Marriage Maintenance: What You Can Do to Ward Off Divorce

By Rachel Vanni Money, kids, free time, housework, and in-laws. These are five of the top things married couples argue […]
By Rachel Vanni Money, kids, free time, housework, and in-laws. These are five of the top things married couples argue […]
By Amanda Singer The dictionary defines impasse as “a situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of disagreement. […]
By Rachel Vanni During a divorce, it is common for one side to be the initiator. In fact, one spouse […]
By Jennifer Segura Since I became a mediator over ten years ago, I have witnessed a sort of love/hate relationship […]
As parents, we just want to get it right with our kids! When going through a major life transition, such […]
I recently adopted a dog and grew up always have at least two cats in our house. Point is, I’m […]
By Rachel Vanni January is known as “divorce month,” as many people decide post-holidays to call it quits. However, the […]
By Jennifer Segura When going through a divorce the joint assets go through a sort of equalization process, to ensure […]
This is a guest post by CivilCommunicator. The original Post can be found here. Discussions about how best to communicate tone […]
By Amanda Singer Religion is one of those topics that we often don’t talk about because of the concern over […]
You are experiencing a lot of firsts as a new divorcé. The holidays bring out a lot of emotion. For […]
By Jen Segura There always seems to be confusion around what San Diego child support covers. We thought we would […]
By Amanda Singer When you’re going through a divorce, it is difficult to say the least. Whether you are at […]
When you are searching for a local mediation company, you likely are starting online. You may use a search engine […]
Everyone goes through different stages when separating from your spouse. Maybe you were the initiator of the split, and you […]
Every family has their problems. It is so easy to be hard on yourself as a parent when things go […]
Not too long ago I read an article that resonated SO much with me that I have continued to share […]
Female Breadwinners: Marriage and Divorce By Amanda Singer More often I have clients where the women are the higher earner […]
When you have experienced loss, particularly a spouse, it changes how you view relationships. Through great pain, you can experience […]
“Bad advice will blind you, good advice will instruct you, excellent advice will enlighten you, and transcendent advice will elevate […]
How Spousal Support in San Diego Is Calculated One of the most significant sources of conflict in a divorce is […]
My boyfriend and I recently bought a home together. It is the first home either of us has bought and […]
If you are like me, you can’t believe that the summer is coming to a close and schools are back […]
Why Do I Need a QDRO and What Is It? Qualified Domestic Relations Orders… also referred to as a “QDRO” is […]
By Rachel Vanni This seems like one of the most practical things to not do during a San Diego divorce, […]
How to Lock In 2018 Tax Laws for Spousal Support in California By Amanda Singer As many of you reading […]
Guest Blog by Bridget Venus Grimes, CFP® What’s your credit score? And why does it matter? I recently met with a […]
By Jen Segura If only real life could be this way….*Warning, movie spoilers ahead* So… I finally had a chance […]
By Amanda Singer There’s been a lot of talk going on around the recent tax changes as it relates to […]
Summer weddings are upon us! Saying “I do!” is rather exciting, but all the planning leading up to it can […]
Written by Amanda Singer Recently my Dad sent me a podcast to listen to from ‘Dear Sugars” titled The Invisible […]
One of the hardest things anyone could ever go through is the loss of a child. It puts a strain […]
You may have received our recent newsletter that discussed filing your initial petition by June 20th if you wish to […]
Splitting Up Together is a new show on ABC, about a couple (Martin and Lena) who gets divorced but decides […]
Often the most important (and valuable) asset couples have together is their home. Deciding what to do with your home […]
Many things make men and women different. As a woman myself, I have to say my favorite difference is that […]
Guest Post by CustodyXChange The dreaded teenage years are a defining stage in a child’s life. They are also a […]
Majority of the clients we work regarding San Diego spousal support have never heard of the alimony recapture rule and […]
This is a topic we often find confuses our clients, and so it is always a topic we come back […]
No marriage is perfect. It is important to realize that everyone has their ups and downs. Real relationships are moments […]
Divorce, no doubt, is devastating emotionally, but can also be devastating financially. Even if there is a lot of money, […]
By Amanda Singer As a continuation of last weeks’ article where I talked about tips for parents who are going […]
By Amanda Singer When I was in law school I had a good friend, whose parents were going through a […]
Over and over, relationships struggle with the idea of perfection. Often, a spouse is held to an impossibly high standard […]
Did you know that the divorce rates for second and third marriages are much worse than first? In fact, ~56% […]
Whether you have sole physical custody or shared custody you generally still want your ex-spouse to maintain a healthy relationship […]
After any major shift in your life, your identity comes into question. Some shifts are happy, the transition from single […]
Moving can be hard no matter how old you are. I’ve moved more times than I can remember but it’s […]
I am an avid audiobook listener… with two little kiddos at home, there is no time for relaxing and reading […]
The decision to go through a divorce does not come lightly. Many couples have exhausted all options of therapy before […]
Now that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) has been signed into law we wanted to run […]
No. Absolutely not. In California, anything that is said in mediation, anything that is written before mediation, during mediation, or […]
One of the most common questions we get in our office is about the legal documents required for divorce. Many […]
What affects could the proposed tax changes have on divorced clients? While there is still a lot of unknowns surrounding the […]
When you are going through the beginning of the divorce process, your lives still may be very still intertwined. You […]
While the government proposes to take away dependent deductions and deductions for alimony, and family court continues to tear families apart, it […]
When people go through a difficult time like a divorce, they expect that their friends will be there to support […]
Under the law, pets are considered objects that are owned by either party. However, for many people, their dog or […]
This is a question that we get often from potential clients who are interested in mediation but already have attorneys. […]
Here is a guest post by Natalie Cruz, who uses Expressive Arts Therapy to help families cope with the stress of […]
Whether you are thinking about filing for divorce, or already have, you may be a bit overwhelmed with all the […]
Going through a divorce when you have a child is incredibly difficult. However, when your child has particular and complicated […]
Most people have heard of a prenup before, but I feel like there is a negative connotation with the word. […]
Ending any relationship with someone can be difficult, but if you have children together, you need to find a way […]
Going through a divorce is undoubtedly one of the most stressful life events that you can experience. You may feel […]
It is well-known that divorce is incredibly stressful. Many people think of the emotional implications and complications, but don’t realize […]
Often, one of the most difficult decisions about your divorce must be made at the very beginning of the process. […]
Going through a divorce is stressful enough without having to think about jumping back into the dating scene again. For […]
Did you know that June and July are the most popular months to get married? There is something inherently romantic […]
We often have people come in, and they are co-parents, but were never married. Often they choose not to file […]
Summer is officially in full swing! Kids are all out of school, the 4th of July has come and gone, […]
One of the most surprising topics to come up in our practice has been the loss of an ex-spouse. When […]
Often, we get questions from clients about whether they have to have an attorney to do mediation and sometimes they […]
Going through a divorce can be difficult, here are 10 inspirational quotes for a difficult day to remind yourself that […]
Each year, millions of Americans face living with a mental health condition. As many as 1 in 5 US adults […]
It isn’t a big secret that being a mother is hard. However, single mothers have it particularly tough. We want […]
Why & How Women Ask for a Divorce Due to the topic at hand, this blog relates primarily to heterosexual […]
We’ve all had times in our lives when we’ve been stressed out, and I know that is only harder to […]
One of the recurring themes that we see with clients is that they feel completely out of control during a […]
I often have clients ask how I handle an impasse in mediation. Here is an example of an email I […]
Recently I was catching up with a friend from college, and we started talking about money. The conversation soon turned […]
This article was originally posted on sasforwomen.com (view article) and is reposted here with permission. Divorce recovery describes the all-encompassing […]
If you missed Part I read it here first Now that you and your spouse will likely be sharing time […]
We’re taught at a very young age that it’s important to learn how to listen, but how often are we […]
I did not coin this phrase, but I do believe in it. I think that many people who come to […]
This article was originally posted on sasforwomen.com (view article) and is reposted here with permission. If you are thinking about […]
Prenuptial agreements (prenups) don’t scream romance, and I know it is probably the LAST thing that you want to think […]
As we come to the end of yet, another year, it is always important to reflect on the year that […]
The holidays can be a difficult time if you’re going through a divorce, especially if this is the first year […]
In this 3-part series, I have been discussing nuances of our mediation process, to help those who have never been […]
Every year at Thanksgiving my family goes around the table, and we share what we’re thankful for. Now it sounds […]
So, let’s walk into a session and act as a fly on the wall. Actually, just this morning I had […]
By Craig Lambert – Craig Lambert Couples Therapy For young couples, the thrill of engagement and wedding preparations can overshadow […]
In the past few years, I have attended countless weddings, I guess that’s what happens when you’re in your thirties, […]
We often have clients come in, and at the end of their first meeting, they tell us how relieved they […]
This past weekend I spent Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, with my family in Arizona. Rabbi Bonnie Koppel gave […]
When you are in the midst of a divorce, it can feel like it consumes everything: your mind, your feelings, […]
It is no secret that going through a divorce is stressful, even when each party approaches the process with a […]
Many people in Southern California are gearing up for a late summer wedding. You may be running around, putting together […]
Before you embark on a long, dangerous hike, you wouldn’t just go out into the woods without supplies. You would […]
Going through a divorce can mean a lot of disruptions to your schedule, particularly during the summer when the children […]
Not that there is ever a good time to start the stressful process of divorce, but August is by far […]
As divorce mediators, we are always surprised at how many myths and misconceptions there are out there regarding the divorce […]
Most people don’t realize how truly expensive a divorce can be until you are faced with the large financial challenges […]
On July 7, 2016, San Diego Family Mediation Center’s mediators Jennifer Segura and Amanda Singer made an appearance on Real […]
If you have made the decision to pursue divorce mediation, it is always wise to do a bit of research […]
The military life puts considerable stress on all family members. Frequent moves, long deployments, and the dealing with the emotional […]
For many people, their home is their biggest asset. Aside from finances, a marital home holds a lot of emotional […]
The legal system can be incredibly confusing and complicated. Many different legal professionals may help you with your dispute. You […]
By far the hardest part about divorce is addressing the issue of child custody (parenting time). Splitting time with your […]
Everyone knows that getting divorced can cost you. But many people don’t realize how incredibly expensive the entire process is. […]
Summer is upon us! Your children are out of school, and you may be trying to juggle the stress of […]
When you are planning a wedding, you think about the venue, the food, the guest list, and the honeymoon, but […]
A child’s world is their family, their friends, school, and the comfort of consistency. A divorce is, without a doubt, […]
Getting a divorce is a personal decision between two people within a marriage. Of course, that doesn’t stop your extended […]
Everyone is probably familiar now with crowdfunding, the process of a community coming together to fund projects, pay medical bills, […]
When you are involved in a child custody battle, every step forward may seem like a struggle. Even in low-conflict […]
In a marriage, it takes two to tango. If one person doesn’t want to dance, the music stops. While divorce […]
While you hopefully have already completed your taxes for 2015, you may already to starting to wonder about how your […]
April is one of the most popular months to file a divorce. It can be stressful to be the spouse […]
It is no secret that divorces are stressful. They can be emotionally taxing as well as financially straining on everyone […]
If you are thinking of getting a divorce, or perhaps you are in the middle of one, you probably aren’t […]
It is no secret that a divorce is tough on the whole family, especially young children. They may be unable […]
When you are having marital problems, you may feel as though every conversation with your spouse ends up in an […]
When you get married, you hope and dream of growing old together. Unfortunately, sometimes when people grow old together, they […]
February is the month where we celebrate love! Many couples in San Diego are looking forward to a wedding in […]
The dating game can look quite daunting after you have been through a divorce. Odds are, your whole perspective on […]
February is upon us and so is that dreaded day for those newly divorced, Valentine’s Day. While the first one […]
We have all heard the divorce horror stories where a spouse is forced to fork over large amounts of his […]
When you are thinking of getting a divorce, you may be nervous about your spouse “taking it all” and leaving […]
It is no secret that divorce litigation is extremely expensive. In the United States, the average cost of a divorce […]
Merging two families is tough, especially when there are children involved. Kids that were once strangers are now siblings. You […]
Getting a divorce is no walk in the park. It is a complex and often confusing process. When you choose […]
Co-parenting is never easy, but during the holidays it can be downright difficult. The holiday season is usually full of […]
The holidays may be the hardest time to go through a divorce. You are probably feeling overwhelmed by images of […]
Getting a divorce is incredibly difficult, both financially and emotionally. Achieving dissolution with minimal stress and frustration takes a team […]
Scheduling a divorce can be difficult, particularly if you have children. Deciding when to start the process can weigh heavy […]
When you are having a deeply personal and emotional moment, do you want an audience? Of course not! When you […]
When a divorce occurs, it is not only a split between two people, but also two families. Grandparents of either […]
It has never been easier to find a mediator in your area. In today’s online world, you have many options, […]
Listen to our mediators, Jennifer Segura and Amanda Singer share insight about putting kids first and how mediation can help blended […]
Going through a divorce is one of the most stressful events that can occur in your life. You may feel […]
Most divorcing couples want to get things over with as quickly and easily as possible. No one wants to be […]
While a prenuptial agreement (or prenup) is thought of as less-than romantic, it can be one of the best things […]
You have probably already seen the viral video of a little girl explaining to her parents why they should get […]
While there are many reasons why couples decide to split, women are more likely to initiate the divorce process. In […]
Going through a divorce is a very difficult transition for all those involved. School can bring some much-needed structure and […]
Once you have decided to get a divorce, it is time to decide on how to proceed. Many couples make […]
Are you facing the tough and emotional question, “Should I get a divorce?” If you or someone you know is […]
Gradually growing in popularity due to the relatively inexpensive nature of being able to solve disputes from the very simple […]
Wouldn’t it be great in life if we knew what would happen when we give something new a try? If […]
A few months ago, this blog might have sounded quite different than it does today. As you know, the Supreme […]
In our hearts, we all hope for the best as we proceed through key life transitions. Naturally, we feel optimistic […]
Here’s a topic I’m guessing not many of you have thought about. You’re thinking, “we’re divorced, why would I maintain […]
Well here it is folks. If you’ve been reading my blog all these weeks, you may have been skeptical about […]
On a daily basis, often on a subconscious level, we all make choices defined by emotional and physical boundaries. We […]
When the commitment is gone, and the love has disappeared, couples are faced with a number of choices on how […]
I can imagine as you read the title today, shaking your head in disbelief. Is she seriously suggesting that couples […]
The unthinkable has happened. You are divorced and are faced with figuring out how to make it on your own. […]
Does this sound like you? You and your partner or spouse have been arguing for months, and yet the arguments […]
Wow, cheating and forgiveness. They hardly seem to belong in the same sentence, yet some people are able to forgive […]
The ugly, desperate lows we often sink to in the heat of a divorce might make you think you would […]
Baby boomers – about 79 million in number, are those babies born between 1945 and 1964. They were so significant […]
For many of us, the idea of needing premarital advice of any kind, goes against the grain of our belief […]
Yesterday I had a wonderful interview with Alyson Carrel, Clinical Assistant Professor, Assistant Director, Center on Negotiation and Mediation at Northwestern […]
I’m sure most of us still believe in the dream of true love. Somewhere out there, our soul mate is […]
I was talking with a friend the other day who told me about her aunt who is going through a […]
I think we can all agree that we feel most insecure when suddenly, the order and direction of our daily […]
By Tom Norton, CPA, CDFA The child tax credit is available to all parents of a child under age 17, […]
A Setback for the Freedom to Marry Dear Jennifer, Moments ago, the U.S. Court of Appeals for […]
Child support Guidelines: – A parent’s first and principal obligation is to support his/her minor children – A parent shall pay […]
Spousal Support in San Diego- FAQ If you’re going through a divorce, there are a few topics that can get […]
Becoming a Financial Victim If you suspect that your spouse is planning a divorce, make copies of all important financial […]
Are you in a blended family that is driving you crazy? Are you getting ready to blend families? This transition […]
There is a new movie being released this month (January 2014), that exposes family court for what it really is. […]
While mediation has been around as a profession for over twenty years, it has only become mainstream in the last […]
Today marks one of our most important victories. Today, California put an end to the practice of the psychological torture of […]
8/29/2013 Ruling Provides Certainty, Benefits and Protections Under Federal Tax Law for Same-Sex Married Couples WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of […]
A new satellite office coming to Oceanside in mid-September 2013. We will start offering appointments on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s at […]
I am always surprised when my clients are stuck on an issue because they are looking to make things “fair”. […]
Should A Mediator Also Be An Attorney? by Cris Currie Supporting Effective Agreement Among the more hotly debated issues concerning […]
Few issues are more contentious than deciding “who gets what” when creating an estate plan. Fights over terms in a […]
Tips to help your client enjoy – rather than avoid – the holiday season. If you’re going through a divorce […]
If this is something that you are thinking, you have come to the right place. The best thing about our […]
I know there are many many people out there who go to work day in and day out because they […]
Although it seems like more and more people are learning about mediation and the benefits it can offer you when […]
The San Diego Superior Court Is Facing Huge Budget Cuts What does this change mean for you? You are the individual […]
What surprises me most in my profession is the amount of people who think I am just making stuff up…I […]
So, I had an epiphany…a client called as said, “thank you for staying on the phone with me and listening […]
Unaccompanied Minors – How Old Can You Be to Travel Alone? Divorce obviously brings about change and sometimes a significant […]
It is pretty well agreed upon by the professionals that the earlier you tell the children the better. Most people […]
For those of you out there that are co-parenting after a divorce, I have a thought. As most people know, […]
As with anything stressful in your life, you need to eat right, exercise and relax when going through a divorce. […]
A mediator CANNOT offer legal advice. This applies to ALL mediators – even if the mediator is also a licensed […]
Is mediation the wave of the future? One can only hope! I have to say that I do believe it […]
1. What is a 529 plan? A 529 plan is simply a tax-deferred college savings plan. The number 529 refers […]
After reading several blogs with posts about the unhappy marriages people are living in, it saddens me to think that […]
I recently read an article — you can go here to read it too: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/business/05divorce.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=general And I have to say […]
Sound odd? I thought so too. But there is such a thing. Basically, if there is some reason that you […]
We always have couples come in with the same misconception about the community house. The common belief is all that […]
Do you have children between the ages of 11 and 17? If they are having a hard time with the […]
It is in the news and it is at our mediation table…couples divorcing after 20, 30, 40 years of marriage…why? […]
This is an issue often overlooked when divorcing. You do have options when you get divorced…and if you have several […]
This is a great article summarizing what YOU need to do as the mediation participant to prepare yourself for mediation. It is also sets forth what you can and cannot expect from mediation. You should know what you are getting into, and know that mediation is a very different experience from litigation. While it is the best way, it does require YOU to make the decisions, speak up, and not allow agreements to be made that you dont agree with. If you have a hard time speaking up for yourself, you need to think abotu that and how you can change that in mediation.
While I generally try to avoid lawyer bashing (especially since they are my people…) there are some out there (out […]
If you are at the crossroads between deciding to move forward with a mediator or an attorney, this may be […]
When getting divorced, often the most valuable asset in the marriage is retirement. However, that asset is often divided UNEQUALLY…even […]
Some believe (and research supports) we are primed to fall in love every 4 years. This is a great link […]
When divorcing, I think it is SO important to consider what matter most to you, not what matter most to […]
Pensions Pensions are significant marital asset. Unless parties agree otherwise a court in a divorce case may enter a Qualified […]
While we always try our very best to come up with the most practical and easy parenting plans while mediationg, […]
If you are thinking about a divorce and yet do not know what to do, where to start or how […]
Here is a quick overview of the long term spousal support laws as they pertain specifically to California. In marriages […]
By Law Offices of Rod Firoozye Published: Jul 17, 2004 I was recently listening to a radio morning show when […]
by Aaron Dishon, Esq. Many clients approach me and ask if it is possible to terminate spousal support. Often times […]
Frequently Asked Questions About Divorce Mediation By Law and Mediation Offices of David L. Price Why Should I Consider Mediation […]
There are five major issues in a divorce: 1. Division of assets 2. Division of debts 3. Spousal support 4. […]
WHAT IS MEDIATION? Mediation is a cooperative, problem-solving process in which the goal is for the two parties to reach […]
This site provides information about the law and is designed to inform users of alternative ways to approach family law […]
If you are seeking a divorce, it is more than likely the subject has been on your mind for a […]
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The Date of Separation is important because that is the day the community has come to an end…i.e., every dollar […]
Divorcing Couples Can Save A Lot Of Money With Mediation Cynthia M. Fox, November 2009 One of the hardest things […]
When people face a divorce, they are often clueless as to what they get to rightfully keep as their own separate property and […]
By Mediation Divorce, Attorney B. Daniel Lynch Published: Mar 30, 2006 In mediation, the spouses maintain control and make all […]
By Law Offices of Sharyn T. Sooho Published: Jul 15, 2009 Divorce is emotionally draining, especially during the holidays and […]
By Roy N. Martin, Attorney at Law Published: Sep 01, 2005 Litigation is expensive. An attorney will typically spend […]
I found this article on Wife.com – a great local non-profit that educates women regarding their financial soundness…check them out! […]
So, while this has taken me sometime to get started, the time is finally here. What I hope to do […]