In Part I on this topic, I described divorced co-parents who were fighting about the co-parenting schedule for their kids. It seemed unlikely that they would be willing to resolve their major dispute in mediation. Their most likely next step was to take the matter to court, where each would try to convince a judge that the […]

  Jack and Ann* have been divorced for a year and a half but are still fighting about their co-parenting schedule (still called child custody in courtrooms). This is a very big problem for their kids. Jack and Ann hate each other. They don’t trust each other. Each suspects that the other has ulterior, self-serving motives

Here are some things I learned from Rick Clemons during our Family Matters interview Nov. 10, 2015. Coming out as a gay person is a journey, not a one time event. It starts with recognizing and accepting what is true about yourself. Then you tell the relative(s) and friend(s) you can most easily talk with or

When the extended family gets together for a holiday, amidst the fun, awkward quirks and tense conflicts sometimes come out. This year may be worse than most. The recent election brought some huge political differences to the fore. Close to half of the people who voted chose Donald Trump, and more chose Hilary Clinton, who

One caveat as we begin: If one parent is actually abusive or otherwise harmful to the children, then the better parent’s avoiding the custody fight will not put the kids in a good situation. This article is intended for parents who are in the normal range of parenting abilities and styles. Here’s the short version: Custody

by guest author Paul Denikin Caring for a loved one who has Alzheimer’s can be overwhelming at times, and when the individual’s capacity for understanding and retaining information dwindles, there may be a time when you are required to step in and help make decisions for their day-to-day care and future. It’s extremely important to remember, however,

by guest author Susan Oberman   The details of everyday life when parents live separately (or even when they live together), can be overwhelming. The complexities of children’s schedules and parent’s work obligations make it necessary for parents to communicate daily or weekly to make decisions: What activities, friendships, and cultural experiences are appropriate? What

by guest author Ellen Purcell .   . The Problem: “When we are out with other couples, he’s the life of the party, but once we are home again, he hardly talks with me at all.” . The Explanation: Typically men and women view social conversation quite differently. Women tend to be looking to establish or

When divorcing, both parties need to understand their financial, emotional, and legal situations. For decades Stan Corey, author of The Divorce Dance, has been educating divorce clients about their financial situations and about the long-term implications of decisions they are making during divorce. When I talked with him on Family Matters, he talked about what people need

  By Guest Author Catherine J. Byerly Structured settlements aren’t something you hear about all too often in divorce – but they can come up, and when they do you want to have all the facts. But first, what is a structured settlement? A structured settlement is a particular way of resolving an amount of