You don’t act like a divorce attorney?

When I meet clients for the first time, they often say to me “you seem too nice to be an attorney.” Some would take that as an insult. Attorneys, especially divorce attorneys, have this stereotype of being mean, overly arrogant, aggressive – just terrible people. Don’t get me wrong, I have met those attorneys during my career. Fortunately not all of us are like that.

Divorce doesn’t have to be a battle

When I tell people I am a family lawyer, I usually hear “oh you must have seen some things” or “you must deal with a lot of fights.” True, I have seen some crazy things happen in court. I have also watched people tear their family apart in long, drawn out court battles. But I also witnessed many couples leaving my office or the courtroom without the scars of battle and the pains of going through an expensive, contested divorce. It is those situations that I feel the best about.

What If I Can’t Afford a Lawyer?

You have decided to divorce. Or maybe your spouse just hit you with he or she wants a divorce. So many things go through your mind. You are scared about the future. You are worried about your children. There are so many things to cause you concern.

Getting Divorced Without Going to Court

When you think about divorce, one of the things that scares you the most is the thought of going to court. Understandable. You appear before a judge, you swear under oath, there may be people in the courtroom who you know that do not know you are going through a divorce. You fear having to speak in public or before the judge. Worse, you are afraid of how things will turn out. You have little to no control of the outcome.

Tips for Handling the Holidays

Divorce is difficult for children, especially around the holidays. Questions come up like “will Santa know where to bring my presents” or “will I see mommy and daddy over the holidays?” Of course, it is hard for parents too. The first holiday after the divorce may be the first time you do not get to celebrate the holiday with your children. Grandparents may complain about missing the little ones, confusion sets in as to who will be where at what time, it’s a lot to deal with.

Being Thankful Even In Divorce

It is that time of year again. There is a chill in the air. Pumpkin pies are in the oven and grocery stores are crowded. Most stores have already started playing Christmas music. Well, most stores started with the Christmas music as soon as they put the Halloween candy on sale. Thanksgiving is here. Tables are weighed down full of turkey, potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and bunches of other foods.

Why you should not waive child support

I have had many clients tell me – “I don’t need (other parent’s) money, so I don’t want child support.” There is a drive to be independent and not rely on the ex. In cases where a parent is not exercising visitation, it may be perceived as an incentive to have them have a relationship with the child, or to stay out of the child’s life.