Month: September 2018

September 2018

The Company I Keep

September 28, 2018 / NEXT: An Empowerment Series

“I live a charmed life,” I say as the weekend came to a close. “It’s the company you keep,” she teases back. For close to 30 years Gretchen has gathered a group of women to her lake home to honor autumn’s start. Pumpkins, pots of chili, and piles of pillows greet us upon our arrival. We prepare by packing away our phones and putting on our comfiest clothes. Karla brings the red Twizzlers. I bring the red wine. No one spends much time talking about the Big Red football game. We are here for the company we keep. The company

Knowing Our Needs

September 27, 2018 / Doing Divorce

My daughters hurt my feelings. They didn’t mean to and I am sure they were not aware of their infraction. But I was feeling sad and put out all the same. They were at their dad’s house when my newly published book had arrived. I excitedly opened the box and pulled out the neat stack of hardbound books. I hugged one to my chest and sighed with pent-up cheer. The celebration would be a day delayed. This goal was years in the making and one of my proudest accomplishments. I was bursting. Of course I shared the news with my

Obtaining a Domestic Abuse Protection Order in Nebraska

September 25, 2018 / Divorce Made Simple, Domestic Violence, Legal Process

Spousal abuse is a potentially life-threatening situation—the seriousness of which cannot be overstated. If you or your children are experiencing physical violence, or even the threat of physical violence, from your current or former spouse, you should seek advice from your attorney immediately about obtaining a domestic abuse protection order. Here are the basic steps to obtain a domestic abuse protection order in Nebraska: Determine Whether You Are Eligible To obtain a domestic abuse protection order for you or your children, you must be either the current or former spouse of the abuser, a current or former romantic partner of

Hurt Heart Healed

September 21, 2018 / NEXT: An Empowerment Series

“You’re not going to have your mother’s heart problems,” he said with confidence. My exam complete, I left the office assured I would not face years of living with heart disease. This week my oldest child turned 35, the same age as my brother Tim when he died. The love in my heart for my child makes it impossible for me to comprehend how my mother ever got out of bed again after Tim’s death. She was my best teacher of a resilient heart. Research has long shown that stress, grief, and fear literally damage hearts. As our “fight or

Later Lessons Learned

September 14, 2018 / NEXT: An Empowerment Series, Uncategorized

“No point arguing” he would say calmly. My litigation skills gave me a distinct advantage. No need for him to tell me I was wrong. He simply showed me. John and I loved each other. We shared deeply held values. We also approached life differently, and I had a lot to learn. On Fridays, John joined friends for a happy hour. I eked out a few more emails after everyone left the office for the weekend. I silently claimed the moral superiority of a staunch work ethic. “You’re welcome to join me,” he would say when he headed to our

How is Child Support Affected by Parenting Time?

September 11, 2018 / Divorce Made Simple

In Nebraska, the amount of parenting time with your children directly affects the amount of child support you will receive or owe to your former spouse. Generally speaking, the more parenting time, the more child support you will receive. Here are answers to three frequently asked questions regarding how parenting time affects child support: How Is Parenting Time Calculated? For the purpose of calculating child support, parenting time is defined by the total number of “overnights” that a parent has with the children during a year. For example, if you and your former spouse share an equal amount of parenting

Empowering Path Partners

September 7, 2018 / NEXT: An Empowerment Series

I’ve always loved law students. Their intelligence. Their enthusiasm. Their commitment. I taught law as an adjunct for close to a decade. A single guest lecture I gave on domestic violence at another law school led me to a law student who would change my life: Angela Dunne. I would become her employer, her mentor, her coach. She would become my role model, my teacher, and the manager of our law firm. When Angela and I met for the first time at the Flatiron Café her plucky attitude enabled her to ask for what she wanted before the dessert menu

May I Have My Children?

September 6, 2018 / Doing Divorce

The text read: “Two tickets to Taylor Swift. You get first dibs if you want them.” My heart started beating a bit. I started nodding my head to Swift’s lyrics “Big reputation, big reputation” playing in my mind. Two tickets. Dang. I will have to pick – although really, the choice was made for me. My youngest daughter’s birthday was this week. This could be a fun birthday celebration. I would take Sophia. “When is the concert?” I asked. “This weekend.” Double dang. It wasn’t my weekend. And to compound the whammy – Sophia’s birthday was this weekend while she

Post-Trial Actions to Consider if You’re Dissatisfied with the Outcome

September 4, 2018 / Divorce Made Simple

Throughout the divorce process, you or your attorney may have disagreed with some of the rulings the judge made. The following are the most common post-trial actions to consider if your case proceeded to trial and you believe the judge erred in the final decision. Motion for New Trial After your trial is complete and you have received the judge’s ruling, you may file a motion for new trial. A new trial is a reexamination in the same court (same judge) of an issue or fact after the court has made its decision. If the new trial is granted, the