The role of custody evaluations in a divorce is to determine what is in the best interest of the children. A child custody evaluator will gather information from interviews with the family and also by gathering documentation, from the parties as well as other “collaterals” such as neighbors, teachers, therapists, etc. The evaluation will then decide what is the children's best interest going forward. A custody evaluation doesn't happen in every divorce, but it can be court-ordered, or it can … [Read more...]
What Do Children Want and Need When Their Parents’ Divorce?
Children need to see their parents being supportive of each other, especially during a divorce. They need to see their parents having a united front - that they are still able to communicate with each other and make decisions for them that are in their best interest. Ultimately, children need to see that they are still both their parents even though they are getting a divorce. The Children's Bill of Rights was created many years ago. It is a Bill of Rights that helps parents remember that … [Read more...]
Advantages of the Collaborative Divorce Team
Having a team is an amazing benefit of the Collaborative Divorce process. Both parties have access to a group of professionals who can help you learn how to advocate for yourself. That is a skill that you need to take with you post-divorce, which is extremely beneficial. Maybe you haven't advocated for yourself before or have not always felt comfortable challenging opinions and decisions in the past. Maybe you haven’t advocated for your children and just accepted what the other parent had … [Read more...]
Divorcing Without a Shopping List
Envision a scenario involving a trip to the grocery store without a shopping list. You have five things you need when you go in. But as you walk around the store you are reminded of other things that you need or you have a few impulse buys. You were anticipating only spending $35 on a few things, but you walk out having spent $160 because you bought all kinds of things that you didn't anticipate from the start. If you had been more organized and gone in with your list you likely would have … [Read more...]
