Collaborative Law Institute Blog – Family Law Attorneys & Professionals
Leaving Litigation Behind
A collaborative law colleague recently wrote a lovely piece in the Boston Globe describing his reasons for leaving his litigation practice behind and representing clients only in alternative dispute resolution processes. His article resonated greatly with me. I too...
Teaching Your Kids About Money – The Early Years
What are you teaching your children that will best prepare them for a successful adulthood? To be polite and say thank you? To believe in themselves? How about that if they save 15% of every check they ever earn, they will retire a millionaire (1). Preparing your...
We Are More Alike, Than We Are Unalike – Maya Angelou
My family is going through Olympic withdrawal. Well, O.K., not really. But we watched the events we were interested in and rooted for Team U.S.A. Of course, Michael Phelps stole the show, and Ryan Lochte stole the…well, let’s not go there. At any rate, it...
Estate Plan Must Haves! – Lessons Learned Post-Prince
A will is the cornerstone of your estate plan. It allows for an organized distribution of your assets after you pass. Not only does it make sure that your assets end up with your chosen loved ones, it also reduces the legal and financial obstacles that your family and...
Divorce Trends over the Year
Like many things in life, people tend to divorce at certain times of the year. My professional experience corresponds with a recent study out of University of Washington. The study looked at the time of year that divorces are most often filed. Research over 14 years...
Cooking for One
You may find cooking a daunting enough task as it is, but cooking for just one can be downright grueling, and can often lead to unhealthy eating. If you find yourself undereating, forgetting to eat, going through the drive thru, or just grabbing something quick...
How to Avoid the Divortex – Part 1
Vortex: 1) a whirling mass of water or air that sucks everything near it towards its center; or 2) a place or situation regarded as drawing into its center all that it surrounds, and hence, being inescapable or destructible Sound familiar? In Minnesota, it’s tornado...
Five Simple Rules for Happiness, In Honor of Happiness Month (August)
Although happiness can sometimes seem elusive, keeping in mind the 5 Simple Rules for Happiness below will help: Free your mind from hatred Free your mind from worries Live simply Give more Expect Less It struck me one day that The Five Simple Rules for Happiness are...
A Reluctant Spouse
As many know, because Minnesota is a no fault divorce state, one spouse not being ready does not need to stop the process from moving forward. The ready spouse can file for divorce and the process moves on in court with little control of the reluctant spouse. A...
Spirited Children
My kids are spirited. Not possessed, although somedays it seems like they are. I thought the term “spirited child” referred to a child with ADD or ADHD. Not true. It’s not a diagnosis – it’s simply temperament. Thank goodness for Minnesota’s own Mary Sheedy...
