According to a recent study by Harvard Sociologist Alexandra Killewald published in Time Magazine, marriages are particularly sensitive to economic changes for men such as unemployment. However, financial strain alone in this scenario is likely not the sole impetus to divorce. Why in contemporary...

Are you feeling angry? Many of the same issues that led to divorce may resurface and could be exacerbated by the divorce process. What is a person to do when they are a on the receiving end of their soon-to-be-exs anger, blame or hostility, and how should you deal with your own anger? Reco...

You co-parent your child because you understand that your children do best when they have loving, fulfilling and respectful relationships with both their parents. But could you accidently be sabotaging your own efforts? According to this Huffington Post article released in March, co-parents ma...

According to Stanford University, “…nearly 70% of women initiated a divorce.” Psychologists argue that this is the result of building resentment resulting from years of emotional miscommunication. Women typically seek deep levels of emotional connection, including support, which often goes unmet ...

Times are changing and in 2017 it is not uncommon to find women earning more than their husbands. How is this fact related to divorce? Marriage itself is a tradition born out of a woman's need for financial support by a man so what happens when you take away women's financial dependence? Accor...

Gaslighting This is a relatively trendy word in the psychology community right currently but gaslighting essentially involves a constant form of manipulation and/or emotional invalidation that leaves one party questioning their own sanity. In the case of conflict, gaslighting often involves de...

Despite its reputation, divorce does not have to cost an arm and a leg. There are several steps you and your ex partner can take to minimize the cost of divorce. Lawyers spend dozens of hours prepping for divorce litigation behind the scenes and this time spent preparing for litigation can result...

We understand at you have many options for legal representation when selecting an attorney to help guide you through your divorce process; but all of those options can be overwhelming! How do you know how to find the right lawyer for you? Research: Don't just choose the first divorce attorney ...

During a life-changing event such as divorce it is normal to seek guidance and support from friends. For the most part this support is beneficial but there are those friends, who despite their best intentions, create negative energy and may impede your judgment in the divorce process. The fr...

Family dynamics are changing and the legal system meets these changings with varying degrees of success. With leaps in assisted-reproduction and the embrace of non-traditional family structures courts are moving past the historic two-parent model. However, Courts still struggle to balance the rig...

As a family law attorney, I was riveted to hear about this 17-year-old Girl Scout fighting to change the law in her home state of New Hampshire; the law allows girls as young as 13, and boys who are 14 to be married with the consent of a judge who finds a special circumstance. You can watch th...

The nuances of abortion are not something readily discussed in our society. Abortion is a hot button issue that many people feel strongly about on both sides of the isle and I view this issue through a limited partisan lens, often ignoring both scientific and economic facts. One of the most strik...

Parental alienation occurs when a child, during a high conflict divorce, aligns himself or herself on the side of one parent to the detriment of their relationship with/completely alienation of the other parent. There are concrete steps you can take to avoid this situation, as it is harmful for a...

If you have children of any age and are seeking a divorce make sure that negotiating college costs is top on your financial priority list. If your children are young, it is easy to overlook the importance of this issue or feel confident that it will sort itself out later. Unfortunately this is of...

Independent thinking The ability to think outside the box is a skill that will serve your teen in almost all circumstances. This includes critical thinking, which must be fostered from a relatively young age. If you consistently impede your child's ability to create their own thoughts and opin...

Maybe it's not as idyllic as picking out wedding décor, but a prenup is one of the best marriage related decisions you will ever have the opportunity to make.  A prenup is a financial document that allocates money between parties in the case of divorce. In no way does it signal an intention to di...

As part of any divorce, property must be divided between the parties. Washington law dictates how the courts go about making this division. Nature of Property: Washington is a community property state, which means that property accrued during marriage is owned by both spouses, with the excepti...

Divorce is represented in the media and tabloids as unavoidably acrimonious and incredibly lengthy. If this sounds unappealing to you – try mediation. The primary reason mediation is so successful is that you are engaging a neutral party (the mediator) in resolving conflict and facilitating co...

We are all on our phones 24/7 so why not add a few more apps to your home screen that could help you manage divorced life? App - Two HappyHomes (similar to Our Family Wizard, my fave) This app lets co-parents create calendars, store important medical information, share photos, and record ...

Depending on the nature of your custody arrangement, it is likely that your children are required to split time between two houses. Things can get complicated when your child may not want to go to one house or another. This refusal can occur for a wide variety of reasons and it is important to un...

Mediating rather than litigating your divorce can be both financially and emotionally beneficial. A mediator is not an alternative to a divorce lawyer but is a great potential asset for those who would like to settle their divorce using a more collaborative method than the courtroom.  Mediation i...

Everyone will not be happy While you and your new spouse may be blissfully happy it is important to recognize that most of the other members of the family are probably not approaching this transition from the same emotional place. It is important to not only recognize this but also behave acco...

According to psychologists, many people stay in unhappy marriages out of fear or avoidance. If you are contemplating divorce, be honest with yourself about what is holding you back from making that decision.  Are you worried you wont find another life partner? Are you worked about how you will fa...

Most of the time unsolicited advice is innocuous, but in the case of divorce, advice from well meaning but misinformed people can be harmful. Encouraging acrimony Especially if you feel slighted by your divorce, it is likely that those around you may encourage you to “fight” or be intenti...