Category Archives: Divorce and Children | Eileen Coen, JD Mediation
Can Divorcing Parents Share the Nest?
Creative parenting arrangements can take many forms, one of which is nesting. In a nesting arrangement, the children are the ones who “keep the house” while the parents take turns living there. For many families, nesting allows for the least possible disruption at a time when so much is changing in their lives. But… Read More »
Paying for College: 3 Things Divorcing Parents Should Do
Your child has met the college application deadline and the acceptances are rolling in… but for divorcing parents there’s another worry: How are college expenses to be paid and by whom? States do not impose an obligation on parents to pay for their children’s college expenses and these costs are not normally included in… Read More »
Dating Before the Divorce Decree: Why it Pays to Wait
In a previous post, I offered tips for dating while separated. That article provides guidance to couples who agree that dating while separated is okay. But what rules apply when only one spouse thinks it’s okay to date before the divorce is final? Dating before the divorce is final Let’s consider the case of John… Read More »
The “Quick & Dirty” on Dating While Separated
If you and your spouse are separated and you’re feeling anxious to meet someone new… this Valentine’s Day might have you wondering whether, and when, it’s okay to date. Having a conversation about dating is difficult but important to do before either spouse ventures out on dates. Back by popular demand, I’m re-posting a… Read More »
Coming Soon: Divorce Corp the Movie in 2014
Family Law Professionals Beware: A new documentary set to debut on January 10, 2014, purports to expose appalling excesses and injustices rampant in the U.S. family law system. The documentary, Divorce Corp, portrays the American divorce litigation system as a multi-billion dollar industry that takes advantage of vulnerable people and leaves a world of… Read More »
The Best Gift for Kids in Divorce: Access to Both Parents
Kids need access to both parents. Several studies have shown that children point to the “loss of a parent” as the most harmful consequence of their mother and father divorcing. Most often the “lost parent” is Dad. Traditionally, mothers have tended to be gatekeepers, and when trust in a marriage is lost, fathers often… Read More »
An Expert’s Advice on Insuring Child Support & Alimony
People typically know that the cash value of a Whole Life insurance policy can be a marital asset and subject to division on divorce. But term life insurance and disability insurance are often overlooked in divorce negotiations since they accrue no cash value. That’s a big mistake, especially when there is child support or… Read More »
Want to Avoid a Long Divorce?
The 17-year long divorce proceedings of two law professors in Ohio have been highly publicized in the news recently. While their protracted case made headlines, most of us have heard a story or two about a horrible divorce that went on for years – and years. Here are some of the issues a couple,… Read More »
Five Tips for Dating During Separation
So you and your spouse are separated. You’re living in your own place. Your spouse is living somewhere else. You’re waiting out the requisite year of separation to file for divorce, but you’re feeling antsy to move on with your life, to meet someone else, to date. … It’s not unusual at this juncture… Read More »
An International Parenting Plan for Hannah
Eliza is an American, who works for an international aid agency. She is about to embark on a two-year assignment in Jordan. Peter is German. He is an economist with plans to return to his home country to teach at a university. Together, they are trying to work out custody for their six-year-old daughter,… Read More »
