When you decide to divorce, you know it will impact you, your ex and your children in a variety of ways. But rather than give in to this and hope for the best, you can create a parenting agreement that affords both parents the opportunity to have a clear understanding of their role, responsibilities and legal rights moving forward. Creating a parenting agreement in mediation gives you more control over the process, as there is no family law judge making…

There are people who drink and drive because it’s what they want to do. There are also people who do this because of what’s happening around them. Regardless of your age, peer pressure can make it difficult to say “no” to a drink, which can increase the risk of breaking the law. Peer pressure is a particularly big problem among the younger generation, such as those who are in high school and college. These individuals are more willing to do…

Sharing custody or visitation rights with your child’s other parent is almost always a difficult experience, even when everyone involved attempts to remain respectful of each other’s needs and rights. The realities of sharing parenting time can flare tempers or bring out behavior that is simply not acceptable, especially when it comes to each parent’s right to time with their child. If you notice that the other parent does not respect your rights to time with your child, or acts…

Divorce can lead to many financial challenges, and this is true for women in particular. Women already make less than men on average, and after a divorce, their incomes are more likely to drop than men’s incomes, which often increase. At 27%, the poverty rate for divorced women is three times higher than it is for men. Women are also still awarded custody the majority of the time, and this can cause additional financial worries. Women can prepare by making…

The divorce process requires you to review the finer details of your financial situation. From the money in your bank account to your family home to your retirement savings, any and all assets will come to light. Depending on your age, it’s easy to look at your retirement savings and assume you have better things to focus on. After all, you’re many years away from leaving the workforce for good. However, if you take this approach now, you may regret…