Author Archives: Editor
Groundbreaking Workshop: How To Assist Clients To Become Agreement Ready
By Bart Carey, J.D., Cathleen Collinsworth, CDFA®, MAFF®, and Carol Hughes, Ph.D., LMFT
It’s the final meeting in your client’s Collaborative Divorce process. You are looking around the table and see that each client and professional appears ready to proceed. You have thoroughly prepared your client to be able to reach agreement with his spouse. Alas! Within the first half hour of this final meeting you realize that both your client and the other client are tenaciously clinging to their positions! You ask yourself how this could happen?
It’s important for everyone to become Agreement Ready.
Even experienced collaborative divorce practitioners often fail to understand how all professionals on an interdisciplinary team can assist clients, even high-conflict clients, to become Agreement Ready. At CP Cal’s Celebration XIV on Sunday, on April 28, 2019, in San Diego, trainers Bart Carey, Cathleen Collinsworth and Carol … Read More about Groundbreaking Workshop How To Assist Clients To Become Agreement Ready
Nesting for Happier Children – Exciting Workshop at the CP Cal Celebration XIV in San Diego
By Ann Gold Buscho, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist and Collaborative Law Coach
When parents are considering separation or divorce, their biggest worry is most often about the children.
Today’s parents increasingly determine to protect their kids from the potential damage that a high-conflict divorce may cause. The best parents are willing to set aside their own anger, sadness, fear or guilt, in order to make a safe nest for their children. Fortunately, there is an alternative to the old-school “broken home.” New approaches, such as “conscious uncoupling” and collaborative divorce, give us hope for a respectful divorce while keeping the welfare of the family in focus.
Nesting Workshop at Celebration XIV
In her workshop on Sunday, April 28, 2019 at the CP Cal Celebration XIV in beautiful San Diego, clinical psychologist, Collaborative Divorce coach and former nester Ann Buscho, Ph.D. will walk you through the necessary steps to guide parents in … Read More about Nesting For Happier Children Exciting Workshop At The Cp Cal Celebration Xiv In San Diego
A happy client is a returning client if you offer more than Collaborative Divorce.
You’ve successfully negotiated the final Judgment in your client’s divorce which the Court has signed. What’s next? Are you off to seek another client or is there something else you can do for this client?
For a case study, see Annie’s story below:
Right after the divorce
Annie and Lee married in 1982 and split in 2010. During the marriage they had 2 children, both of whom are now adults. During the marriage, Lee worked as an aerospace engineer for Lockheed Martin. Annie worked as head of marketing and public relations for McDonald’s. At the time of filing, the parties agreed to waive spousal support, divide the assets equally and divide the attorney’s fees. They agreed that the matter would proceed by default. A judgment and accompanying documents were prepared and signed by the parties. At the time of the default prove-up, Lee had retired and was living outside the … Read More about A Happy Client Is A Returning Client If You Offer More Than Divorces
How to Increase Divorce Options Attendance and Get Collaborative Cases
The Problem and the Solution
Mixed Results for Divorce Options Attendance
Divorce Options (DO) workshops were developed by the Sacramento Collaborative group in association with CP Cal about 10 years ago. The original intent was to position the Collaborative Divorce process as one of four primary divorce options- competitive with litigation, mediation and do-it-yourself divorce. DO workshop presenters have consistently commented that they feel that three hours with a seasoned attorney, mental health and financial professional for little or no cost is a real bargain. Folks should be crowding in line to attend our DO workshops. Indeed, our workshops should be packed full each month.
But DO workshop attendance for many groups in California has been less than desired. Presenter participation has dwindled over time. Some groups are considering consolidating their DO efforts or presenting quarterly instead of monthly. Some are even discontinuing their workshops entirely.
Two practice groups
… Read More about Increase Divorce Options AttendancePower and Empowerment: The Collaborative Child Specialist
By Bart J. Carey, Esq.
In speaking with a parent contemplating divorce, I always speak with the understanding that it is most likely the parents who best understand their children and what is best for themselves and the family. I assume parents are the best people to shepherd their children through life’s toughest challenges, including divorce.
Divorce is a tough time for the whole family, parents and children – of all ages. It’s a crisis like they’ve never faced before, challenging their very identity as parents, children, family and each of their places/roles/futures in and as a family. But I also know, empowered to do so, parents will do their best to meet these challenges in consideration of the best interests of their children.
For these and many other reasons, I always assure parents I am confident, with the best advice and counsel available, they will make the best decisions … Read More about Power Empowerment Child Specialist
Divorce Mortgage Advisors presenting Workshop at CP Cal Conference XIII
Come to CP Cal Conference XIII!
CP Cal Conference XIII, scheduled for April 27-29, 2018 in San Mateo, California, is getting closer. Please join us at the conference for a workshop on “Divorce Mortgage Financing Strategies”, presented by Divorce Mortgage Advisors.
Divorce Mortgage Advisors
Divorce Mortgage Advisors was founded under the premise that family law professionals and their clients deserve expert guidance on how to achieve mortgage related goals within the divorce settlement process. The company’s co-founders, Ross Garcia, a Certified Divorce Lending Professional, and Jason Crowley, CFA, CFP, CDFA, bring a wealth of experience in divorce finance.
Divorce Mortgage Financing Strategies Workshop
In this presentation “Divorce Mortgage Financing Strategies”, Ross Garcia and Jason Crowley will address the common questions they receive about divorcing clients and their ability (or inability) to qualify for a mortgage pre- or post-settlement.
The up-front analysis that the company offers applies to all … Read More about Divorce Mortgage Advisors Workshop
Dividing Pensions in California Divorces: Not all Pensions are Created Equal
By Collaborative Practice California Board Member and Financial Specialist Beth McClelland, MBA, CDFA, CFP®
Dividing Pensions Is Not Necessarily Easy
It is wonderful to have a pension as part of the marital assets. It’s very easy to think, “OK, we will split the marital portion of the pension in half, have someone create a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) and go along our merry way.” Sounds good, but maybe not so easy. Your collaborative team will want to fully understand your pension before the plan to divide it and the QDRO is developed. QDRO’s require precise detailed legal language specific to the pension you are dividing. And they don’t happen automagically!
Hire a Collaborative Financial Specialist to Read the Pension Documents’ Fine Print
To start, it is not very exciting reading, but someone needs to read the pension documents and evaluate what is and is not possible. That probably should … Read More about Dividing Pensions California
Collaborative Practice Showcased on Real Talk San Diego
Representatives of the Collaborative Family Law Group of San Diego (CFLGSD) appeared on Real Talk San Diego’s Facebook Live program to preview the new Divorce Talk San Diego program that is being launched in November 2017. San Diego Collaborative Practitioners Cinda Jones, CDFA, CFP, Lynn Waldman, LCSW and Frank Nageotte, CLS-F discussed how Collaborative Practice is a smarter, family-centered approach to divorce. With Collaborative Divorce, families can choose a team of lawyers, mental health professionals and financial specialists to work together to find a peaceful solution to their legal issues.
Click here to watch the video: https://www.facebook.com/realtalksandiego/videos/822905484544852/facebook.com… Read More about Collaborative Practice Showcased Real Talk San Diego
CP Cal Conference XIII – Save the date!
- Networking with other Collaborative practitioners
- Learn about how to get case
- Recharge your batteries
- Training with practical tips you can implement in your practice immediately
Updates and information to follow.
