Blog
The Hidden Cost of Financial Avoidance: Why Looking Away Can Make Divorce More Expensive
I witness one phenomenon in many of my clients over and over: the avoidance of financial decisions. Do you know why? Many people do not avoid financial decisions because they are irresponsible. They avoid them because they are overwhelmed. As a collaborative divorce attorney and mediator, I have met with countless individuals who are intelligent,[…]
The Entrepreneur’s Money Personality: Why Business Owners Experience Divorce Differently
Owning a business changes the way you think about money. As a collaborative divorce attorney and mediator, I have worked with many entrepreneurs over the years. Whether they own a medical practice, law firm, construction company, consulting business, salon, or technology startup, I often notice something they have in common. They do not see money[…]
We want to mediate because we do not want attorneys involved!
I hear a version of the same comment regularly from couples who contact me about mediation: “We want to mediate because we do not want attorneys involved.” As an attorney myself, that statement always gets my attention. Usually, what they mean is not that attorneys have nothing valuable to offer. They are worried that bringing[…]
Why Even the Most Successful Women Struggle with Financial Decisions During Divorce
As a collaborative divorce attorney and mediator, I have worked with many women who are extraordinary decision-makers. They own successful businesses. They perform surgeries. They manage large organizations. They negotiate complex contracts. They lead teams, make payroll, solve difficult problems, and confidently make decisions involving hundreds of thousands—or even millions—of dollars. And many of them[…]
What’s Your Money Personality? Understanding the Financial Habits That Show Up During Divorce
After helping hundreds of individuals and couples navigate divorce, I have become convinced of one thing: very few conflicts are actually about money. They are about what money means. Over the years, I have sat across the table from couples arguing about retirement accounts, businesses, homes, credit cards, inheritances, and monthly budgets. On the surface,[…]
Why Children Should Never Be the Messenger Between Divorced Parents
One of the simplest ways parents can reduce conflict after separation or divorce is also one of the most overlooked: Do not use your children to communicate with the other parent. That includes verbal messages, text messages sent from a child’s phone, questions to pass along, and even notes tucked into a child’s backpack. While[…]
Children Hear More Than Words
Parents often assume that if they avoid arguing in front of their children or keep their voices down, their children are protected from conflict. Unfortunately, children hear much more than words. They notice the sigh when the other parent’s name appears on your phone. They see the eye roll during a parent-time exchange. They recognize[…]
Things You Can Do This Week to Keep Your Children Out of the Conflict
Protecting your children from conflict does not require perfection. It requires intention. Even small changes in how parents communicate can have a significant impact on a child’s sense of safety and security. This week, commit to trying a few of these practices: ✓ Communicate directly with the other parent. Resist the temptation to use your[…]
You Never Have to Pick Sides
One of the most heartbreaking things I hear from children of divorce—whether they are six or sixty—is the feeling that they have to choose between their parents. Sometimes that pressure is obvious. More often, it is subtle. A child notices one parent becoming upset when they talk about having fun at the other parent’s house.[…]
Why Children Need Permission to Love Both Parents
One of the most important things children need during a separation or divorce is something many parents never think to give them: Permission to love both parents. Most parents would immediately respond, “Of course my child can love both of us.” And in most cases, that is genuinely how they feel. Yet children often experience[…]