Preventive Family Law for Nevada

2007 Peacemaker Dinner Announced

NEVADA MEDIATION WEEK EVENTS ANNOUNCED

Mediators of Southern Nevada, Inc. (MSN) will celebrate Nevada Mediation Week, September 15-21, 2007, at a gala dinner on Wednesday, September 19 at Texas Station Hotel and Convention Center. The 2007 Peacemaker of the Year dinner is part of the Nevada Mediation Week activities and will recognize contributions made by members of the community in helping to bring peace to the community. Art Ritchie, Presiding Judge, Family Division of the Eighth Judicial District Court, will be the featured speaker. The evening's emcee will be news anchor, Nina Radetich.

Other activities planned for the week include the annual meeting and three workshops co-sponsored with the Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution to be held on Saturday, September 15.

For more information or to make reservations for any of these events, contact MSN at (702)631-2790 or go to www.mediatorsonv.com.

How to Choose a Mediator

This post comes from author and mediator Diane Neumann, who writes about choosing a mediator in her article entitled "The Most Common Questions Asked About Mediation" at DivorceSource.com.  In her article she suggests:

The success of your mediation will be greatly affected by your choice of this professional.

Before hiring the mediator, consider the kind of information you will want to know about this person. On the telephone or during the initial session, you may want to ask the following questions:

1. What issues do you mediate?
2. What percent of your practice is devoted to mediation?
3. Are you certified? By which organizations?
4. Do you belong to a professional association of mediators? If you do, does this group have required or voluntary standards? If it does, are you committed to these standards?
5. Do you have another professional practice? If so, what is it?
6. What mediation training have you had?
7. How many mediations have you done?
8. What is your experience /knowledge in:
             a. Divorce law
             b. Parenting plans
             c. Financial issues of divorce
             d. Tax consequences of settlement
             e. Other matters of divorce (pensions, life insurance, etc.)
9. Will the sessions be confidential?
10. What is the average number of sessions that we will attend?
11. How much do you charge? Is there a separate charge for services such as telephone calls and the final document?

To read her full article click here.

Keep Your Child Out of the Middle of Your Dispute

Texas attorney Dick Price, writes the blog Divorce and Family Law in Tarrant County Texas.  The following article comes from his recent post entitled "How to Keep Your Child Out of the Middle"

Most everyone would agree that it is a good idea to shield children from most parental conflict. Nevertheless, there are many times during and after divorces when children get drawn into family disputes and end up in the middle, with both sides pulling on them. The following is a brief list of 5 "Don’ts" and a "Do" that may help avoid such situations.

1. Don’t ask the children to decide. In the heat of family disagreements, it may seem simple or fair to just let the children decide where they want to live, or what visitation schedule they want to follow, etc.; parents may feel that’s like having a neutral person make the decision. Unfortunately, that puts a lot of pressure on the children and sets them up for guilt feelings and/or angry parents.

2. Don’t disparage the other parent or his/her family. This can be by direct comments made to a child or it can be done indirectly, such as comments made to others, but overheard by a child. It can also include body language and gestures that indicate disapproval or other bad opinions of the other parent. A child will likely take such actions or words as an attack on him or her.

3. Don’t argue around the kids. Disagreements are normal, even in well-functioning, intact families. Discussions and arguments between adults should take place just between adults, if at all possible. The kids don’t need to be drawn in or manipulated by the situations.

4. Don’t ask the children about the other parent. It’s not necessary for you to know everything that goes on when your children are with the other parent. Children will often tell about things they enjoyed or about big events, good or bad. Children don’t like being grilled about what happens when they visit their other parent.

5. Don’t use the children as messengers. If you want to send a message to the other parent, talk directly by phone or in person, send a letter or send an email. Kids aren’t always dependable anyway. And if you send a message by the children and then the other parent reacts badly when the message is delivered, the children are likely going to feel that they caused the problem.

Finally, something you can Do:

Do take a co-parenting class, preferably with the other parent. There are several good classes available in this area in person and even on line. I recommend the "in-person" class because you can learn more and get specific questions answered.

If you can avoid the temptation to put your children in the middle of adult disputes, your children will be happier and you should have better relationships with them (and maybe the other parent as well). If both parents will take a co-parenting class, all of this advice may be unnecessary!

Happy 4th of July!

Allison Herr and The Herr Law Group wish you and your family a safe and relaxing 4th of July. 

Happy Independence Day everyone!

HB 128 - Utah's Divorce Orientation Bill

Have you heard about Utah's new divorce orientation bill.  The purpose of the bill is to require an intermediary step before filing for divorce.  The bill creates a mandatory class for all couples with children, seeking to divorce in Utah.  Among the mandatory class topics will be:

• Resources available from the courts and other administrative agencies for resolving custody and support issues without filing for divorce
• Resources available to improve or strengthen the marriage
• A discussion of the positive and negative consequences of divorce
• Options available as alternatives to divorce
• A discussion of the process of divorce
• Options available for proceeding with the divorce, including mediation, collaborative law, and litigation
• Post-divorce resources available to families

This new bill has been approved by Utah legislature and signed into law by the state's govenor.  The bill is apparently an outgrowth of the so called "divorce reform" movement, who are seeking to eliminate, or at a minimum minimize "no-fault" divorce.  To read the full text of the bill click here.