Month: August 2024

August 2024

Universal Good

August 29, 2024 / Doing Divorce

“He is a well-known athlete. He came to every meeting with a complete entourage of bodyguards, accountants, and managers. I advised him that he would need to leave said entourage at home for the child support hearing in front of the judge. The day of the hearing, he arrived with his entourage and finally agreed to leave them in the hallway – out of the courtroom. I then eyed the diamond encrusted watch on his thick wrist. I told him he would need to take off the $75,000 watch if I was going to proceed with advocating for a lowered

High Road

August 22, 2024 / Doing Divorce

The day of the custody trial arrived. Nervous and feigning politeness to the opposing lawyers, they sat parallel to each other at their respective counsel’s tables. Plaintiff and Defendant. Also known by two, 5 and 7 year old children, as Mom and Dad. Evidence Round #1: She testified that the children were adjusting fairly well since they had separated households. She said that their dad had become more involved in the last year and that was a good thing. She focused her testimony on her children rather than their rocky past. Evidence Round #2: He testified about his increased involvement

Custody of Children When a Divorce is Pending

August 20, 2024 / Children, Divorce Made Simple

Nebraska family courts follow guidelines that keep the best interests of the child at the center of legal decisions, and the courts typically believe that children do best when both parents are involved in their lives. Custody does not usually become an issue until one spouse moves out or seeks an order for parenting time prior to moving out. Following a separation, the court can grant temporary custody and parenting time orders that will be in place until a divorce is final. If one parent is being unreasonable and denying the other parent sufficient time with their children, a judge

Back to School: The ABC’s of Co-Parenting

August 15, 2024 / Doing Divorce

For 13 consecutive years now on a back-to-school morning I have awakened with excitement. In the early years I picked the perfect bow for my daughters’ hair and took my time while they let me brush and style their pretty hair. In the latter years I have helped chose the outfit or made sure group pictures were taken with friends at school. I am not ashamed to admit that I have cried on every single one of these days. Every. Single. One. I am proud to say that for each of these days, their dad and I met up with

5 Essential Steps for Making Your Divorce Less Painful

August 13, 2024 / Divorce Made Simple, Divorce Tips

When your “I do” becomes an “I don’t,” you will be facing a number of decisions that can have a profound effect on your life — and the lives of your children if you have them — for years to come. Use this 5-step roadmap to help you navigate your way through your divorce so you can end your journey with a better life: 1. Know what you want, need, and don’t want. If life is a river, a divorce can feel like rocky rapids. Some people just want to float along the top like a leaf, letting the current

Accepting Influence

August 8, 2024 / Doing Divorce

I spy the basket full of folded newspaper pages. They are the pages pulled from The Oregon Coast Today and Lincoln City News Guard – two local papers my dad picks up from the grocery store on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In my six-month absence from a coastal visit, the accumulation is large. Comprised only of 5 star or highest difficulty puzzles, my dad has silently offered the challenge and I feel wonderfully loved. It takes me back to the beginning of this tradition with my dad from another spring break visit with him on the coast. Eleven years ago, when

6 Shocking Financial Surprises for Women Who Divorce

August 5, 2024 / Divorce Made Simple, Divorce Tips

A recent study by Worthy — Building a Financial Fresh Start — examined the experiences of almost 1,800 adult women who were either facing divorce, were in the middle of a divorce, or had completed a divorce. Overall, the study found that most of the women surveyed found themselves financially vulnerable due to two primary reasons: (1) the lack of financial knowledge; and (2) the lack of long-term financial planning. The six shocking financial surprises that divorcing and divorced women most often encounter include: Being unaware of the scope of marital debt; Not anticipating having to get a job; Assuming

My Place

August 1, 2024 / Doing Divorce

There is a place in the upper Northwest corner of our country that is filled with magic. I seek annual refuge in this place to clear my mind by breathing the salt filled air and watching the ebb and flow of the ocean tide. My favorite place on Earth is the Oregon coast. The Pacific Ocean is lined by rocky cliffs, at the top of which the evergreens grow and down below the starfish cling to rocks in tide pools. My temperament is most suited to the mild temperatures and rain dappled days this coast has to offer. I find