Recent Articles

The Powerful Emotions of Divorce

August 20, 2020

If this is your first major loss, as divorce often is, the intensity of the emotions may take you by surprise. There isn’t much in life that prepares us for the divorce journey. Many people think only of the legal aspects when considering divorce. How hard can that be? You file the papers, wait the […]

Why Should a Financial Professional be involved in My Collaborative Divorce?

July 19, 2020

This question comes up regularly. Having already hired a collaborative attorney, what is the value in the added expense of the neutral financial professional? The answer lies in that person’s expertise and neutrality. Expertise While your lawyer might have almost as much knowledge in the financial effects of divorce, it’s likely that the financial professional […]

Creating Stability For Your Children

July 15, 2020

Most divorcing parents agree that they want stability for their children, but this is hard when everything is changing. In collaborative divorce, the Collaborative Divorce facilitator works with you and the rest of the team to focus on the children’s needs. Together you can create a co-parenting plan that provides the support and structure they […]

Needs-based Approach To Allocating Debt and Assets

May 10, 2020

The collaborative divorce process has been described as a gentler way of dissolving a marriage. Difficult financial issues to be resolved include, but are not limited to: Division of assets and debts Maintenance (aka alimony) And if there are children, child support. In the collaborative process, a needs-based approach is taken in determining how assets […]

Why Do We Need a Facilitator in Our Collaborative Divorce?

April 26, 2020

Collaborative negotiation is a team effort, and each member has a role. Lawyers provide legal representation, making sure their clients are aware of the legal concepts and procedures used in divorce. They consult independently with their clients and support them during meetings with advice and in-the-moment help saying what needs to be said. The financial […]

Use the Collaborative Process to Protect Family Relationships

March 15, 2020

An important part of collaborative process is acknowledging the importance of family relationships. While Colorado law emphasizes the importance of meeting the best interests of the children of divorce, and to some extent the relation that grandparents have with children, nothing in the law specifically acknowledges other familial relationships, such as those with in-laws. The fracturing […]

Divorcing Collaboratively Leads to Better Sense of Well-Being

May 15, 2019

Divorcing collaboratively can increase your sense of well-being. Research conducted by the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals shows that those who divorce collaboratively have a higher level of satisfaction with their overall well-being than those who divorce in the traditional manner. The study surveyed 1,186 individuals who divorced in one of three ways: do-it-yourself, traditional […]

New Maintenance Law Takes Effect 1.1.19

January 31, 2019

On January 1, the new federal law regarding taxation of maintenance took effect. Prior to this year, maintenance (also known as alimony) paid by one ex-spouse to another was deductible from the payor’s income and includible in the recipient’s income. Congress has changed that, and now, payments for maintenance ordered after January 1, 2019 are made […]

Dealing with Retirement Accounts in Divorce

January 17, 2019

If you and/or your spouse have one or more retirement accounts, what are some of the considerations you should take into account concerning your retirement accounts in divorce? This information may be a little complicated so be sure to check with a financial advisor or Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) with your questions. There are […]

Choosing Mediation or the Collaborative Divorce Process

October 18, 2018

As a mediator and as a Collaborative Divorce Facilitator (CDF), I think there are similar and different benefits to using either the mediation or the Collaborative divorce law process. Both processes provide an opportunity for spouses to work together amicably to create parenting plans in the best interests of their children and to equitably divide […]

Feeling Shattered After Your Relationship Ending?

May 23, 2018

The In-Between Zone is the vulnerable space between your old life and the one yet unknown. It is full of chaos, confusion and fear. It is the emotional version of a literal earthquake. Are you worn out from trying to keep things from falling apart? Have you been shaken to your core? Do you feel […]

Origins of Collaborative Practice in Boulder

May 3, 2018

Collaborative practice arrived in Boulder in 2003, after a group of lawyers heard Pauline Tesler, a leading proponent for collaborative practice in California, speak in Denver. After hearing her, a group of legal, mediation and mental health professionals formed the Collaborative Law Professionals of Boulder County. Our goal was to give every divorcing couple a […]

The Role of Attorneys in Collaborative Divorce

January 17, 2018

Your collaborative attorney provides you with personal and specific legal advice as he or she would in any divorce. The end goal of collaborative divorce is meeting the ongoing needs of you, your spouse, and your children. Your collaborative attorney keeps those end goals in mind throughout the needs-based negotiations, which provides a win-win, rather […]

Collaborative Divorce and Your Finances

January 16, 2017

The divorce settlement will, in part, determine your financial well-being for many years to come. The guidance of a financial specialist will help protect your and your family’s interests. Reviewing all assets and incomes, the financial specialist will assist you in analyzing viable financial options for your future.

Help for Your Emotions in Collaborative Divorce

January 3, 2013

Divorce is far more than a legal proceeding. Divorce is a major life transition that can wreak havoc on your emotions and your ability to make wise legal and financial decisions. A key professional on the collaborative team is the Collaborative Divorce Facilitator (CDF) who provides support and guidance to manage the pain and strain […]

Reaching a collaborative parenting plan

January 9, 2012

Children may suffer most from divorce and be least able to understand and express their feelings. Communication with parents may be difficult, if not impossible. The child specialist, an individual skilled in understanding children, will work with you and your spouse (and directly with your children if you think it necessary) to help you determine […]