Divorce & Separation
Divorce or separation can be one of the most emotionally draining, and expensive, experiences. By the time one or both partners have concluded that a legal separation is required, relationships may have become contentious or even abusive which can cause the entire process to become both financially and spiritually destructive. This becomes an even more perilous situation when children are involved. At LifeLoveLaw, we seek to reduce the tension, strain, and potential damage of this event for all parties through my client-first, concierge legal services. To achieve this, we like to encourage all of our clients in the use of conscious uncoupling and collaborative divorce to achieve faster and less stressful separations.

Conscious Uncoupling
Conscious uncoupling, coined by relationship coach and author Katherine Woodward Thomas around 2014, is the act of ending a romantic relationship in a way that is respectful, compassionate, and mindful of both parties. Key elements are recognizing the roles you both played in the demise of the relationship and taking responsibility for your actions. Acknowledging the hurt you may have caused, and apologizing for it. Seeking to find forgiveness not just for your ex-partner but also for yourself.
If revenge is your aim in your divorce process, then we are not the solution for you. Retaliation and retribution, in our experience, are never going to fully heal the emotional scars accumulated in a marriage ending in divorce. Lengthy litigation can only exacerbate the hurtful emotions and pain endured, and can possibly end with a judge – a total stranger – making important decisions about your life. These people might have their own personal history with separation or divorce which could color their conclusions, and even something as simple as a judge in a bad mood can alter their choices. We want to avoid, and we want you to avoid, such a risky scenario. We don’t want to be a part of your pain – we want to be a part of your healing.
A collaborative approach to the divorce process can be much easier on everyone involved. Working together to reach amicable consensus, partners and/or parents can be as creative as they want. You then can come to amenable arrangements for dividing financial assets, parenting plans, and separation agreements that judges will commonly approve with little to no questions. Taking responsibility for your emotions and negotiating are always preferable to risking your best interests being sabotaged by a roll of the judicial dice.
Take this analogy, for instance: a couple have an orange, but are unsure how to divide this asset as they separate. One is interested solely in the juice, while the other cares much more about the peel. Should they go directly to the courts to help decide their outcome, the most common solution will be to divide the orange down the middle. Each will receive half of the orange, including a smaller portion of what they wanted as well as unwanted or unneeded sections. Parts of the orange will go to waste. Should they, instead, seek out mediation before moving to court, they can work with a professional to discuss what’s most important to each other and create an agreement where each will receive exactly what they want. Nothing goes to waste, and everyone leaves more satisfied.
Some situations, however, will require court appearances and potentially contentious hearings. Partners may not always be in the same emotional space as you, or you may even be the party unable to forgive, and that means negotiation could face obstacle after obstacle. For clients who find themselves in these unenviable circumstances we can and will provide expert advice and representation, though we will continue to encourage you to resist descending into destructive legal drama which can traumatize adults and children alike. Moving forward with hope is better than constantly looking behind with anger.
Collaborative Divorce
When two parties seeking to separate can come to the table and negotiate, collaborative divorce becomes possible. Applicable only to uncontested divorces, this process seeks to settle all disputes outside of court. Mediation involving not only attorneys but financial advisors and counselors as well lead to separation agreements, approved by a judge, which can avoid costly litigation.

Sometimes, instead of planning for the end of a relationship, you may be at the very beginning and looking ahead to the future. Preparing for any eventuality can be daunting, but I can help you in creating legal documents that will help bring structure and security to your coming days. I can assist you in drafting:
- Pre-Marital Agreements
- Marriage Alternative Agreements
- Power of Attorney Documents
- Wills / Living Wills
Ready to schedule an initial consultation with our legal staff?
Make sure and click the “Contact Us” button below.