Location – It’s important to find a private, quiet space where you can focus and hear without too much distraction. Sometimes, it’s the car, and other times, a den or patio works well. Try to think about best areas for reception, good lighting, as well as privacy. Decide whether you’d like to be in the […]
The following are a few thoughts and some guidance on how best to prepare for your first mediation appointment. It is often a stressful time, so a little preparation can help alleviate some of the anxiety and fear going into the mediation process. 1) Take the pressure off yourselves. The first mediation session is purposefully […]
Many family mediation matters are handled effectively by a single mediator, but there are also situations when two professional heads working together are better than one. Co-mediation involves two trained professionals (usually one lawyer and one with a mental health or financial background) working together with the family as a 4-person settlement team. If the […]
Finances – Gather information on your monthly expenses, income, and cash flow needs on a monthly basis. To help with this task, there are free sites such as www.mint.com that can categorize spending and help you understand your monthly budget. Many banks and credit unions offer this service as well. It’s also a great time […]
Intel is one of Oregon’s largest employers and has several different retirement benefits for their employees. Here is a list of the different plans that may exist (depending on hire date and position within the company): Intel 401(k) Savings Plan: This is a defined contribution retirement account plan all Intel employees should have. Please note […]
Here are some tips for information gathering and decision making to get started in the area of retirement benefits in an Oregon divorce. It is very important to consult with a family law or financial professional in your area, and this article is meant to raise questions to better understand what to ask. It is […]
Is it possible to start and complete a divorce during social distancing and “shelter in place?” orders? Short answer is, yes. 100% of a mediated, collaborative, or uncontested “kitchen table” divorce can be done remotely through phone, email, and video conferencing. Our office has been utilizing Zoom video conference as a resource for almost a […]
Child support is an important topic when divorcing couples have children under age 21. Parents have a lot of questions about why it must be paid and what the funds will be used for. One of the advantages of the Collaborative Divorce process is how we assist our clients so that they have a better […]
Child support can be a confusing and sometimes contentious issue between parents who are faced with the termination of their marriage. Often, divorcing parents confuse child support with spousal support, which is a very different issue. The two topics should not be discussed together as one lump sum but addressed separately. One reason is that […]
Most folks don’t want the typical (usually awful) American divorce. Instead, they want a respectful process that makes one of life’s hardest transitions as smooth as possible for themselves and their families. For some families, mediation won’t work but they don’t want to go to court. A Collaborative Divorce helps participants to be their best […]
Bonus Families ® is the only international non-profit organization dedicated to promoting peaceful coexistence between divorced or separated parents and their combined families. Their goal? To support YOU. Now, that’s a real bonus… Get Help Bonus Families® has many options available for you and your family… Help is available online or by telephone, (925) 516-2681 […]
Why I do this work? I love helping families find hope and strength in difficult transitions such as separation and divorce and to show how this can be done peacefully out of court. My practice: My approach is to provide compassionate, fair and affordable services to Oregon families looking to avoid the litigation process. I am […]
