Getting a divorce is hard on any family, but it’s especially difficult when a special-needs child is involved, because the burden of care and planning for the child falls mostly on the custodial parent. When a special-needs child is involved in a divorce, the issues of custody, visitation, child support, and division of community assets become more complex and require special attention. Standard child support and custody guidelines don’t address the extra costs and unique … [Read more...]
Mediation or Collaborative Divorce?
People often ask about “mediation” for their divorce when they mean no court and no fighting. But are they asking the right question? Collaborative family lawyer and mediator Julian Schwartz https://www.basharaschwartz.com/ says, “This question comes up all the time. People don’t want the courthouse divorce nightmare they have too often heard about from others.” The popular idea is that mediation is a positive, kinder experience for couples who want to amicably … [Read more...]
Tips for Staying on the High Road During a Divorce
A lot of divorcing couples express a desire to “take the high road” during divorce and the collaborative divorce process supports the couple in this desire. Often a spouse will fall short due to divorce being transactional (“I give you this if you give me that”) and emotional (“you hurt me” or “I am afraid”) and the friction this causes. Taking the high road: 1. Allows you to be the good guy; 2. Preserves dignity and is respectful to your spouse; 3. Benefits your … [Read more...]
Amazon’s Jeff Bezos’ Divorce – Smart People Prove That There Is A Better Way
One of the richest and smartest people in the world is Amazon’s Jeff Bezos. He built the world’s largest retailer from scratch. There were lurid details about the end of his 25 year marriage to MacKenzie Bezos prior to their filing for divorce in January. The estate was worth an estimated thirty-seven billion dollars and there were those that expected a costly, drawn-out proceeding costing millions of dollars. Instead, after just four months, Jeff and MacKenzie announced … [Read more...]
Facing Your Post-Divorce Future with Confidence
When facing divorce--of your choosing or not--you realize that your once clear vision of the future is upside down. To create a new vision of your future you must take action. 1. Hire The Right Lawyer For You Consider the qualities that matter most to you in an attorney-client relationship--gender, age, hourly rate, reputation, board certification, specialty, or personality? You will know you have the right lawyer for you if you feel comfortable, appropriately supported, and … [Read more...]
Avoiding “Death by Divorce”: How a Collaborative Divorce Preserves Relationships
Raise your hand if you know someone who has been divorced. Maybe it’s your friends. Maybe it’s your parents. Maybe it’s you. Keep your hand raised if you know someone who has been through a Collaborative Divorce….. That’s not nearly as many hands in the air as there should be. Why? Because anyone considering divorce needs to know that a Collaborative Divorce can protect all of the people and relationships we care about. Divorce does not have to burn your world to the ground. Play out this … [Read more...]
Ask Your Financial Planner: Will Divorce Affect My Credit Score?
A credit score is an important part of your financial well-being. So, it’s no wonder that many clients ask me whether divorce will negatively affect their credit score. After all, a solid credit score post-divorce can allow for job mobility and financed purchases, while a poor score can limit your options. The answer to this question isn’t a straightforward “Yes” or “No”. Divorce is complex to begin with, and there are many misconceptions at the intersection of divorce and … [Read more...]
3 Reasons Collaborative Divorce Can Work When Dealing With Addictions In Divorce
Nobody wants to go through a divorce. Collaborative Divorce offers a forward-looking, honest approach that provides privacy to you, your spouse, and family with a team of professionals to get you through the process of dissolving your marriage. 1. Honesty If we’re being honest, divorce is scary. It’s overwhelming. It’s devastating. It’s even scarier, more overwhelming, and potentially more devastating when either you or spouse (or both) is (are) dealing with addiction. When someone is an … [Read more...]
Understanding Your Divorce Options
Many people find themselves in the middle of a divorce without understanding all of their options. Divorce is a transactional event, but the emotional part of the divorce often makes it much more difficult. Below are descriptions of various ways to handle your divorce: Kitchen Table/Flat Fee When the two partners are able to keep the divorce process completely transactional, and both partners are able to come to their own resolution, this option is one to consider … [Read more...]
When Is It Time To Divorce?
The First Steps You Should Take Oftentimes, when clients come to my office seeking a divorce, they have already committed to the idea that they and their partners are going to be splitting up. They already flew through days filled with fights and tears, rode the waves of resentment and traveled down the marriage counseling pathway. At the end of their journey, the two parties acknowledge that this marriage has now come to an end. Many of my clients are very upfront about … [Read more...]
