Collaborative Law Institute Blog – Family Law Attorneys & Professionals
What is an annulment?
An annulment is a legal process to end a marriage. An annulment is different from a divorce, however. An annulment treats the marriage as if it never took place. In Minnesota, a marriage may be annulled under any of the following circumstances: One party lacked...
The Second Agreement
Some time ago I wrote about The Four Agreements from a book by the same name by Don Miguel Ruiz. Ruiz believes we can stay out of conflict if each person makes the following agreements with him or herself: 1. I will be impeccable with my word. 2. I will not...
Navigating Back-to-School and Co-Parenting Struggles
It’s that time of year again – like it or not, the kids are back in school! This means busier schedules and more activities, but hopefully getting back into a routine is helpful for everyone in your family. Those open houses, parent-teacher conferences, sports,...
Minnesota State Fair and Divorce
We are currently enjoying the annual Minnesota Get-Together. The State Fair is an annual ritualistic event that many Minnesotans appreciate. When families are divorcing, it is often important to continue to maintain these rituals to keep consistency for children....
What Every Divorce Lawyer Should Explain About Divorce
Believe it or not, most divorce lawyers are very good people. I know that seems hard to believe, based on the negative opinions that much of the public has about lawyers; and about divorce. But it’s true. Divorce has never been the most lucrative area of law, and it...
What is a legal separation?
A lot of confusion exists about the terms “separation” and “legal separation” under Minnesota law. While both refer to a change in marital status, they have distinct meanings, processes, and consequences. “Separation” means only that you are living in different...
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. One in four women (25%) has experienced domestic violence in her lifetime. Separated and divorced males and females are at a greater risk of domestic violence. However, it is difficult to track the percentage of...
5 School Tips for Divorced Parents
Now that everyone is back to school, here are some important things to remember for divorced families: 1. Be Mindful of the Schedule. Parents often look forward to the routine and structure of school, that is often lost in the summer months. Kids need that same sort...
Divorce and the Orange
What can an orange possibly help us with in our collaborative divorce or any divorce process for that matter? You may have heard about interest based negotiations vs. position based negotiations. When I am working as a financial neutral or mediator with divorcing...
The Third Agreement
In his book about how to avoid human conflict, Don Miguel Ruiz suggests these four agreements that a person makes with himself or herself: 1. I will be impeccable with my word. 2. I will not personalize the anything the other person says, does, feels, thinks or...
