We’ve all seen the news of Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos settlement regarding their divorce. Specifically, we learned what they wanted us to know (that Amazon, the Washington Post and Blue Origin will still be in Jeff’s control), but that most other details of their divorce would be kept confidential – which as much as we’d all like to know about the Bezos’, we would all want for ourselves. … [Read more...] about Advantages of Collaborative Divorce – Confidentiality
Is a “Kitchen Table” Divorce a Good Idea?
A recent article in the Texas Paralegal Journal, by Austin attorney Hillery Kaplan, entitled, “The Pitfalls of Kitchen Table Divorce.”, starts a good conversation about this issue. And it’s a good read for someone who’s contemplating negotiating divorce terms with his or her spouse directly, rather than going to court or looking at an alternative form of dispute resolution--like Collaborative … [Read more...] about Is a “Kitchen Table” Divorce a Good Idea?
Why Interest-Based Negotiations are a Cornerstone to Collaboration
Collaborative divorce has at its roots the idea of interest-based negotiation. Robert Fisher’s foundational book from 1981, Getting to Yes, sets forth the idea of what he termed “principled negotiation.” The idea is, when a person knows what is a fixed need and what is a flexible need, he or she can enter a negotiation with a clear frame of reference as to what is absolutely necessary, or … [Read more...] about Why Interest-Based Negotiations are a Cornerstone to Collaboration
The Good Lawyer, The Junkyard Dog, and Why Collaborative May Just Be Your Answer
After thirty plus years of experience—former family law judge, current family law attorney—my grasp of what it means to be a “good lawyer” has evolved. Being a good lawyer can be tricky. In divorce law, in particular, the definition of “good” deserves scrutiny. Emotionally, financially, and legally, divorce is scary. Many clients make life-altering decisions from an unconscious place of fear: … [Read more...] about The Good Lawyer, The Junkyard Dog, and Why Collaborative May Just Be Your Answer