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Many thanks to my good friends at the Mosten Guthrie Academy, who first posted this article on October 13, 2021. Mediation is a powerful tool that can be used to resolve conflict and prepare for conflict. This blog looks at three ways that mediation can be used by families to help prepare before conflict ever arises: addressing parenting plans to meet the needs of the children, preparing emergency parenting kits, and for prenuptial agreements before marriage.

One of the first questions people ask when getting divorced is, "how are child support and spousal support determined?" People want to know what they can rely on to ensure that they are paying their bills monthly. In this blog, I guide you through how child support and spousal support are deter...

Divorce is hard on families, but hardest on children. This is why it's important for parents to work on supporting the needs of children during a divorce. Each child is different, so it is up to the parents to be empathetic to the child as they transition from living in a household where the fam...

I recently listened to The Hidden Brain podcast, episode "Empathy Gym," from July 2019. The guest was Psychologist Jamil Zaki, who talked about his parent's divorce that took four years when he was between ages 8-12. He spoke about trying to live in each of his parent's homes. "Bouncing between h...

A judge in a divorce case involving child expects at least some identified parenting plan before entering a judgment of divorce created during a Mediation or Collaborative Divorce. For the benefit of the whole family, including the child and the parents, the more specific the parents can make the...

Clarity Law LLC charges a flat fee for mediations and representation during a Collaborative Divorce to help clients know at least some of the costs of the divorce process and receive support during the divorce process, which can be much more efficient and supportive than going it alone.

For many families, the primary residence is usually one of the most significant assets. In Oregon, for many divorcing couples, their primary source of property to be split fairly and equitably is the home residence. Unfortunately, this can be a difficult and emotional experience. It is essential ...

Litigation is a top down approach to distribution of spousal support, where the attorneys make recommendations based on what anticipate a judge might decide. Collaborative Divorce and mediation empower you to work with your spouse on an appropriate amount of spousal support.

Parents should use mediation or Collaborative Divorce to plan for unforeseen events that disrupt parenting plans.

As a Collaborative Professional, I know that the children whose families are divorcing need ongoing support. Special thanks to our teachers who support our students and who are often the first to know when a child is struggling.

The upcoming 21st Anniversary of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode Hush reminds us that communication is difficult. We need help to learn to communicate during stressful and emotionally overwhelming situations. The Collaborative Divorce team can help.

As a Collaborative professional and mediator I am optimistic about resolutions. As Thanksgiving comes around with Oregon in lockdown due to the pandemic, I know that I will miss seeing extended family this holiday. But, strangely, we're in even better touch now given the bizarre circumstances than before the pandemic. I know that will continue after the pandemic and that I will see them all soon.

Oregon courts are under tremendous strain due to the pandemic. Cases are backlogged and will be for a long-time. To avoid a stressful delay for a divorce, families should use Collaborative Divorce to avoid court.

During. the Collaborative. Divorce process, you and your spouse worked closely with the team to develop a shared parenting-plan for the holiday season. But, now that the holidays are here, the reality is that the carefully outlined plan will mean that your child may not spend some of the holidays with you, driving up the possibility of pain and heartache because you miss your children. At this time, it is important to remember to put extra effort into showing kindness and empathy toward your ex-spouse, and to your child, for the child's best interest.

Collaborative Divorce can help keep the best interest of the children in mind and lessen the impact of the divorce on children now and into the future.