With the new development under the law of same-sex marriage becoming widely recognized, the inevitable question arises of how this will impact same-sex couples when their relationship needs to end. What will some of the changes be in ending a domestic partnership versus a legal marriage in Oregon … Read More
Three Things to Look for in a Divorce or Custody Attorney
Finding the right attorney to help with your custody or divorce case is one of the most critical decisions you can make. Divorces and custody cases last for only a few months in Oregon and Washington, but the fallout from the decisions that are reached last a lifetime. There are … Read More
Postnuptial agreements are increasing in popularity
On a recent episode of the popular TV drama "Grey's Anatomy," the character "Catherine" confronts "April" her new on-screen daughter-in-law. Catherine is furious over her son and April's surprise wedding. Believing that her son made an awful mistake, Catherine thrusts a document in front of April … Read More
5 Ways Uncontested Divorce Can Save Money
5 Ways an Uncontested Divorce Can Save You Thousands To start, let me explain what I mean when I say “uncontested divorce”. I use this term, but you could call it an amicable divorce, peaceful divorce, or even a simple divorce. Essentially what I am referring to is a situation where you and your … Read More
Transitional Spousal Support Reversed Because Job Training Not Needed
In the case of In re Marriage of Stuart and Ely, the Oregon Court of Appeals reversed an order granting transitional spousal support to the wife, who was a professional engineer with a PhD degree in environmental engineering, since there was no evidence that she would be needing or receiving any … Read More
Collaborative Divorce Can Make Divorce Last Longer
When parties sign up for a collaborative divorce, they essentially are both emotionally and financially committing to never go to court. You certainly have the option of backing out of the collaborative agreement and hiring a new lawyer, but it almost always seems a better choice to try "one more … Read More
Top 5 Reasons Why Collaborative Divorce Can Backfire
What is Collaborative Law? Before we get into the list, it is helpful to summarize briefly what collaborative law is. Essentially, when a couple going through a divorce or other family law dispute decides to use the process of "Collaborative Law", they sign a contract with their respective … Read More
Avoid Collaborative Law Disaster By Carefully Choosing Your Attorney
Many divorcing couples consider collaborative law, where they sign a contract with their respective attorneys saying that their attorneys are forbidden from settle the case in court. But if you choose your attorney carefully the collaborative process is unnecessary. If you are already in … Read More
Collaborative Law Can Be More Stressful
If both parties hire reasonable attorneys focused on settling the case, and both approach it with a peaceful attitude, then there is no reason for collaborative contracts to be signed. There are some cases where both parties are already in agreement where an uncontested divorce might be the best … Read More
Collaborative Law Can Result In People Behaving Less Reasonably
While the words, "fine, I'll see you in court" can be utterly terrifying, they also serve a vital purpose. When two people are not able to agree on an issue in their divorce, it often is because someone is asking for more than they reasonably should be entitled to. In these cases mediation and … Read More