Collaborative Law Institute Blog – Family Law Attorneys & Professionals
Good Fences Make Good Neighbors
Several years back, I was working on a case with another collaborative attorney and our clients were arguing about a parenting issue. My client was trying to tell her soon-to-be former spouse how he should spend his time with their daughter. Rather than being...
Money Woes Don’t Have to Come to Blows
I read an interesting article in the Star Tribune this week, “Till Debt Do Us Part,” about the challenges faced by newlyweds with student loan debt, particularly when one partner has more debt that the other. This got me thinking about the strong connection between...
Can an Unhappy Marriage End in a “Happy Divorce”?
I would not wish divorce on any married couple. It is a painful process and results in permanent loss. But I also do not like to see people suffer through unhappy marriages. Naturally, the best solution is to seek to improve the marriage so that both husband and...
What’s All This Fuss About Interests?
In my Collaborative Divorce practice, I frequently talk to clients about identifying their “interests” in the divorce. This is a difficult concept to understand, but is the key to reaching a resolution in a divorce that meets the needs of all family members....
Kim, Kanye and Kris: Whose Child Is It?
The pending birth of Kim Kardashian’s first child is creating substantial media buzz. The marriage of Kim to Kris Humphries was a well publicized television event, which ended in separation days later and is now being ended by a California court. In the meantime,...
Lowering the Real Cost of Divorce: Lesson From a Millionaire
Texas millionaire T. Boone Pickens found a way to save “several millions” on his divorce. His discovery could save you something just as valuable. When T. Boone Pickens recently filed for his fourth divorce, he decided to try something different. Rather than...
What Is Holistic Divorce?
Most of us are familiar with the concept of holistic medicine. The importance and interdependence of body, mind and spirit in our overall health is becoming accepted in the world of healing. Less well known, however, is the Collaborative divorce process, which...
Divorce Disputes to Avoid: Tupperware and Maternity Clothing
As a divorce attorney, I often ask myself “What is this dispute really about?” This is also a good question for each person going through a divorce. In an early case I had before I started practicing collaborative divorce, an ex-wife sued my client after the...
If We Have Custody Worked Out, Why Do We Need a Child Specialist?
If you are going through or thinking about starting a Collaborative Divorce, you might wonder why you need a Child Specialist. After all, if you and your spouse agree on custody and parenting time (previously called “visitation”), why spend money on a Child...
The Power of Communication
In my collaborative legal practice, I consistently witness the power of communication in conflict resolution. A recent story illustrates this power. My father recently settled into his lawn chair in the backyard of his beautiful Southern California home when he heard...
