Collaborative Law Institute Blog – Family Law Attorneys & Professionals
Zooming into a Stress-Free Divorce: How Zoom Meetings Offer Comfort and Convenience
In recent years, how we handle many of life’s pivotal moments, including the sensitive divorce process, has shifted dramatically. The introduction of tools like Zoom into the collaborative divorce process has transformed how meetings are conducted and brought...
Influencing Co-parenting Behaviors
According to the authors of Influencer: The New Science of Leading Change (Joseph Grenny et al, 2013), there are 6 sources of influence: personal motivation, personal ability, social motivation, social ability, structural motivation, and structural ability. I will...
When the Co-Parenting Issue is Safety
When the Co-Parenting Issue is Safety Safety is close to the bottom of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. It is core to children’s ability to become resilient. It can also be a very difficult topic to address during a divorce. Here’s how the issue can arise during a...
Co-parenting with Less Stress and More Peace
The best way to transition to Shared Parenting after separation or divorce is to have been sharing parenting and housework all along – from the day the kids were born. When we establish a new cultural norm that both parents are involved in caring for the children,...
What is a QDRO?
A qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) is not to be confused with a divorce decree or property settlement agreement. A QDRO specifically recognizes a spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependents’ right to receive a predefined portion of a qualified...
Practicing in Two Worlds: Musings on Traditional Family Practice
I have a prediction: In the next twenty years, Collaborative Divorce will become the standard for divorce process in Minnesota. In my nine years as a family law attorney, the majority of my cases have been “traditional” in nature. Traditional in this...
Don’t Let Fear Make You Penny Wise and Pound Foolish About Spousal Maintenance
If you are going through a divorce, you might be feeling anxious about how to deal with spousal maintenance. Spousal maintenance, also known as alimony, is a payment that one spouse makes to the other after the divorce to help them maintain a similar standard of...
KIDS CORNER | Modeling Behavior We Want Our Children to Emulate
I hope that young children were not still up and watching the *Academy Awards broadcast when Will Smith got out of his seat, walked up the concourse, and forcefully slapped Chris Rock for making a poor joke at the expense of his wife Jada Pinkett Smith. But even if...
I Can Be Collaborative But My Spouse Will Never Agree To Anything
In collaborative dissolution cases, this is a common objection when meeting for the first time with clients. Another variation is, “I can be a terrific co-parent, just not with my spouse.” I am often stymied by this reaction. Of course, I know nothing about the...
Pro Se Divorce is Often Fraught with Problems – Even with the Best Intentions
It may be tempting to save money in a divorce by drafting a decree with your spouse, or by completing a form decree. This is especially true if it appears that you and your spouse are in accord on all issues. But be warned: unintended consequences can arise...
