The Best Way to Ask Your Spouse for a Divorce

You've tried your hardest for years, but you just can't seem to make it work. You want out of your marriage.

But how do you bring up the topic of divorce to your spouse without devastating them or triggering an all-out war?

Divorce coaches Cheryl and Joe Dillon, in this excellent blog posting, offer six tips to help make an uncomfortable conversation go as smoothly as possible:

• Be prepared.
• Choose an appropriate time and place.
• Be gentle but firm.
• Be ready for your spouse's reaction.
• Avoid discussing the details.
• Get help.

If you or someone you know could benefit from assistance in decision making during a divorce, contact Falmouth Mediation at 508-566-4159 for a free, no-obligation, private, confidential consultation. We will be happy to discuss the key details of your situation, address any concerns, and help you decide if divorce mediation would be beneficial.

7 Financial Steps To Get Ready for Divorce

People who are contemplating divorce are often overwhelmed with the process. That's completely normal. After all divorce is not something that you do every day.

In this excellent blog posting, Chris Chen writes about his work as a Divorce Financial Planner and Wealth Strategist working with women and men who are contemplating divorce, going through divorce or recovering from divorce. Every one of these men and women are going through significant upheaval in their lives.

In the article Chris lists seven steps that you can take before you start your divorce process that may make the process less painful.

Is Divorce Mediation A Waste of Time?

Like Belinda Jokinen writes, I’ve heard it so many times. My clients say that mediation won’t work for them. The most common reason they give is that the other party (ie: spouse or significant other) won’t agree to anything reasonable.

If you want, there is a ready and willing litigation system available to help you fight, and make the decisions for you.

But if you would rather decide for yourself what exactly you are willing to go without (and become responsible for); then mediation gives you the opportunity to think about it, talk about it, research it, think about it some more, and when you’re sure you are ready - decide on it. It takes time, and many conversations to figure things out.

How Do You Refer To A Former Partner?

my EX, your EX, their EX – what EX-actly does that mean?

What’s in this two-letter word? A lot!

Someone you loved

Someone with whom you may have had children

Someone with whom you shared many things, good and bad

And now someone from whom you are probably separated or divorced.

In this excellent blog posting, Jennifer Safian writes about how, even though "ex" has become part of the everyday vocabulary, our families, our close friends and especially our children may not appreciate having their father or mother being spoken about in that cavalier way.

How Do Good Divorced Dads Acknowledge Mother's Day?

In this excellent blog posting Diane L. Mader answers the question beautifully.

"The single best thing divorced dads can do for their children is teach them how to show respect for their Moms. Dads teach respect by being respectful; in that way it's similar to teaching children how to swing a bat or kick a ball. 

Like any skill, it is hard at first, but as time goes by, it gets easier.

What if your child's Mom is nasty? You are respectful anyway.

 And what about Mother's Day, May 10, 2015? You help your child make a card for Mom, you pair it with a bunch of tulips (chosen by your child and paid for by you), and you stand proudly beside your child, with your hand on his or her shoulder, as you both say, 

 Happy Mother's Day.

 Not easy but simple.

 Divorce is complicated but respect is simple. Simple but powerful.

 Your child's Mom might not say thank you, but your child will be grateful to you forever."