Resources
Professionals in Northern Virginia:
Virginia Family Law Center in Fairfax, VA: Consultations about family matters are available either free or at low cost. The attorneys in this practice provide individualized legal advice without requiring a retainer agreement. They charge reasonable fees. They regularly provide clients with fast, affordable divorce services. For clients who have, perhaps through mediation, reached agreement on settlement terms, a lawyer from this group will, for a modest flat fee, prepare and file the documents needed to complete the divorce.
Disclaimer: Although the Colin Family Mediation Group LLC (CFMG), believes that the professionals and groups listed above provide services of good quality, CFMG cannot guarantee that they will meet your needs. In no event shall CFMG be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever arising from your use of services from any of these professionals or groups.
Books for Adults:
Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler. The book provides clear, practical steps you can take so that you will be ready to handle the moment well when it is suddenly time to discuss something that matters a lot with someone whose view differs from yours when one or both of you have strong emotions about the issue.
The Truth About Children and Divorce by Robert Emery. This book can give you and your spouse or your ex some very helpful tools and skills and insights. You can make life easier and happier for your kids and yourself even if you and your ex remain very angry at each other. Available in libraries and online.
Breaking Apart by Wendy Swallow. A memoir of marriage and divorce. The first half is about how good people sometimes enter and stay a long time in unhappy marriages. The second part is about the largely un-anticipated emotional and legal complexities of getting separated, getting divorced, learning to co-operate with your ex for the benefit of your children, and gradually healing. Available in libraries and online.
The Smart Divorce by Deborah Moskovitch. Useful advice from top divorce attorneys, financial advisors, counselors, and other experts. Available in libraries and online.
Growing up with Divorce: Helping Your Child Avoid Immediate and Later Emotional Problems by Neil Kalter. With sections sorted by the child’s age and the stage(s) of the divorce process the parents are in, Kalter describes external and internal sources of difficulty for kids and ways parents can help their children be resilient and healthy. Available in libraries and online.
The Guide to Low-Cost Divorce in Virginia
by Virginia L. Colin and Rebecca A. Martin. This book teaches how to set the stage for an inexpensive divorce, gather information, avoid some pitfalls, and take good care of yourself and your kids as your lives change in big ways. It provides a road map to help you handle your divorce mostly as a do-it-yourself process, thereby saving large amounts of money.
Books for Kids:
Nina Has Two Houses by Danielle Jacobs and Hannah Neale. This is a great book for helping little kids comprehend their own emotions when their parents separate and stay apart.
Marriage Resources Online:
The Gottman Institute is the nationally recognized star of organizations dedicated to understanding how marriages work, what makes some fail, and what spouses can do to keep their relationship strong and healthy.
Parenting Resources Online:
Our Parenting Spot is an online community that provides advice, education, and support for parents.
Divorce Resources Online:
Fairfax County Pro Se Divorce Package This is an excellent resource for people who want a do-it-yourself divorce. Most of the information applies statewide.
Attorney and Client: Who Works for Whom?
Do I need therapy? – a quick self-test.
How to Prepare for Divorce – Tips from 48 Experts
Virginia Divorce Laws – This may be difficult to decipher if you are not an attorney, but you may find what you need.
Legal Aid and public assistance information for low income people in Virginia
Co-Parenting Resources Online:
OurFamilyWizard – A variety of resources for managing co-parenting and shared child custody for separated, divorced, or unmarried parents. Parenting time, visitation schedules, activities, expenses, messaging, journals, travel documents, and more.
Children in Between – an online course built around videos that illustrate common co-parenting problems and some different ways parents can respond to them. Some ways lead to good results. Some lead to bad results. The course includes quizzes and opportunities to practice.
New Ways for Families and How to Handle High Conflict People have some very useful articles about skills you can practice and use with a contentious co-parent. They also tell you about valuable social skills and life skills you can teach to your child without criticizing a difficult co-parent.
Laws about determining a child’s “best interests”
Children of Divorce Speak Out – what your kids would say to you if they could.
Advice for parents from teens and recent teens – There is a link to a free e-book about communicating with teens and tweens in any family. There is also a section about teens and divorce.
Bonus Families – Resources for living with stepfamilies and proper ex-etiquette after a divorce.
Dads of Wisconsin – This group is working to improve the lives of Wisconsin children affected by separation and divorce by lobbying for equal child placement time and parental responsibility.
Fathers and Families of New York – A non-profit advocacy and educational organization that works to keep fathers and their children together.
Helping Boys Thrive – An educational event for parents who are raising and educating young boys.
Keeping Families Connected – Parental alienation resources that can help families during child custody and high conflict divorce cases.
National Parents Organization – This organization works to preserve the bond between parents and children via shared parenting, child support, and alimony reform.
Parenting Plans – This book offers tips on how to develop a successful parenting plan in child custody cases.
Stand Up for Gus – This organization provides resources for families dealing with parental alienation issues.
The Evolution of Dad – This documentary examines what it means to be an involved, contemporary father in the U.S.
Note:
If you find a broken link above or want to recommend a new resource, please email Colin Family Mediation Group LLC at info@cfmg-va.com.
Disclaimer:
This website contains links to external websites that are not provided or maintained by or affiliated with Colin Family Mediation Group (CFMG). CFMG does not guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any information on these external websites.
Resources
Professionals in
Northern Virginia:
Virginia Family Law Center in Fairfax, VA: Consultations about family matters are available either free or at low cost. The attorneys in this practice provide individualized legal advice without requiring a retainer agreement. They charge reasonable fees. They regularly provide clients with fast, affordable divorce services. For clients who have, perhaps through mediation, reached agreement on settlement terms, a lawyer from this group will, for a modest flat fee, prepare and file the documents needed to complete the divorce.
Disclaimer: Although the Colin Family Mediation Group LLC (CFMG), believes that the professionals and groups listed above provide services of good quality, CFMG cannot guarantee that they will meet your needs. In no event shall CFMG be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever arising from your use of services from any of these professionals or groups.
Books for Adults:
Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler. The book provides clear, practical steps you can take so that you will be ready to handle the moment well when it is suddenly time to discuss something that matters a lot with someone whose view differs from yours when one or both of you have strong emotions about the issue.
The Truth About Children and Divorce by Robert Emery. This book can give you and your spouse or your ex some very helpful tools and skills and insights. You can make life easier and happier for your kids and yourself even if you and your ex remain very angry at each other. Available in libraries and online.
Breaking Apart by Wendy Swallow. A memoir of marriage and divorce. The first half is about how good people sometimes enter and stay a long time in unhappy marriages. The second part is about the largely un-anticipated emotional and legal complexities of getting separated, getting divorced, learning to co-operate with your ex for the benefit of your children, and gradually healing. Available in libraries and online.
The Smart Divorce by Deborah Moskovitch. Useful advice from top divorce attorneys, financial advisors, counselors, and other experts. Available in libraries and online.
Growing up with Divorce: Helping Your Child Avoid Immediate and Later Emotional Problems by Neil Kalter. With sections sorted by the child’s age and the stage(s) of the divorce process the parents are in, Kalter describes external and internal sources of difficulty for kids and ways parents can help their children be resilient and healthy. Available in libraries and online.
The Guide to Low-Cost Divorce in Virginia by Virginia L. Colin and Rebecca A. Martin. This book teaches how to set the stage for an inexpensive divorce, gather information, avoid some pitfalls, and take good care of yourself and your kids as your lives change in big ways. It provides a road map to help you handle your divorce mostly as a do-it-yourself process, thereby saving large amounts of money.
Books for Kids:
Nina Has Two Houses by Danielle Jacobs and Hannah Neale. This is a great book for helping little kids comprehend their own emotions when their parents separate and stay apart.
Marriage Resources Online:
The Gottman Institute is the nationally recognized star of organizations dedicated to understanding how marriages work, what makes some fail, and what spouses can do to keep their relationship strong and healthy.
Parenting Resources Online:
Our Parenting Spot is an online community that provides advice, education, and support for parents.
Divorce Resources Online:
Fairfax County Pro Se Divorce Package This is an excellent resource for people who want a do-it-yourself divorce. Most of the information applies statewide.
Attorney and Client: Who Works for Whom?
Do I need therapy? – a quick self-test.
How to Prepare for Divorce – Tips from 48 Experts
Virginia Divorce Laws – This may be difficult to decipher if you are not an attorney, but you may find what you need.
Legal Aid and public assistance information for low income people in Virginia
Co-Parenting Resources Online:
OurFamilyWizard – A variety of resources for managing co-parenting and shared child custody for separated, divorced, or unmarried parents. Parenting time, visitation schedules, activities, expenses, messaging, journals, travel documents, and more.
Children in Between – an online course built around videos that illustrate common co-parenting problems and some different ways parents can respond to them. Some ways lead to good results. Some lead to bad results. The course includes quizzes and opportunities to practice.
New Ways for Families and How to Handle High Conflict People have some very useful articles about skills you can practice and use with a contentious co-parent. They also tell you about valuable social skills and life skills you can teach to your child without criticizing a difficult co-parent.
Laws about determining a child’s “best interests”
Children of Divorce Speak Out – what your kids would say to you if they could.
Advice for parents from teens and recent teens – There is a link to a free e-book about communicating with teens and tweens in any family. There is also a section about teens and divorce.
Bonus Families – Resources for living with stepfamilies and proper ex-etiquette after a divorce.
Dads of Wisconsin – This group is working to improve the lives of Wisconsin children affected by separation and divorce by lobbying for equal child placement time and parental responsibility.
Fathers and Families of New York – A non-profit advocacy and educational organization that works to keep fathers and their children together.
Helping Boys Thrive – An educational event for parents who are raising and educating young boys.
Keeping Families Connected – Parental alienation resources that can help families during child custody and high conflict divorce cases.
National Parents Organization – This organization works to preserve the bond between parents and children via shared parenting, child support, and alimony reform.
Parenting Plans – This book offers tips on how to develop a successful parenting plan in child custody cases.
Stand Up for Gus – This organization provides resources for families dealing with parental alienation issues.
The Evolution of Dad – This documentary examines what it means to be an involved, contemporary father in the U.S.
Note:
If you find a broken link above or want to recommend a new resource, please email Colin Family Mediation Group LLC at info@cfmg-va.com.
Disclaimer:
This website contains links to external websites that are not provided or maintained by or affiliated with Colin Family Mediation Group (CFMG). CFMG does not guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any information on these external websites.
