Posted on November 04, 2019 in Uncategorized

If you and your spouse have decided to go through mediation instead of handling your divorce through litigation, congratulations. You have chosen a method of divorce that is statistically more positive, civil and mutually agreeable than traditional divorce in a courtroom. However, with little or no experience in this type of law, you may understandably have many questions about what to expect.

As much as you hope to maintain your dignity and arrive at a reasonable and fair settlement, you may worry that your current relationship with your spouse makes it more likely that your mediation sessions will end in nonproductive bickering. But does this mean that mediation is failing? How can you tell if the process is not working, and when might it be time to give up and head to court after all?

Not as bad as you think

Committing to mediation as a form of dispute resolution can be a little frightening. There is no judge in the room and no one to make the decisions for you if you and your spouse reach a stalemate. However, this is also one of the factors that draws divorcing couples to mediation. Having complete control over the process means not having to accept decisions from a judge who does not know your situation.

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 Posted on October 22, 2019 in Uncategorized

A divorce is one of the most stressful events a person can go through. All that stress can harm a person's health, as chronic stress has links to weight gain, depression, insomnia and high blood pressure.

You cannot avoid stress entirely in your life, but you can take steps to make sure it does not overpower you. Even a relatively amicable divorce can lead to a certain amount of stress, which is why you need to pursue certain actions throughout the process to make sure you get through it all right.

Talk to someone

It is natural to feel angry or depressed during a divorce. However, you want to talk through these feelings to friends and loved ones. If you do not have anyone close to you to talk to, then you should consider seeing a therapist. It is important to voice your emotions and get them out in the open.

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 Posted on October 04, 2019 in Uncategorized

Depending on the circumstances preceding your divorce, you may have an interest in staying friends with your ex in the aftermath. If you believe maintaining at least some sort of amicable relationship with this person is a possibility, though, you may find that doing so can benefit you as you move forward; particularly if the two of you plan to co-parent together.

Just how can staying friendly with your former spouse potentially benefit as you navigate your life, post-divorce?

It can help ease the strain on your children

Even the friendliest, least-contentious divorces will likely affect shared children to some degree, but if you can avoid having your children watch you and their other parent fight over every last asset or decision, it can benefit them in the long run. Your chances of having a successful co-parenting relationship improve considerably when you are not involved in a contentious legal battle. So, maintaining an air of civility between you, which you may be able to achieve through an amicable divorce, can ultimately benefit the entire family.

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 Posted on September 23, 2019 in Uncategorized

Good preparation is essential for any worthwhile endeavor, and divorce mediation is no exception.

Pay particular attention to the following four areas to help make the mediation process go as smoothly as possible.

Discuss mediation with your spouse

Cooperation forms the basis of divorce mediation. You and your spouse will work together to arrive at an agreement that is satisfactory to you both. Discuss the option with your soon-to-be-ex. If you believe you can work as a team and cooperate in resolving any issues, the next step is to schedule a meeting with a mediator.

Develop your terms

As you begin mediation, you should have a good grasp of terms: what you want to keep and what you are willing to give up. To prepare, make a list of every asset you can think of. This includes the marital home, vehicles, bank accounts and retirement accounts, stocks, insurance policies, credit cards, jewelry, collections and furniture.

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 Posted on August 19, 2019 in Firm News

We established this blog to share stories and information about topics relevant to our practice. Our intent is to regularly provide posts highlighting legal issues of local, state and national interest that we think you will find interesting. Check back later for updates.

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 Posted on August 18, 2019 in Uncategorized

Going through the divorce process can weigh you down. Considering everything at stake, it can become an overwhelming prospect to get through.

Mediation is one way that couples can get through a split with more of a say in what their post-divorce life will look like. Avoiding court may benefit couples in many ways. Creating a parenting plan in this environment can give you a better handle on co-parenting successfully once the process ends.

The role of a mediator

A mediator acts as a judge in that what happens on the record becomes legally binding. A mediator does not make decisions based on evidence. Instead, the mediator tries to get both sides to reach an agreement on important divorce issues.

Creating a parenting plan in mediation

The court's focus in divorces involving custody is the best interests of the children. A mediator also adheres to this thought process. When parents think clearly, free of the pressures and stress of court or their personal feelings, they may start to agree on things they did not previously. A mediator sets out to help parents create a parenting plan that considers:

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 Posted on July 24, 2019 in Uncategorized

Divorce mediation can be quite beneficial for a few different reasons. If you choose to undergo mediation, it is important that you select the right mediator for your situation.

It is also critical that you understand a few key factors to look for in a divorce mediator. Knowing this and your own role in the process can help you to get the most out of your mediation sessions.

Mediator qualifications

A key mediator qualification is being certified. As a certified mediator, these professionals have strict guidelines that they must follow. They complete training to provide the beneficial mediation services you require. However, on its own, a certification is not enough.

Your selection

You should make sure your mediator is truly a good fit for you. This party will be a guide through your divorce process; therefore, you should feel at least somewhat comfortable with sharing some intimate details of your life with the mediator. You should also feel like the mediator will act as an unbiased party throughout the process. Though the mediator does not ultimately make any decisions for you, input the mediator provides should not be one-sided.

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 Posted on July 08, 2019 in Uncategorized

It is possible to divorce without lawyers; a lot of people have done it over the years. You just need to be mindful about what you want to fight over.

In a divorce, there are things you should fight to retain. If there is a vast income discrepancy between you and your ex, then you should receive some alimony, at least, for a little while. You also deserve to fight over the well-being of your children. However, you need to keep things in perspective. A lot of people drag out their divorces unnecessarily because they want something they do not need. Here are some items you should not waste time arguing over during a separation.

Things that clearly belong to the other spouse

Many divorces become drawn out because one or both spouses want to be vindictive. They want to really stick it to their ex, so they try to gain ownership over absolutely everything. That includes items that belonged to one spouse prior to the marriage. There is never any reason to slow down the process by being vengeful. There is both separate and marital property; your focus should be on marital belongings.

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 Posted on June 26, 2019 in Uncategorized

No matter the frustration you may feel towards your spouse, the choice to break up is never easy. Both of you will likely feel strong emotions during the process. Ending your marriage will certainly be difficult, but it does not need to overwhelm you.

It is possible to have a low-stress divorce. Here are some suggestions and techniques for reducing your anxiety during your split.

1. Consider mediation

Divorcing through the court is more likely to result in confrontations, disagreements and battles. Mediation can lead to fewer arguments and better communication between you and your ex. Even if you two do not want to be married any longer, you can still work out the issues without getting caught up in a nasty, contentious divorce.

2. Reach out for support

It may be tempting to withdraw yourself as your marriage comes to an end. While some alone time is certainly normal and necessary, you do not want to be completely isolated. Hanging out with friends and family members who you trust to comfort you can be a great help in reducing the emotional impact of the divorce. Do not feel ashamed about joining a support group or seeing a counselor, either. It is vital to work through your emotions in healthy ways.

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 Posted on June 10, 2019 in Uncategorized

Divorce is one situation where the effects of the behavior between separating parents have more of an impact on the kids than the process itself. Many separating couples in Texas find it challenging to look past their own feelings and wants to protect their children. Divorce is not necessarily an easy process, especially with kids to consider, but it can be an amicable separation.

The end of marriage marks a big transition where countless changes must occur to reestablish family stability and security. Here are some pointers to make it easier for parents to meet those challenges head-on and mitigate the impact on their kids.

Spend as much time as possible with the children

During the separation process, one parent often ends up spending less time with the kids than the other. Parents should arrange their schedules to devote as much time as possible to their kids. If there are new work commitments and living arrangements that reduce the amount of functional parenting time, parents should work to maintain contact and interact with their children in other ways, such as video chats, special outings and an increase in visitation to prevent feelings of abandonment and resentment.

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