by Guest Author Barry Davis I think that one very significant advantage of mediation is often left out when discussing the pro’s and con’s of mediation vs. litigation – the positive impact that mediation has on the children and the parents’ ability to co-parent. Mediation creates this situation in a number of ways: 1. “First, […]

by Guest Author Cynthia O’Conner, Certified Mediator   The U.S. Census Bureau in their Current Population Survey of 2012 stated that the elder population — people age 65 and over — makes up 13.5 % of the total U.S. population.[1] The Center for Disease Control reports that there are “more than 24 million unpaid caregivers providing

  In Virginia, when custody and/or visitation are in dispute, judges use known criteria to discern what will be best for a child. The factors they weigh include: the age and developmental needs of the child, the primacy of the parent-child relationship, the ability of each parent to provide a healthy, non-abusive environment for each

by guest author Aimee Lyons   Moving can be a tough process for anyone, but when you’re going through a divorce, it can be even more emotional. For most people, separating comes with a lot of memories — some sweet, some awful — and packing up the home you shared with your ex can be

Veronica Baxter interviewed Katherine K. Wagner, Esq. to create this Q & A on the basics of bankruptcy in the context of divorce.  VB: People often ask, should I file bankruptcy before, after, or while I’m getting divorced? KW: It sounds like a cop-out but really, it depends upon the reason the couple feels the

by guest author Danielle Daily I cried over an old chair. Today I donated a chair I’ve had for more than 15 years to Goodwill. I could see the chair sitting there abandoned among the piles of other unwanted things in my rearview mirror, and as I drove away, tears started to roll down my

  Sadly, most couples who separate remain separated and eventually divorce. Sometimes, though, some time away from each other, with counseling during the separation, helps them find ways to heal and strengthen their relationship. While they are unsure about whether reuniting will work, they can develop a written agreement about (a) how they are going

Worth noting: Some of these groups are also good for estranged parents who never married each other. Divorce is tough. During a time when you are most upset and are likely to have the most difficulty making rational decisions, you have to deal with legal issues, solve financial problems, and maybe also take care of

  Decision Making (sometimes known as “Legal Custody“) The person or pair of people who have legal custody have the right to make the major decisions about raising and caring for a child. Major decisions include: which day care center to use whether to send a child to private school what the child’s religious upbringing will be