LOVE, MARRIAGE AND PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENTS Do you need a prenuptial agreement if you are about to be married? The answer is: it depends. If you are just starting out and there are no assets to be divided you may not need one. However, when people come into a marriage with assets it is important to understand the legal implications. A prenuptial agreement can define a Husband and Wife’s responsibility in three areas: divorce, death of a party and financial or other domestic arrangements during the marriage. The agreement can be simple or it can be very complex. Often I see the issue of spousal supportRead More →

2017 Non-Hostile Family Law Resolutions With the new year soon upon us, I wish you much happiness and joy.  Dealing with the other parent is not always easy.  Stay focused on your children and work hard at these resolutions.  It will help you and best of all, it will help the kids! I will promise to keep my child’s best interests in mind while going through this divorce or healing from this past divorce. I understand that even though I am traumatized, my child is traumatized, too.  My child needs me to be mentally and physically healthy.  My child is not my counselor. I willRead More →

Parenting Time And Parental Responsibility The end of summer signals a significant transition for you, your children and your ex.  Parenting plans, that typically include longer parenting time stays at the non-residential parent’s home draw to a close and the school year schedule returns.  What does this mean to your family and what have I observed over the years in my practice?  During the return to school and normal parenting plan schedules, I often hear complaints about the other parent expressed.  These range from inconsistent rules of the house to nutrition choices and homework.  Ultimately, as a Central Oregon Family Law Lawyer, I have parentsRead More →

Parenting Plans for Young Children I recently attended a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) course on the topic of parenting plans for young children.  We had a family law Judge come over from Portland as well as some mental health specialists speak at the class.  They presented great information, some was new and different while they went into great details in other areas we’ve discussed previously.  Some of these areas included what defines a young child, domestic violence’s impact in a home, how unique each family in divorce actually is and how to advise the parents of young children going through separation or divorce. The courseRead More →

New Love Interests and Divorce Probably one of the hardest things about divorce is that people move on and develop new relationships. Often, I hear from clients that they can’t stand the new girlfriend or boyfriend. They do not want to have their children around the new love interest. They worry about confusing their children or about being replaced. Prior to divorce, Central Oregon families are typically active both indoors and out, together as a family unit and new love interests often first appear here following the divorce. Whatever your circumstance, in divorce, family law in the State of Oregon, typically allows the parents toRead More →

Summer Vacation is just around the corner. . . . Summer Vacation means summer parenting time schedules for divorced parents.  Parent communication is important, but sometimes miscommunication occurs about summer plans and the holiday schedule between parents. My advice is that it is never too early to start planning for the summer.  Parents should both agree on which activities and camps the children will be participating in and schedule them on the calendar.  Hopefully, the parents will agree to split these costs and can each parent can pay the provider directly. What about taking vacation with the kids?  The nonresidential parent in the Deschutes CountyRead More →

Why People Lose in Litigated Cases I am passionate about practicing what I call, “Non Hostile Family Law”. I offer an alternate way to go through the divorce process. I dislike the traditional model of family law (dueling attorneys) because of all the emotional conflict and financial expense involved. I believe that most clients have a sense of their property and can understand division. We have great resources here in Deschutes County with a mediator who will meet with Moms and Dads regarding how overnights might work for their children. Families choose to have overnights in all sorts of different ways: week on, week off,Read More →

Mock Trial Mania I have recently finished teaching my semester class of Mock Trial at Bend High.  It was so refreshing to be around high school students who have a love for the constitution and the law.  We have three teams preparing for the high school competition of Mock Trial competition held at the Deschutes County Courthouse on Saturday, February 27, 2016. The criminal case is State of Oregon verses Bobby Dousa that involves a star basketball player who attended a party where students from two rival high school students mingled and a drink was drugged, causing caused the star basketball player some trouble.  TheRead More →

Prenuptial Agreements, Love and Marriage February is the month of love, engagements and major life changing decisions.  This Valentine’s Day I hope you have the opportunity to celebrate love in whatever way best suits you!  If you find yourself thinking about proposing or recently having become engaged, congratulations!  The following is a resource to help you determine whether or not you should explore a Prenuptial Agreement. A prenuptial agreement can define a Husband’s and Wife’s responsibility in three areas: divorce, death of a party and financial or other domestic arrangements during the marriage.  The agreement can be simple or it can be very complex.  SimplyRead More →

New Year’s Resolution of a Divorcing Parent The holidays present a special challenge to separated, divorced or divorcing parents everywhere.  This New Year’s, I encourage you to consider adopting one or all of these New Year’s Resolutions.  Our responsibilities as parents begin and end with the best interest of our children.  Regardless of your marital or custody status, you owe it to them to consider the following. A Divorcing Parent’s 2016 New Year’s Resolutions: I will promise to keep my child’s best interests in mind while going through this divorce or healing from this past divorce. I understand that even though I am traumatized, myRead More →