Basics of Mediation
Mediation is negotiating with the assistance of a neutral third party (the mediator) who facilitates the negotiation process. Mediation involves non-adversarial negotiation between individuals based on their interests, needs and concerns. It is usually an informal process, with the mediation...[Continue reading]
Divorce Coaches
Divorce coaches can make a huge difference in the divorce process. The divorce coach acts as a neutral professional helping to foster healthy, productive communication between the divorcing spouses. Divorce coaches are psychologists, therapists, social workers and other individuals with...[Continue reading]
Can’t a Judge Decide Everything?
Yes. A judge (or at least the court system) can decide everything in your family law dispute, whether it involves divorce, division of property, support or parenting arrangements (custody) or some combination of these issues. Of course, before you decide...[Continue reading]
Financial Cost of Divorce
Who decides how much a divorce costs? In large part, you and your spouse make that decision. Your actions, attitudes and approaches to the divorce process can have a significant effect on the financial cost. And the personal cost, but...[Continue reading]
Valuing Assets
If you’re experiencing a divorce or administering an estate, you will probably need to value assets. In answer to a question I’ve heard many times, there is no one “right” way to value assets. There are many different methods and...[Continue reading]
My Neighbor’s Divorce
Most of us have heard about or personally witnessed other people (neighbors, family members, friends etc.) going through the divorce process. Whether those observations or reports were positive, negative or somewhere in between, each person’s situation is unique. There are...[Continue reading]
What if Court is the Only Option?
I like to help my family law clients make their own decisions privately and respectfully, while avoiding the court system. That’s not always possible. Sometimes one or both parties are determined to have their day in court or they try...[Continue reading]
Divorce and Homemakers
You’ve taken care of the house, your spouse, the kids, the pets and pretty much everything else involving your family’s home life. You’ve supported your spouse in his or her career decisions, relying on the partnership you’ve built so that...[Continue reading]
Trust and Divorce
Individuals starting the divorce process often have problems trusting each other. Sometimes the trust that existed during the marriage was violated by infidelity. Sometimes, trust is eroded due to lack of communication that leads to one or both spouses misinterpreting...[Continue reading]
Who Gets to Keep the Family Pet?
For those who don’t have pets, this may seem like a silly question in the big picture of a divorce. I know first-hand that for many pet owners, this is a very important question that can take on many of...[Continue reading]