I’ve done a lot of divorces from short term marriages lately; and by short term I mean between 1 year and 6 weeks. When I get that first call from the divorce seeker they typically start by saying “I need a divorce. I’ve been married for __________ years/months/weeks. Wait! Is that an annulment because it’s
Pro Se Mediation and The DIY Culture
I talk a lot about mediation and as a mediator I should. I think mediation is great. I wish more people would jump into mediation first instead of litigation. One of the great things about mediation in this DIY culture we have now is that it can be done without attorneys, you just need a
What If Bella and Edward Got Divorced (Updated)
I recently got the chance to finally go to Forks. I’ve been wanting to go ever since I moved to Washington some 8 years ago. I’m not sure if it was ever thing my younger self dreamed of but it was fun none the less. My little getaway to the land of Twilight made me
The Founder
ALASKA! Such a majestic beauty of wonder. There were glaciers, whales, sea lions, and nearly endless sun. So much to do and so much to see and do. So why would I be watching a movie in the cabin of my wonderful cruise ship? Well it was 2am and at that time there are no
How Do Attorneys Bill?
Have you ever wondered exactly how an attorney bills you? Well I am going to demystify that for you. Let’s say you need to hire a lawyer. The first thing they will probably ask you for is a retainer. What exactly is a retainer? A retainer is basically an advanced fee you pay to get
Mediate Sooner and Save Your Mental and Financial Health
Most divorce cases eventually settle. Most people probably don’t realize that but it is true. Divorce trials are not the norm. Because of this fun fact I believe that mediation in divorce or family law cases in general should happen sooner in the process instead of towards the end of the process. As it is
How Do Attorneys Bill?
Have you ever wondered exactly how an attorney bills you? Well I am going to demystify that for you. Let’s say you need to hire a lawyer. The first thing they will probably ask you for is a retainer. What exactly is a retainer? A retainer is basically an advanced fee you pay to get
Think You’re Getting Half of Everything? Think Again.
Whenever I have a divorce client one of the first questions I get is: “I get half of everything right?” Washington is a community property state but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a 50/50 state, surprise! There are only 9 community property states: Louisiana, Arizona, California, Texas, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wisconsin. That’s
You Shouldn’t Fear Mediation You Should Fear Litigation
In the 4th grade I got appointed to the Conflict Resolution Team. We wore blue shirts and wandered the playground with clipboards looking for conflict to resolve. I don’t remember if we solved a lot of conflict but I did enjoy the idea of solving conflict. I became a certified mediator before I was lawyer.
