On occasion the malady I refer to as “The 4 A.M. Brain Bounce Syndrome” (BBS) launches a cerebral onslaught that robs me of sound sleep, pumps up my frustration level and escalates my blood pressure. You ask, “What is the Brain Bounce Syndrome?” I believe it to be a fairly common but medically undiagnosed phenomenon that afflicts a significant percentage of the population. It is characterized … [Read more...] about The 4 A.M. Brain Bounce Syndrome – (BBS)
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Collaborative Divorce – The Cadillac of Divorce Processes
When a couple is confronted with the prospect of going through a divorce they have three basic process options. They can try working things out on their own at the kitchen table, working through lawyers in the litigation process or using the collaborative process. The kitchen table process is cheap but incredibly difficult for most couples unless they have no significant assets, no … [Read more...] about Collaborative Divorce – The Cadillac of Divorce Processes
Fix the Blame or Fix the Problem?
The collaborative divorce process has a completely different orientation from the litigation process and the adversary system that grounds the litigation process. The collaborative divorce process is focused on trying to find real solutions to real problems. The litigation process is mainly focused on finding who is at fault, what the damages are and who must pay those damages. For … [Read more...] about Fix the Blame or Fix the Problem?
Millennials Are Breaking Divorce Rates!! — Because they learned from their parent’s divorces
The psychological and sociological world are a buzz with preliminary finding about the reduction of the divorce rate among millennials. Yes, millennials are also not marrying in record numbers, or at least waiting longer to get married (4.9 years longer on average) than previous generations. They have learned that building themselves, building their life and taking their time before marrying gives … [Read more...] about Millennials Are Breaking Divorce Rates!! — Because they learned from their parent’s divorces
Post-Divorce Teamwork
Clients are so overwhelmed during the divorce process that most of them “just want it over”. For most, they find that their journey as a new family unit is just beginning. The legal case ends with the entry of a divorce decree that addresses the parenting plan for children and the various financial matters of the parents and their children. Hopefully the parents worked with a neutral … [Read more...] about Post-Divorce Teamwork
Advantages of Collaborative Divorce – Confidentiality
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
SMART – maybe, maybe not
We live in a “smart” world. There is “smart” everywhere. A “smart” phone with satellite tracking capability is tucked into the pocket of every person over 8 years of age. IoT - the internet of things – enables multiple items of “smart home” equipment to function in a coordinated fashion. Chatbots with names like Alexa and Seri answer more phone calls … [Read more...] about SMART – maybe, maybe not
Loss of a Dream: Grieving in Divorce
There is a lot written about grief when there’s a death; not so much when there’s a divorce. There’s a lot of support for the grieving widow or widower when the loss has been through death, but less so for the newly divorced (or divorcing) because so often their grieving goes unrecognized or is masked by their anger, betrayal, hurt, or worry. And while they also will look and sound … [Read more...] about Loss of a Dream: Grieving in Divorce
Advocating for Children in the Collaborative Divorce Process
While divorce is often the best choice for everyone involved, including the children, the impact on them is undeniable. They are the ones who had no say in the decision, the ones who shuttle back and forth between houses and live out of a suitcase. Minimizing this impact is one of the primary benefits of the collaborative divorce process, and one of the many reasons why parents should … [Read more...] about Advocating for Children in the Collaborative Divorce Process
Collaborative Divorce: What if My Spouse is Crazy?
What if he’s crazy, or angry or not trustworthy? Is collaborative approach to divorce possible or advisable? In my practice I have heard certain accusations repeatedly for 24 years, clients telling me that their spouse is “crazy”, “a narcissist”, “controlling” , “hiding money” and/or “cheating”. When clients and lawyers are considering their process options to handle the divorce one of the … [Read more...] about Collaborative Divorce: What if My Spouse is Crazy?
My New Favorite Quote
“If you don’t listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won’t tell you the big stuff when they are big, because to them all of it has always been big stuff.” C.M Wallace I had the pleasure of reading this quote the other day. It reminded me why we need to be listening to our children. “Children get a voice not a vote,” has been my moto when I counsel children and … [Read more...] about My New Favorite Quote
What Celebrity Divorces Are Telling Us: What We Don’t Hear Speaks Volumes
Whether it is the “conscious uncoupling” of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin or the solidarity shown in a joint twitter announcement like MacKenzie and Jeff Bezos, celebrities and the uber rich tend to divorce in private. There are the clear exceptions to the rule, but in general those who live their life in the spotlight don’t want their true personal life to be exposed there. However, the … [Read more...] about What Celebrity Divorces Are Telling Us: What We Don’t Hear Speaks Volumes
Why Do I Need to Have Empathy in Divorcing My Partner
Empathy means you understand what someone is going through. Not that you sympathize or agree with them. Having empathy for your partner starting at the beginning of the divorce process can make all the difference in the world. It helps lead to a divorce in which both partners are “satisfied” with the outcome. It means less conflict and cost. Stepping into the shoes of the other person … [Read more...] about Why Do I Need to Have Empathy in Divorcing My Partner
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?
Collaborative Law & Co-Parenting
Many people, both clients and attorneys alike, simply view divorce as a means to an end. While both litigation and collaborative proceedings achieve dissolution of the marriage, the collaborative process itself can be a powerful teaching tool. The impact divorce has on children is indisputable; countless studies have shown the damaging psychological and even physical effects that plague … [Read more...] about Collaborative Law & Co-Parenting
Don’t Let Them See Your Dirty Laundry
What if there was a way to divorce where all your dirty laundry was not aired out publicly? What if there was a way to divorce where we could honor what we had, but move on to more fulfilling lives. What if there was a way to divorce that shielded the children? What if there was a way to divorce that allowed for a creative settlement that addressed both of our goals and concerns? What if there was … [Read more...] about Don’t Let Them See Your Dirty Laundry
Structure and Neutrality: Power Source in Collaborative Divorce
The Power of the Collaborative Divorce Process The Collaborative Divorce Process, at its core, is a problem-solving practice; a structured method designed to create an optimal solution from a set of common and conflicting interests held by multiple parties. The Collaborative process has inherent power, as its focus is on interests, options, consequences and optimal solutions. By … [Read more...] about Structure and Neutrality: Power Source in Collaborative Divorce
Collaborate Divorce Makes Better Post-Divorce Parents: Why?
One of the most important decisions that divorcing parents will make is which process to choose for their divorce. Not every couple is a good fit for a collaborative divorce. Some parents need to have someone to make decisions for them. But for those parents who put their children’s interest first and who understand that everyone wins when relationships and their estate are protected from … [Read more...] about Collaborate Divorce Makes Better Post-Divorce Parents: Why?
Collaborative Divorce vs. Mediation: A Comparison
Alternative dispute resolution has been part of the family law landscape for a while. The Texas legislature granted attorneys and their clients the opportunity to use the mediation process in 1987 and the collaborative divorce process more recently in 2001. It’s not uncommon for people to confuse collaborative divorce with mediation, or wonder what the differences are between the two and … [Read more...] about Collaborative Divorce vs. Mediation: A Comparison
Reasons that People Select the Collaborative Process (even when the cat is kidnapped)
Sherry came home from caring for her ailing mother in Delaware to find that 2/3 of the furniture had been removed from her house and the cat had been kidnapped. Surprise- Joe, her husband, wants a divorce. That is how she found out. This sounds like the beginning of War of the Roses, not the beginning of a collaborative divorce case, but it was. Why would Sherry select the collaborative … [Read more...] about Reasons that People Select the Collaborative Process (even when the cat is kidnapped)
The 4 A.M. Brain Bounce Syndrome – (BBS)
On occasion the malady I refer to as “The 4 A.M. Brain Bounce Syndrome” (BBS) launches a cerebral onslaught that robs me of sound sleep, pumps up my frustration level and escalates my blood pressure. You ask, “What is the Brain Bounce Syndrome?” I believe it to be a fairly common but medically undiagnosed phenomenon that afflicts a significant percentage of the population. It is characterized … [Read more...] about The 4 A.M. Brain Bounce Syndrome – (BBS)
Chance – A Divorce Parable
This is not a story about divorce or collaborative law or anything even remotely related to legal stuff. This is a story about “chance” – those who need a chance and those who take a chance. Please bear with me as I relate the tale of Jackson and Louis and “chance”. When we first met Jackson and Louis my wife and I referred to them as Dog 1 and Dog 2. It was clear that Dog 1 and Dog 2 had … [Read more...] about Chance – A Divorce Parable
CDD members present in Frisco to Collaborative Divorce Professionals
Jody Johnson and Honey Sheff, both CDD members, presented on July 20th at a gathering of collaborative law professionals in Frisco. The talk centered on effective strategies that collaborative professionals can employ when facing challenges with clients. These problems can cover a broad spectrum–from clients who do not really want the divorce, those who want to control matters beyond their … [Read more...] about CDD members present in Frisco to Collaborative Divorce Professionals
Advocacy in the Collaborative Process
What does Advocacy Look Like for the Attorney in the Collaborative Divorce Process? Litigation and Collaborative Divorce models both involve significant negotiation. Most litigation cases end in a negotiated settlement prior to trial, but the negotiation is frequently under the pressure of looming deadlines, such as temporary hearings, depositions and other discovery deadlines, mediation, and the … [Read more...] about Advocacy in the Collaborative Process
Structure and Neutrality: Power Source in Collaborative Divorce
The Power of the Collaborative Divorce Process The Collaborative Divorce Process, at its core, is a problem-solving practice; a structured method designed to create an optimal solution from a set of common and conflicting interests held by multiple parties. The Collaborative process has inherent power, as its focus is on interests, options, consequences and optimal solutions. By following the … [Read more...] about Structure and Neutrality: Power Source in Collaborative Divorce