by Jeff Murphy | Divorce, Family Law, Mediation
I know this is probably a very difficult time for you. Making the decision to end a marriage can be gut-wrenching. You ask yourself: Should I do this? Should I hire a lawyer? What’s going to happen to the kids? What’ the divorce going to cost? How am I...
by Jeff Murphy | Alimony, Child Support, Custody, Divorce, Family Law, Mediation
This is a follow up to my last blog where I suggested that you and your soon-to-be-ex, write a letter to your children about a parenting schedule that puts their interests before your own. Well, this is a follow-up to that letter. Here we assume you have a parenting...
by Jeff Murphy | Divorce, Family Law, Mediation
If you plan on getting a divorce or already have one, then you better check with your local social security office about some new rules Congress put into place that affect the benefits you will receive. There are two filing strategies used by married couples to...
by Jeff Murphy | Alimony, Child Support, Custody, Divorce, Family Law
Today is December 26th. Unfortunately this is the first day of a 10 day surge in online searches for information about divorce. So says an article in last Sunday’s New York Times. If you’re reading this blog then you’re among the group making that...
by Jeff Murphy | Divorce, Family Law, Mediation
Just recently I had a husband call who wanted to mediate his divorce rather than have a court fight. His wife agreed and we set up an initial mediation session. A divorce suit had not been filed yet, and the parties were going to file on their own. Unfortunately, the...
by admin | Alimony, Child Support, Custody, Elder Law, Family Law, Holiday Parenting Advice, Spousal Support
It seems these days that everyone I know wants to be a mediator. That’s fine. Mediation is a more civilized way to resolve disputes, including divorce and elder care family problems, than a knock-down, dragged out court battle. As a West Michigan mediator...