Once December arrives, many of my divorce clients want to reach their settlement agreement and/or be divorced before the holiday break begins. Holidays can be emotional for some and, when added with the stress of working through a divorce, the work with professionals can be counter-productive. The added stress may make it harder to reach […]
How to Talk About Divorce with Extended Family and Friends in a Positive Way
Most people know someone who has experienced separation and divorce. In the past, divorces were rarely amicable and often were the opposite adversarial and polarizing. Many times, extended family and friends took sides and cut off communications with the other spouse. Family and friends would often fuel the fire by telling stories of divorces. They […]
Discernment Counseling: An Opportunity to Gain Clarity While Making Decisions About the Marriage
The decision to divorce is difficult to make and it can be quite painful. Due to the importance of this decision, it can take someone who is considering divorce a long time to have a discussion with his or her spouse. There may be an acknowledgement that the relationship is in trouble or that one […]
The Importance of Holiday Traditions – Even When Parents Divorce
The leaves are starting to fall in Arlington, Virginia, as I sit to write this article. The days are getting shorter and the weather a bit crisp. The fall and winter holidays are fast approaching. For me, this conjures up memories of family traditions as a child growing up. I always enjoyed trick or treating […]
Can There Be Teamwork in Divorce?
The answer is yes. Here are some benefits to expect from teams in Collaborative Divorce. The number of professionals trained in Collaborative Divorce and Mediation skills is growing throughout the world. The International Academy of Collaborative Professionals membership has grown from 200 members in 2001 to over 5,000 members today. These professionals consist primarily of […]
Divorce and Real Estate Considerations
Some Real Estate Considerations when a Couple is Experiencing Separation or Divorce 1. Disposition – When spouses are separating, and there is real property, a decision needs to be made regarding whether the real estate will be sold or whether the property will continue to be owned by one or both of the spouses. 2. […]
The Benefit of Using a Neutral Financial Specialist in a Divorce
Most people who are going through a divorce want to maximize financial security and minimize depletion of assets. Some spouses turn to their own separate financial advisors who may or may not have experience and training relating to divorce in Northern Virginia. Some spouses rely on their attorneys alone and never seek the assistance of […]
The Benefits of Using a Divorce Coach
A Divorce Coach can be invaluable to a spouse embarking on a separation and divorce. Divorce usually has three elements: Legal, Financial, and Emotional/Communications. Frequently, it is the emotions that lead to a divorce and that can interfere with reaching a settlement. A settlement is most likely to be reached if each spouse feels their […]
Dignity in Divorce for Families in Arlington, Virginia
“Treat people as they want to be and you help them become what they are capable of being.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. I attended a presentation by Donna Hicks, Ph.D., at the International Academy of Matrimonial Professionals 2015 Fall Conference. Donna spoke on the topic of dignity and how it relates to the work […]
How to Prepare for a Meeting with a Divorce Attorney?
It is helpful for you to prepare and bring with you: A chronological history of significant events/issues leading up to the current time; An overview of your financial profile (assets/debts/income for each of you, how they are titled and approximately what they are worth it does not have to be perfected but a big picture […]