When parents divorce, a parenting plan will be created that designates how certain issues regarding the children will be handled. Sometimes, this parenting plan is drafted by the parents, and other times, if the parents cannot agree, the courts will order a parenting plan on their behalf. Parenting plans can be as detailed as the
Losing time with one’s children is the most painful part of a divorce. It is easy to lose sight of what is in the best interests of your children because you want to save as much time with them as possible. However, you will need to learn how to co-parent peacefully with your ex-spouse, and
What are your goals? Do you need help agreeing to the terms of your divorce and getting them finalized (pre-decree mediation), or do you need guidance for disagreements that have occurred after the divorce (post-decree mediation)? Once you understand your goals, make sure that the mediator handles these types of disputes. The mediator should have
After my last two columns, it didn’t take long for readers to start reaching out. The messages were numerous. They were also kind, encouraging and empathetic. “Hang in there. It gets better,” one fellow denizen of divorce said. Some assured me that I was brave to be so open and honest (which, of course, made
Maybe “lies” is a bit strong. Maybe you’re more comfortable with the words “myths” or “stories”. I was, when I originally titled this article, but the truth is, there are divorce lies out there. And many people suffer needlessly when they’re trying to recover from divorce as a result of believing these untruths. I suffered
Let’s cut to the chase: compulsive shopping and credit card addiction are genuine problems, and they’re more common than you may think. If you suspect that you suffer from a compulsive shopping and/or credit card addiction, it’s important that you understand two things: You are not alone. There is a way out. This article isn’t
Over my many years of specializing in family law I have handled thousands of divorces. These have run from very simple, uncontested matters to complicated cases. Many involve custody and other disputes regarding children. I have also had divorces where people have fought over millions of dollars in assets. The question that I am posing,
Are you stuck in a bitter divorce fight? Couples often get caught up with their perceived injustices in the divorce settlement negotiations. The disdain that they personally have for each other usually just adds fuel to the fire when negotiating. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in what we believe to be right that we
In family law mediation, it is not uncommon to hear the parties question their judgment regarding the difficult decision to proceed with divorce. I am often asked by one of the two individuals sitting in my office, “Don’t you think we make a cute couple?” or, “Aren’t we great together?” These are uncomfortable questions in
Money issues – particularly when you don’t have enough of it – spell stress. Stress can cause marital problems, and marital problems can result in divorce. The correlation between income and divorce isn’t quite that clear cut, however. Although a University of California study indicates that financial problems are directly linked to marital problems, other
