Divorce & Debt
{3:54 minutes to read} Many people are under the impression that they are responsible for the debts of their spouse simply because they are married. But, Getting married does not necessarily make you responsible for [...]
The Grey Divorce
{2:36 minutes to read} While the rate of divorce for the general population was relatively flat between 1990 and 2010, the divorce rate for couples age 50 and over doubled during that span. As a group, [...]
Why One Lawyer Is Better than Two
In my last blog post I suggested that sending mediation clients off to separate attorneys was not being helpful. In response to this proposition one reader, an attorney and mediator from California, suggested that I [...]
Breaking an Impasse
Bob* and Mary* were about halfway through their first mediation session when Bob announced that he was never going to leave the house. He did not want the divorce and did not feel it fair [...]
6 Factors to Consider When Considering a Divorce
As I have said before, I believe that couples who are seeking a legal separation or a divorce do not have a legal problem; rather, I believe they have a practical problem that has legal [...]
Judicial “Approval” of Divorce, Part II
Many divorce lawyers, as well as divorce mediators, did not agree with my suggestion in a recent blog post that a couple be allowed to obtain an uncontested divorce without court approval (Judicial “Approval” of [...]
Legal Advice vs. Legal Information
Are two attorneys better than one? This is the story of two couples who each wanted to end their marriage without becoming engaged in a lengthy and costly court battle. Unfortunately, they each obtained a [...]
Who is the “Custodial” Parent? Part 2
Tony and Mara never married. However, they lived together for a while and had a son in 2007. When they separated, their son, Alix, went to live with Mara. Tony was very successful, financially. By [...]
What’s Your BATNA? The Legal vs. the Emotional Divorce – Part 2
In divorce mediation, when someone examines his or her BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement) they are looking at both the best and worst outcomes if their dispute were to be decided by a [...]
Why Mediate Your Divorce?
Just ask Joe and Suzanne This is the true story of Joe and Suzanne, who were married in 1986, separated in 2003 and were still battling in court in 2012. This is what happened. Although [...]