Divorce has been around for years—nothing new there. What is new is the increasing number of couples who refuse to slog through the ugly and outdated court system—an adversarial process that does nothing to help you emotionally or financially. If you or someone you know has been through it, you know what I mean. Why do people take the court …
Alimony: Big Changes on the Way
Compared with the court route, divorce mediation can help you reduce your stress. You control the timing and tone of your discussions, and all talks are private. But divorce mediation can’t totally eliminate the stress that can come with money and taxes (what can?). For many years, if you paid alimony, you could deduct those payments from your taxes. Result? …
Older Children and College Expenses
Divorce mediation gives you a major advantage over litigating in court: it allows you to craft your own agreement, in private and on your own terms. But if you have children—even children out of high school—you’ll have to consider child support and post-high school expenses. Every four years, a task force updates the child-support guidelines, most recently in September, 2017. …
10 Surprising Reasons Women Divorce.
(Spoiler alert: it’s not about money.) by Cindy Holbrook. A note from Dan Dalton… As a divorce mediator, I naturally write about the benefits and the challenges of divorce mediation. But I found the following article so interesting that I just had to share it. It’s adapted from a terrific blog written by Cindy Holbrook, who’s known as “The Compassionate …
Attorney Dan Dalton Featured in the Lowell Sun
Attorney, Dan Dalton was featured in the Lowell Sun on January 21, 2018. The article “Making his case: Divorce without the court” was written by Alana Melanson. The full article can be found at http://www.lowellsun.com/breakingnews/ci_31608558/making-his-case-divorce-without-court
“I’ll See You in Court!”
As a divorce mediator, I sometimes hear an exasperated spouse use this tired expression (or a colorful variation). Convinced of his or her position, he or she just knows that the judge will agree. Alas, divorce mediation has run into the ditch. Do You Really Know What You’ll See in Court? You may think a divorce unfolds like a drama, …
Divorce: Suggestions to Help You Stay Sane
It’s no surprise that I believe that the best process you can choose for your divorce is divorce mediation. With the help of a divorce mediator, you save time and money. That’s great, but divorce mediation has a less tangible benefit, one that’s no less important—it can help you maintain your sanity. After all, you’re going through one of the …
Too Angry to Use Divorce Mediation?
Frequently I’ll speak with someone who tells me that divorce mediation won’t work for them. “We don’t communicate.” “There’s no trust.” “We’ve tried to talk, but the discussion spins out of control.” As a divorce mediator, this saddens me. These folks are talking themselves out of mediation, an approach designed specifically to address such problems. Here’s how I hear them: …
I Can’t Stand My Spouse! Will Divorce Mediation Work for Us?
Even if you can barely stand the sight of your spouse, divorce mediation can still help you settle your divorce without a bitter, expensive court battle. Heading to court is a self-destructive strategy that makes everything worse. Will divorce mediation be easy? Of course not. You’ll both have to dig deep for the emotional fortitude you’ll need to sit face-to-face …
Divorce Mediation Saves Money
Divorce mediation saves money in many ways. Here’s just one example how divorce mediation can save you money. Lauren decides that divorce mediation won’t work for her. “My husband and I don’t get along,” she says. “We can’t talk.” She makes an appointment with a divorce attorney (“Jack”). Lauren and Jack discuss matters, and Jack tells Lauren that to get …