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Five Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Divorce Mediator
[This article was originally posted in 2016. It has been revised and republished on 5/13/2026.] Choosing a mediator matters. The person you hire will sit in the middle of one of the most consequential negotiations of your life. A good mediator keeps the process...
I want to end my marriage, but my spouse won’t grant me a divorce.
Your spouse says they won't agree to a divorce. Maybe they said it outright. Maybe they just refuse to engage. Either way, you need to know something: in California, you do not need their permission. California is a no-fault state. The law does not require both...
The Tug Away From Mediator Neutrality
A strange moment can happen in mediation when the mediator neutrality starts slipping toward one side. The shift usually begins quietly. One person in the room may start making more sense to you. Another may seem more emotionally grounded. At times, somebody reminds...
When to Interrupt in Mediation and When to Let It Run
Knowing when to interrupt in mediation is a real judgment call. This guide shows how to do it with purpose, avoid reactive mistakes, and keep the process on track.
The Top Ten Ways Practitioners Screw Up Collaborative Divorce Cases
I have a lot of respect for collaborative professionals. Most people who choose this model are trying to do right by their clients. I still see the same problems show up again and again. There are others, but these are the ones I see most often. These are the top ten...
The Case for Teamwork in Family Law Practice
Why Family Law Burnout Happens Burnout in family law generally shows up as overload, with too many roles, too many expectations, and not enough structure around who is responsible for what. Reducing burnout in family law starts with how the work is structured, not...