How to Avoid the Long Goodbye

Most of my clients are shocked to learn how long it can take to have their case heard in court.  Right now it can take four months or more to get into court on a short motion in Wake County family court.  Many clients assume that it will take a week or...

Want to Save Money on Legal Fees? Negotiate Early.

This is a very common scenario in family law cases: The parties enter litigation when someone files a lawsuit. The lawsuit begins an endless stream of legal pleadings, court appearances, document preparation, depositions and all of the other parts of litigation that...

Proof that Ugly Divorces are Bad for Your Health

I have been on my soapbox for a long time about the terrible and often hidden effects of ugly divorces. Now science is making my point for me. This Newsweek article explains how a divorce can affect a person’s health. The case for collaborative law, mediation...

How to Reach a Truly Valuable Separation Agreement

A wise man once told me “If a man’s handshake is no good, neither is his signature.” This a brilliantly succinct way of stating what many family law clients and lawyers ignore: An agreement is worth no more than the parties’ intent to live up...