Welcome
We provide a full range of family law services. We emphasize medium to large
community estates. Every case is important. We offer limited assistance, collaborative dissolution, and experienced trial
work when settlements are not feasible. We have experience in complex pension valuations and division, contested custody actions,
and interstate jurisdiction issues.
THE ROAD NOT TAKEN
Family Law is not family friendly. Children are upset, when they learn
their parents are separating. Many adults argue unreasonably over property and parenting issues because they have not learned
how to deal with problems. Financial concerns are always difficult. And, children hear their parents belittle each other.
In these trying times, we all need to believe that difficult situations
need positive reactions, not negative actions from adults. We should be willing to agree that bad behavior needs swift, rational
responses. Fear and anxiety need to be replaced with trust and confidence.
People choose the path. Some choose the high road, but most take the road
more frequently traveled; I want you to travel on the right path.
Here are some pointers to help you find the tight perspective:
- Bury old grudges. No one travels the road of life without
being affected by injustice at one time or another. You make a big mistake if you carry old grudges around with you. Forgive,
forget, and move on. A higher being will settle the accounts with those who have been unjust and unfair with you.
- Relax under pressure. The secret of dynamic spiritual power
is to first relax. Open your mind and tranquilize your spirit. Be still. Quiet your spirit. Help will be there.
- Dissolve anxieties. Perhaps you remember the biblical saying:
“Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.” Learn to face anxieties one
at a time. Deal with only your immediate pressures. Let tomorrow’s problems wait until tomorrow. Most difficult
problems have a spiritual solution. Replace anxiety with ambition. Replace worry with work. Replace depression with new drive
and stress with success.
- Replace worry with hope. Worry doesn’t put a twinkle
in your eye, a whistle on your tongue, or a happy gait to your walk. You are the manager of your moods, with the responsibility
and freedom to manipulate your emotions. You can elect to go out today with worry on your mind or step forth with hope.
- Count your blessings. It is amazing how many opportunities
open up when you stop to reevaluate your personal net worth. The process of counting your blessings strengthens your spiritual
being and produces a contentment in the most adverse circumstances. Make a written list of what is important to you in your
life.
- Mend broken fences. Relationships are complex. The
nature of relationships is that they will be strained and, perhaps, even ruptured. When everything that could be done
has been done, the relationship is broken; forgive that person—and, then, move on. Be the one to start mending fences.
- Counter the negative with the positive. The natural response
to a negative situation is a negative reaction. When someone is angry at us, we get angry at them. When someone insults us,
we insult them back--it is a negative chain reaction. As a result, our society has become anger prone. The end result is conflict,
anger, lack of confidence, and fear. Break the negative cycle. Counter the negative behavior with your own positive reaction.
- Explain your position diplomatically. What are the distinguishing
marks of being a diplomat? First, he/she is always friendly; second, he/she is fair in all communications and relationships;
third, he/she is frank; fourth, he/she is firm. He/She resists pressures to violate his/her values. Be diplomatic and be able
to explain your position though friendliness, fairness, frankness and conviction.
- Question respectfully. You demonstrate respect, when you
ask questions rather than level charges. Ask questions that do not intimidate, but sincerely show that you try to understand.
Avoid passing judgment, when you can question wisely.
- Bridge the gaps. People who live well bridge the gaps.
They persuade others enough to believe that reconciliation can take place between two alienated persons. A person who
is really living a good life does not criticize or condemn, but constructs a bridge of understanding.
If you surrender to negative thinking, you will exaggerate the problem. When
you exaggerate the problem, you aggravate the problem. You will never alleviate the problem until you put it in the proper
perspective. Understand that there is a better world out there--and you and I can participate in the world in a problem solving
way.
Robert Frost said:
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--I took the one less traveled
by, And that has made all the difference.”
