Blog

10/5/20

3 signs your soon-to-be ex-spouse wants a friendly divorce

If your marriage is on track for an inevitable divorce, you may have some difficulty communicating with your husband or wife. You may also not know whether he or she wants a knock-down, drag-out divorce battle or is open to something less brutal. While asking your spouse is usually best, you can also look for certain clues to gauge your spouse’s receptiveness to mediation, arbitration or negotiation. Here are three signs your soon-to-be ex-spouse may...

9/12/20

Commonly overlooked issues in a custody dispute

Parents come to the divorce mediation table with a host of concerns. However, you may overlook some important considerations that impact your ability to coparent effectively. Ask yourself these questions as you prepare to When will child support end? Generally, the state decides the duration of court-ordered child support. When negotiating custody, consider whether you want to provide extended support for young adults attending college. In Pennsylvania, child support ends when a child reaches 18...

7/9/20

Three tips to create a better collaborative custody plan

Taking the collaborative path to divorce has many perks — from keeping discussions outside of a court setting to being able to create custom post-divorce plans. But sometimes having more freedom and input can also create more opportunity for tension to arise between you and your soon-to-be ex. The last thing you want to do have is stress having drama surrounding the custody plan. Rather, the goal and purpose should be creating a plan that...

6/23/20

4 characteristics of a good custody exchange site

If you and your ex-spouse share custody of your children, you must pick them up at the beginning of your parenting time and drop them off after your visit concludes. You should not, however, leave the location of the exchange site to chance. To minimize conflict, you should designate an exchange location in your 1. Convenience Because co-parenting agreements often split parenting time evenly, you may need to exchange your kids once or twice per...

6/18/20

Why are collaborative divorces generally faster and cheaper?

Contrary to what you often see in the movies, not every divorce turns into an ugly, acrimonious battle. Instead, many people walk away from their marriages while maintaining cordial relationships with their former spouses. If you think you may be able to do the same, consider embarking on a collaborative divorce. Unlike traditional, litigated divorces, Collaborative divorces may be more affordable Rather than pit yourself against your former partner, which might lead to fighting over...

4/28/20

A high-conflict divorce may be a mistake

High-conflict divorces often are a result of bad communication. It, therefore, makes it difficult to communicate effectively. When you cannot communicate in a divorce, it makes it impossible to reach agreements outside of the court. It causes stress for everyone, including your children. In the end, it usually means the court makes all the decisions in your case. For the good of everyone, it is ideal if you can avoid a high-conflict divorce situation. If...

4/7/20

How to protect your 401(k) during a divorce

Your wedding vows stated you would stay with your partner “for richer, for poorer.” Now you find yourselves in the middle of a divorce and fighting over every penny. You were not thinking of divorce while falling in love, so it is likely you did not take steps to protect your 401(k). Your retirement account is one of your most valuable assets. How your 401(k) is vulnerable At least part of your 401(k) is...

3/20/20

3 important advantages of divorce mediation

Marriages come to an end for all kinds of reasons. While many divorces you may see on TV or in the movies may involve long, drawn-out court battles, this does not necessarily have to be your reality. On the contrary, if you and your ex still have at least some degree of respect for one another, you may be able to save yourselves time, money and stress by opting for divorce mediation, rather than a...

2/27/20

Work up a parenting plan draft in preparation for mediation

Among the benefits of mediation is that it is less stressful than traditional divorce and establishes a path on which you and your family can move forward. Part of the mediation process will focus on your parenting plan. Putting your thoughts down on paper ahead of time will keep you from forgetting anything when you present your ideas. A plan for the future Expect the parenting plan to be A few things to avoid...

2/19/20

Should I Refinance? Best Mortgage Refinance of 2020

Guest Post Provided By: If you’re a homeowner looking for ways to lower your monthly expenses, one of the alternatives you may be considering is refinancing your home. Interest rates are low, and reducing your rate on a large loan like a mortgage can result in significant savings. Refinancing your mortgage simply means you’re replacing your current mortgage loan with a new one. Although lowering interest rates to improve cash flow is one of...