Can I Use the Collaborative Process to Modify Alimony or a Parenting Plan?
Yes, the Collaborative Process works as a peacemaking option for divorce actions, and to modify or fix previously entered divorce judgments. Often times, years after a divorce is finalized, changes occur in the family that create a need to modify the terms of the divorce judgment. These changes are often related to addressing concerns for…
Is Court The Best Place For My Divorce?
No, the courthouse is not the best venue to resolve your divorce. Courts and judges are needed to handle criminal cases, and many other legal conflicts. However, in my opinion, court is not the best venue to resolve your divorce peacefully and privately. Surgeons Are Like Litigation Attorneys Here is a good analogy: In the…
How Do I Make A Plan For Divorce?
For many of us, making a plan is the first step to overcoming an obstacle. Divorce is no different. MAKING A PLAN FOR DIVORCE First, you can sit down and consider what your objective goals are for your divorce. Write out an outline that includes the following: Do I really want to divorce my spouse,…
What Is The Role Of The Financial Professional In Collaborative Divorce?
Collaborative divorce is a process that prioritizes respectful communications, freely exchanged information, direct participation of both spouses, and solutions to accomplish the goals set by you and your spouse. These are lofty ideals that are achieved every day by collaboratively trained attorneys, mental health professionals, and financial professionals. The financial professional on your Collaborative team…
Can I Get A Collaborative Divorce If We Don’t Agree On Everything?
Yes. The Collaborative Divorce process provides you with a team of experienced divorce professionals that work to provide you with solutions that are tailored to the unique circumstances and finances of your marriage. Your Collaborative Divorce team can include a financial professional, a mental health professional and two collaboratively trained divorce attorneys. The entire team…
Can I Hire A Divorce Lawyer To Help Me Instead Of To Fight For Me
I don’t want to have a lawyer decide my divorce. I don’t want a lawyer to escalate conflict and make my divorce worse. I don’t want to damage my relationship with my husband or wife beyond repair. These are all very real and legitimate concerns when you are contemplating a divorce. You know that you…
How Does The New Florida Alimony Law Affect Collaborative Divorce?
On June 30, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Florida alimony reform bill into law. Here are a few take aways from the new alimony statute: Permanent or “Lifetime Alimony” is eliminated. Adultery by either spouse may now be considered in awarding alimony, and its resulting financial impact on the spouses. The legal standard of “need”…
What Conflict Style Do I Want To Teach My Children?
A presenter at a recent conference I attended asked us, “What Conflict Style Do You Want To Teach Your Children?”[1] That is a powerful question. Do I want to teach my children to escalate conflict, or do I want to teach them to de-escalate conflict? There is no question that divorce is a challenging and…
What Happens At The First Team Meeting In a Collaborative Divorce?
This is where the rubber meets the road. This is our first opportunity to sit down together as a team and begin working on the issues, obstacles, and goals that are unique to your family. This is where we set the table for the process that will help you to obtain a peaceful, private and…
Hourly Billing Woes
Over the weekend, I read a good article in the Palm Beach Post about hourly legal fees charged to the School Board. These bills were of course ultimately paid by us, the taxpayers in Palm Beach County. The law firm billed at the rate of $660 per hour. The columnist made light of the obvious…