When I was a trial lawyer, just starting out doing divorce work, my first question to the potential new client, as I grasped his outstretched hand warmly in both of mine, was, “How are you? What’s going on in your life that’s brought you here?” Thus, they knew that I was warm and caring. Clients […]
If the client’s spouse is not represented by counsel, send a letter to him or her. In it, explain that the client has requested your help in obtaining a divorce and that your client is interested in proceeding by using the collaborative process, and provide the contact information of several collaboratively-trained attorneys. Provide him with
What To Do If Your Client’s Spouse Is Not Yet Collaborative Read More »
There are all kinds of guidelines for recovering emotionally from the dissolution of your marriage. But what about your finances? What steps should you take to safeguard your credit, establish new credit, protect your dependents, etc.? I can tell you horror stories about the errors people have made (or rather the remedial actions they have
Closing The Chapter: 13 Tips for Financial Security Post Divorce Read More »
The collaborative team guides its clients to work together to solve their problems. To attack problems efficiently, they follow these steps: Step 1: Establish the ground rules. They are: ☞Be polite, patient, and honest. ☞Listen actively without interrupting the speaker. ☞Focus on the future and avoid unnecessary discussions of the past. ☞Focus on resolving conflict
In order to begin equipping clients to work within the collaborative process and to equip the team with the details of the clients’ personality styles, it is considered best practice for the Mental Health Professional (MHP) to meet with the clients individually. When scheduling these interviews, allow at least 1.5 hours each; always contact both
I was going through my firm’s old files the other day when I came across a thank-you note written by a former client. I am a paralegal at Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm and work with attorney Adam B. Cordover. The client thanks both Adam and me in the note, and, although I am
Is divorce in retirement different than for younger couples? And, if so, how? Three of us, one divorce lawyer and two financial neutrals, sat down one day to talk about the issues involved in the typical gray divorce, marriages in which older spouses (“grey-haired) are now splitting up. The questions are interesting, to say the
You’ve been waiting for this movie to come out. Finally, it does. You buy your overpriced tickets on-line; you show up early to get a good seat; you pay a fortune for popcorn; you watch endless coming attractions. Finally, the feature begins. Sooner or later, you realize it’s awful. You wait for it to improve,
Get educated. What does that consist of? If you’re contemplating divorce and you own a home that one of you wants to keep, and the other is agreeable to that arrangement, then you’ve got to find someone with the right qualifications to advise you on the best way to accomplish that goal. Or even if
Get Educated! Tips for Refinancing After Divorce Read More »
You have all heard of a “marriage of convenience?” This is a term that originated in medieval times. It refers to a marriage contracted for motives other than the reasons of relationship, family, or love. Instead, such a marriage is orchestrated for personal gain or some other sort of strategic purpose, such as for political
