Category Archives: Divorce

In collaborative divorce, each spouse and his or her attorney are trying to pull together to reach amicable agreements. This can be especially helpful when one of the spouses is a businessperson or financial expert and the other has little experience or knowledge in those areas. As we discussed in difference #3, outside specialists can also help level the playing field.

In mediation, if there is a sizable imbalance of power it is not quite as easy to fix. The mediator will do his or her best to help the parties negotiate.

As a law firm that provides both mediation and collaborative divorce, we are frequently asked what the differences are. The two methods are similar in many aspects, as both aims to resolve divorce issues without litigation.

We have outlined some of the differences between mediation and collaborative divorce below. Of course, we are happy to help you better understand how each may apply to your unique situation when you partner with us.

Some people love sharing parts of their life on social media, but if you are in the divorce process you need to be extremely careful with what you put on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram and other platforms.

To help you wisely choose what should remain private or go public in the social media realm, we have listed five common social media mistakes people make during their divorce.

At DeShon Laraye Pullen PLC, we are divorce attorneys – not therapists – but we understand that the pain of a divorce or separation is inseparable from the legal process. Beyond the legal work we are hired for, we care about the overall wellness of our clients and know that the right road is often not the easiest.

We summarized the findings of a Northwestern University study about the pain of breakups. We hope that it provides value to you in a difficult time.

While nearly all divorces involve the complicated process of valuing and prioritizing assets, things can get especially difficult in divorces involving high assets or business interests. When high-value assets are being counted and valued, even a seemingly-minor mistake can cost one of the parties tens or hundreds of thousands.

Prenuptial ( premarital ) agreement
Prenuptial agreements are an effective way to settle property and asset disputes before they ever arise. Unfortunately, many people do not understand what a prenuptial agreement is, leading to a negative perception about them. While prenuptial or antenuptial agreements may lack romanticism, they are comparable to insurance. They are there to provide some certainty when the unforeseeable happens.

There are many difficult aspects of the property division process, but human psychology may be one of the biggest obstacles to resolving asset disputes. New research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln examines the role psychology often plays in property division.

One example is the “endowment effect,” which describes how a person tends to value objects more when he or she owns them. This can further complicate the valuation and division process. An outsider might see a particular asset-division proposal as equitable, but one or both parties might see it as unfair because of the endowment effect. The parties assign more value to one or more objects simply because of their ownership.

Marriages are meant to be forever, but we all know that is not always the case. In today’s world, getting a divorce is almost as common as getting married. However, in many divorces, the two people involved don’t suddenly decide they both want a divorce. It is usually initiated by one, and the other is ready and in agreement, or not.

When only one party wants a divorce, it is not only awkward, but plain difficult to even approach the subject. How should Arizona couples handle this?

Filing for divorce is a big decision for many Arizona couples. However, before jumping straight to filing, some couples choose to test the waters by starting with a separation agreement. This type of agreement is made between two individuals who believe that it may be best to separate but are not sure about divorce. This agreement also allows the ex-couple to determine how they intend to divide their property amicably. In some cases, the agreement may provide terms for spousal maintenance, parenting time and child custody.

Arizona residents contemplating divorce may wonder what the process entails. In order to file for divorce, either the filing spouse or the respondent must be a resident in the state for 90 days. Since Arizona is a no-fault state, the divorce is sought due to irreconcilable differences that caused the breakdown of the marriage. Arizona is one of three states the recognize so-called “covenant marriages”, where the divorce process is stricter.