7 Tips for Putting Children First in a Divorce

A child-centered divorce is a divorce where the parents keep the physical and emotional needs of their children as their primary concern. In a child-centered divorce, every decision the parents make is through that lens – How will this affect our children? What is important to our kids, now and in the future? Most parents…

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Trickle Down Divorce

I heard someone suggest that when thinking about New Year’s Resolutions you should think about what you can do that will have an impact in 200-400 years.  And that got me thinking about the work I do and how much of an impact it can have on families. Personally, I want my work to live on…

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Mediation or Collaborative Divorce: Which process is right for you?

When it comes to choosing an alternative to divorcing in court, both divorce mediation and collaborative divorce have their own unique advantages. Divorce Mediation Divorce mediation is a private and confidential method of non-adversarial divorce in which the participants advocate for their own needs and concerns without a lawyer present in the room. The mediator…

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The Importance of Consulting Attorneys in Mediation

Mediation is a great process for maintaining limited involvement with attorneys, but they shouldn’t be shut out completely. Recently I’ve spoken to a number of potential clients who are about to enter into the divorce process and want to use mediation. These clients come from different backgrounds and have different preconceived notions about mediation, but…

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Violation of Dignity: The Reason Why Many Divorces End Up in Court

This fall, I attended a meeting of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, where one of the keynote speakers was Donna Hicks, PhD. Throughout Donna’s academic and professional career she has written books about the power of dignity and, specifically, its importance in negotiations of all kinds. Her past clients have included the United States Navy, several large…

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Asking “WHY” – The Secret to Successful Divorce Negotiations

One of the weaknesses of litigated divorce is that it encourages rigid thinking that stands in the way of compromise. Choosing your battles wisely is an important strategy in all areas of life, including if you are in the process of divorce. Unfortunately, traditional divorce attorneys often neglect to give their clients this advice, encouraging…

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Attention Friends And Family: This Is Not Your Divorce!

People going through divorce often feel angry, confused, and alone. They turn to their friends and family when they are contemplating divorce, in the middle of a divorce and all throughout the process.  In fact, I often get calls from family members or friends inquiring about the legal services that I can provide to their…

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Celebrity Couples are Becoming Role Models for Amicable Divorces

What looks like just another celebrity breakup might actually be instructive for any divorcing couple. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are going the way of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin in choosing a non-adversarial way to divorce while living in the public eye. During her divorce, Paltrow made headlines for describing the process as “conscious…

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