Blog
You’ve Decided To Leave Now What
You survived the holidays. The kids are back in school. The end-of-year crunch at work is over. Life should feel good, but it doesn’t. You know you aren’t happy in your relationship. You’ve grown apart from your spouse. You’ve tried marriage counseling, but things have not gotten better. You know the relationship died several years ago but you […]
Welcome to Divorce Reimagined
Have you ever thought that divorce could be a gift? That the brokenness you may feel when realizing your relationship is over is the beginning stage of transformation? Thirteen and a half years ago, I found myself facing the end of my second marriage. In reality, the marriage had died twelve and a half years […]
Child Custody 101
Growing up in the 70s and early 80s, I did not know anyone whose parents were divorced. My first introduction to “child custody” disputes was from watching Kramer v. Kramer, the 1979 movie where the mom (Meryl Streep) abandons her husband and son but returns after 15 months to claim her child. The custody battle involved […]
What Next? – Divorce Options
In the fall of 2020, I found myself in the emergency room. I thought I was having a heart attack. Luckily that wasn’t the case but the doctors had no answers for me. They did not know what was going on. One mentioned a panic attack. Well, whatever it was, it woke me up. For […]
Divorce, Abraham Maslow, and Financial Support
It would be lovely if the starting point of any divorce could be deciding what we want. But more often than not, my first consultation with clients involves questions of survival. Many clients fear what their financial future will look like. They have worked hard to get where they are financially. Divorce presents a sharp […]
A Checklist for Divorce Financial Planning
Ten Types of Documents to Gather When Considering Divorce Socrates said, “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” This may be true in life but is extremely damaging in divorce. It is critically important that you take affirmative steps to understand and familiarize yourself with your finances when considering divorce. You will […]
Alimony – To Pay or Not To Pay?
Next to child custody, alimony is the most hotly contested issue if you are divorcing in Utah. Why? Because there is no formula or calculator to determine the amount of alimony. Instead, alimony is based on multiple factors, which can be highly subjective. In Utah, the primary purposes of alimony are (1) to get the […]
Financial Planning in Divorce – 5 Steps to Getting Your House in Order
Author and Netflix superstar Marie Kondo says, “When you put your house in order, you put your affairs and your past in order, too.” Nothing could be closer to the truth in divorce— When you put your financial house in order in divorce, you put your affairs and your past in order, too. Here are […]
Update from the 2nd District Court and In Person Hearings
FROM THE SECOND DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS RE: RESUMPTION OF IN-PERSON HEARINGS WHEN: We are currently contemplating returning to in-person court on September 1, 2021. In-person court can resume if the courts are in Yellow as long as appropriate precautions are taken. If the virus count prompts a return to Red, in-person hearings will only take place […]
What is the Difference Between Collaborative Divorce and Mediation?
I cannot count the number of times that prospective clients are shocked to learn that there are ways to divorce or resolve their family law dispute without the nastiness of court. The court system is set up to be adversarial. However, there are ways to resolve your family law dispute amicably without going to court. […]
Seven Frequently Asked Questions About Divorce in Utah
Many of the clients who schedule initial consultations have not made the decision to divorce yet. Often, the client or the client’s spouse has brought up the topic of divorce and my client simply wants to know what his or her options are in the event the couple decides to divorce. Here are answers to […]
Musing of a Utah Family Law Attorney in Transition – One Year Later
One year ago this month, I stepped into my dream of establishing an integrative family law practice. I made the decision to shift from a litigation model to offering out-of-court resolutions where my clients have the option to work with mental health professionals, financial neutrals, and various other professionals in reaching the best possible outcome […]
The 5 Step P.L.A.N.S. for a Positive Divorce: Weathering the Storm
“Feare no more the heate o’ th’ Sun,Nor the furious Winter’s rages.”– William Shakespeare As with any devastating storm, your divorce can often leave a path of destruction. Feelings of helplessness and despair regularly take over. Fear prevails. Anger may ensue. Must it be this way? “NO.” Can you avoid it? The answer is an […]
Could Our Limits Be Gifts to Discovering Our Potential?
Today’s blog provides a question rather than answers. In his book, The Sacred Enneagram, author Christopher L. Heuertz writes that our limitations, destructive patterns, addictions, or other seemingly unpresentable parts are invitations “to return to what wounded us as children so that our eyes may be opened to the gift of who we are and who we […]
Sharing Custody, The Holidays, and COVID-19: “Create a Roadmap for Success”
Last year the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts published some useful tools to help those sharing custody in the holiday season. For the full Roadmap, visit their file here. “1. PLAN EARLY:If there is one piece of advice you take away from these guidelines, it has to be this one. If there was ever a […]
Divorce and Holiday Parent-Time in Utah – Tis the Season
If you are a separated or divorced parent confused over your holiday parent-time schedule, you are not alone. You would think figuring out when you have your children for a holiday would be straightforward. Unfortunately, it is not so easy if your custody order follows the statutory holiday schedules. Oftentimes, even attorneys are unable to […]