firms reject drama and focus on dignity.
Every client is treated like a whole human — not a case number, not a conflict, not a crisis.
A Family Law Firm Rooted in Humanity
Beyond the courtroom and boardroom, Debra is a:
- Storyteller
- Step-parent and grandparent
- Adirondack nature-lover
- Dog mama
- Tennis player
- Partner who treasures long conversations around the dinner table
Her life is a testament to connection, community, and the belief that relationships matter — values that shape every aspect of her brand experience.
Our Promise to You!
Divorce doesn’t have to be destructive.
Families don’t have to be fractured.
Children don’t have to be casualties.
And you don’t have to walk through it alone.
WhitsonLaw and Mediated Online Solutions exist because one woman — at fourteen — saw injustice, felt it deeply, and decided she would build something better.
This is not just her origin story.
It is the brand promise that guides every client interaction, every courtroom appearance, every mediated conversation, and every new beginning:
We help you move forward faster, safer, and with dignity intact.
We make divorce hurt less.
We make the complicated make sense.
We help your next chapter begin.
READY FOR YOUR NEXT BEGINNING? CONTACT OUR NEW YORK FAMILY LAW FIRM TODAY!
Whether you’re considering divorce, navigating a child custody matter, or seeking a peaceful resolution outside of court, we’re here to support you with clarity, strategy, and unwavering care.
Schedule your consultation today with a family lawyer.
A better way forward starts here.
CALL US
(518) 412-4111