| Even when you have known for years that divorce is | | | | a lawyer that you could liken to a pit bull. What ensued |
| inevitable, it is still difficult. When two people reach a | | | | was a calamity. A seemingly simple divorce became a |
| point where they can no longer live together, divorce | | | | bitter battle. All of the family members suffered from |
| may be the only thing that can put an end to an | | | | the emotional strain. The children were in their twenties, |
| uncomfortable situation. After you decide a divorce is | | | | but they were still devastated by the divorce. |
| the only solution, it is best to dissolve the marriage | | | | The husband's lawyer fought over every little thing and |
| quickly and smoothly. | | | | extended the divorce, which made everyone's pain |
| Everyone has heard at least one divorce horror story. | | | | worse, and in the end everything was split right down |
| After 40 years of marriage, when their oldest child | | | | the middle anyway. In California all couples split their |
| finished college, a friend of mine and his spouse | | | | assets evenly. |
| divorced. They sat down and discussed the situation | | | | A divorce does not have to be nasty or miserable for |
| and decided to split everything down the middle so | | | | the entire family. Mediation allows for a neutral third |
| that the divorce could be as friendly as possible and | | | | party to help with the settlement arrangements when |
| avoid causing anyone grief. The husband realized that | | | | a couple divorces. The legal system allows for |
| they had built up a large amount of assets, got greedy, | | | | mediation to assist in negotiating an equitable |
| and decided he wanted more than half. | | | | settlement, to settle the details of visitation and child |
| He felt he was entitled to retain the bulk of the money | | | | support, and to help make other important decisions |
| because, as a doctor, he had earned a substantial | | | | needed during a divorce. Research shows that |
| income. His wife used to work in the medical office, | | | | couples who use mediation during their divorces are |
| then got a real estate license and ran the apartments | | | | happier with the end results. Reduced time in court and |
| they had purchased as an investment. She later gave | | | | lower attorney fees are some of the benefits of |
| birth to their two children and took care of their | | | | divorce mediation. |
| enormous house and the family. She believed that she | | | | When couples realize that divorce is inevitable, they |
| was entitled to half of all of their assets. | | | | should both look for sound legal advice. They should |
| They had planned to start divorce proceedings in | | | | try to find lawyers that will work with them and take |
| September, when the youngest went back to college, | | | | their needs into consideration. They should also look |
| so that things would be normal during the summer and | | | | into mediation to see if it will meet their needs so that |
| they would all still be together. In July, the husband hired | | | | they can save time, money, and emotional strain. |