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Retirement plans and the marital home are among the most valuable assets in a divorce. However, when it comes to separating the plan assets, many divorce decrees fail to provide adequate instructions on how the retirement plan division will occur. These drafting oversights can cause numerous ambiguities and headaches for divorcing parties and practitioners alike.…

When a collaborative case terminates, the transition to a binding process doesn’t have to be adversarial or chaotic. With thoughtful planning and clear communication, collaborative professionals can provide their clients ways to move forward with dignity while protecting work they’ve accomplished during the Collaborative Law process. The Final Meeting: Your Most Important Tool Ideally, hold…

Divorce touches all parts of our client’s lives. Like a mobile over a baby’s crib, when one part is pulled, the rest of the mobile moves too – finances, identity, friendships, family, career. Career plays an important role in finding a new equilibrium. Some people will need a series of short term solutions to get…

Members of Collaborative Professionals of Washington Tim Peterson,  Leslie Blankman, and  Alexis Squier, were recently featured on The Respectful Divorce Podcast highlighting the value of Collaborative Divorce and the upcoming Divorce With Respect Week® initiative. The Respectful Divorce Podcast talks with divorce professionals from around the country to explore different divorce options for people facing…

An individual’s retirement plan, along with the primary residence, is one of the most valuable assets that most people own. However, many professionals who work on divorce matters do not fully understand how to divide these important assets. In fact, to some the term QDRO is a four-letter word akin to something that rhymes with…

The Board of the Collaborative Professionals of Washington joins the Collaborative community in mourning the sudden passing of Kevin Scudder. Kevin had a personal motto:  “Peacemaking.  Let it begin with me.”  When it came to this, Kevin not only talked the talk, he walked the walk.  Kevin was a driving force in establishing and sustaining…

Practice Group health is essential to the health of Collaborative Practice as a whole. Much of the energy that we put into our practice group work involves intra-Practice Group relations. Intra denotes inside or internal. Intra-Practice Group relations describes everything we do individually within each of our practice groups, from attending meetings, studying Collaborative literature,…

Most family law attorneys who have taken an introductory collaborative law training are sold on the concept. It is great for clients because they work together, focus on the future, and leave the marriage better prepared for life after divorce. And it is great for attorneys because we get to team with practitioners we know,…

In one of my first practice group meetings as a newly trained Collaborative Practitioner more than five years ago the thought came to me that Collaborative Practice is similar to a sports team. To have success as a Team there needs to be good communication, accountability, transparency, leadership, effort, and more. I refer to these…

I recently attended a housewarming party hosted by my niece, which turned into an engagement party when her boyfriend proposed to her. Before he got on his knee, he asked permission for her hand from her father, her stepmother, her mother (my sister), and her stepfather. He was worn out when he was finished! During…