When Not to Mediate Your Divorce.
Ever since I took my very first divorce mediation training course back in 2003 I have tried to do my part in educating the public on what should be the standard way to get divorced. Why wouldn’t couples first choose to attempt to sort out their divorce issues in a...
Understanding the Difference Between Nullity and Annulment of a Marriage
Introduction Recently, a client approached me to have her marriage annulled because she had married someone who was in prison, and they never lived together or consummated the marriage. However, an annulment was not possible in this situation, and the couple had to...
Pets, Divorce and a Cat Named Terrapin
Several years ago there was a well known San Diego Divorce case that involved the divorcing couple fighting over ownership of their dog. The Judge had allowed the couple to put on an entire trial over ownership and “custody” of the dog after which the Judge made...
Blame and Vindication in a California Divorce
A big part of what makes divorce so challenging is that divorcing couples are asked to make very important decisions related to their children, their property and their finances during a time of emotional turmoil. Divorce mediation takes it one step further and asks...
Changing Your Name after Divorce in San Diego
There are many essential decisions that couples need to make while navigating their divorce. When a spouse takes the last name of their partner when they get married, they are given the option to restore their maiden name at the time of divorce. This week we explore...
San Diego Divorce Mediation and Maintaining Privacy
The litigated divorce is a public affair. The courtrooms where they take place are open to the public. Anything filed with the Court is available for anyone curious enough to request a copy. When couples file paperwork attacking, criticizing and pointing out all...
The Timelines of Divorce and The Speed Of Mediation
A common question I hear during my first consultation with couples gathering information as they prepare to divorce, is “how long does the process take?” There are a few different clocks that we must reference to answer this question. First, in mediation, there is...
Divorce Mediation as a Resource for Therapists
This past week I had the opportunity to chat with two wonderful therapists, Miriam Collada with Collada Counseling in Mission Valley, who is just beginning to embark on her private practice journey and Kara Kohnen, with Grow Through Life Counseling, who has been at...
Mediating Divorce and the Collision Between Emotions and the Law
Back in 2003 when I took my very first Divorce Mediation training there were about 18 of us enrolled in the week-long course. Three of us were divorce attorneys and everyone else was therapists. The course was taught by a Husband and Wife team where one was an...
Divorce Mediation and The Building of Tree Forts
Divorce Mediation and the Building of Tree Forts: A Lesson in Collaboration and Compromise I don’t have it listed prominently on my resume, but I am a climber of trees and a builder of tree forts. I never thought to add that to my credentials or point it out in my...