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 →

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 →

Being Thankful In Divorce: Find Yourself this Holiday It is holiday time again and I want to share some positive things that can happen in divorce or separation.  I have run into clients who six months or a year after divorce, in some cases even following a long term marriage, could not be doing better.  They tell me their children are thriving and that they are better friends with their former spouse now.  I know this is true because there is no more nitpicking about Husband and Wife issues and that they are now focused only on issues regarding their children.  I can’t help butRead More →

One Central Oregon Family Law Attorney’s CLE Perspective I recently attended the 2015 Family Law Annual Conference held in Lincoln City, Oregon.  There were over 700 family law attorneys present.  The conference provided an excellent opportunity to talk with lawyers all over the state.  We attended classes on a range of subjects: vocational experts and spousal support cases, Deconstructing the Process of Conflict:  How to Support Clients  Without Losing Yourself, QDROphenia, Legalization of Marijuana and the Impact on Family Law, Elder abuse, Social Media and family law, Enforcing Judgments, Taxes in a Dissolution Case, Third party custody cases, Ethics, Parenting time – birth through age three and finally a legislative update as well as aRead More →

Parent’s Guide to Confusing Family Law Terms Clarification of the Most Commonly Confused Terms in Family Law People are often confused about terms used in the family law arena. I have prepared this guide to help clarify some of the family law terms I hear confused most often. By clarifying I hope to help your family to a healthier more positive and peaceful resolution. Please share this guide to confusing family law terms with any parents considering divorce or separation. Sole & Joint Custody I often hear, “I want sole custody so that I can have my kids more often”. The terms sole and jointRead More →

New Child Support Calculator Lillian recently attended a presentation for the New and Improved Child Support Guidelines that started July 1, 2013.  Kate Cooper Richardson, the Director of the Oregon Child Support Program along with the general counsel, Mike Ritchey presented the improvements of some of the administrative rules within the confines of the existing statutes (laws).  There was a committee that has worked a year to make these revisions. Oregon requires parents to provide medical health insurance through private insurance if it is affordable and available.  Kate spoke on “cash medical support” and explained that one parent can be made to pay extra moneyRead More →