USA Today maps out the “rough road to manhood.” Sharon Jayson writes (excerpt): “Guys know they’re supposed to treat women as equals,” says Andrew Smiler . . . . “But we haven’t changed masculinity and we haven’t taught boys and…
My life, my spouse’s fault?: keys to a successful marriage
The Christian Science Monitor shows how putting your marriage first helps the whole family. David Code explains the three keys to a successful marriage and family (excerpt): 1) Recognize that we’ve already chosen the perfect spouse. . . . 2)…
Divorce Grand Rapids
The Sarnacki Law Firm is respected for its honest advice, creative solutions and effective advocacy. The two key components for the firm’s success are: * Legal Ability: our expertise, the nature of our practice and our specialized qualifications. * Standards…
Negotiation strategies, attitude and gestures: tips on persuasion so you get what you what
MSNBC and Prevention Magazine summarize simple principles of persuasion and negotiation, and they further discuss examples for putting them into practice. Kalee Thompson writes (excerpt): 1. Speak confidently Get directly to the point, but make sure you aren’t domineering. .…
Achieving Effective Resolution in Divorce without Litigation, by Pauline H. Tesler
At Grand Rapids Collaborative Divorce I posted an excerpt from Pauline Tesler–via the ABA–highlighting the movement away from litigation toward Collaborative Law. In it, Pauline Tesler notes that switching to a collaborative law practice is: Challenging since it”involves mastering knowledge…
Technique tips for making a speech or presentation
Business Week shows us ways to improve our presentations by following the lead of politicians and successful ad campaigns. Carmine Gallo writes (excerpt): [Anaphora.] Repeating a phrase at the beginning or end of successive sentences is a powerful rhetorical technique…
Taxing child support recipients: Federal law leads to Michigan withholding $25
The Grand Rapids Press explains why custodial parents in Michigan will be paying the federal government $25 per year from the child support they receive. Kyla King writes (excerpt): “The Michigan legislators determined that it would be handled in this…
Trial v. settlement: How often is a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush?
The New York Times reminds us that trial is inherently uncertain, a gamble that often does not payoff. The study to be published in September’s Journal of Empirical Legal Studies showed that 61 percent of plaintiffs who rejected settlement offers…
Should I stay or should I go now: leaving my cheating partner or saving my marriage
CNN and LifeWire use the John Edwards confession-Elizabeth Edwards acceptance to look at what to do when your spouse has an affair or your spouse is in love with someone else and how to know whether to and how to…
COBRA coverage: keeping your health insurance after the divorce
COBRA [Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985] provides the right for certain employees and their dependents to purchase continuation health care insurance coverage through their employers. The act applies to employers with 20 or more employees, including certain federal…
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes health insurance
The New York Times presents the flip side of a problem we deal with in divorce on a regular basis: health insurance. [See my related post on COBRA.] Kevin Sack writes about people who “rush to marry” in order to…
Keep your children out of the middle of your divorce
The Wall Street Journal uses the divorce of Robin Williams and his wife, Marcia Garces Williams, to remind us of the effects of divorce on children. Stephanie Coontz writes (excerpt): But a growing body of evidence suggests that normalizing divorce…
Living in Unscripted World: Using improv to move conversations and your life forward
CNN and Real Simple help us us think faster and better on our feet through improv (excerpt): 1. The “yes…and” technique The “yes…and” technique gives you the chance to acknowledge what’s been said and then move the conversation to a…
How to estimate your Social Security benefits: divorced spouses, married couples, single persons
The Social Security Administration’s new retirement estimator taps into your actual earnings history to provide more accurate estimates of benefits. It also allows for alternative future income scenarios. The estimator explains (excerpt): How the Retirement Estimator Works The Retirement Estimator…
How to negotiate issues, big and small: applying principles of persuasion to your life situations
The Freakonomics Blogs at the New York Times includes an interesting discussion on “getting what you want” with Robert Cialdini, Noah Goldstein and Steve Martin, the authors of “Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive.” Annika Mengisen’s post addresses…
First comes love, then comes the champagne picnic, the romantic marriage proposal in a dinghy, the coast guard . . .
The BBC finds not all marriage proposals require coast guard assistance (excerpt): Two lovers were rescued as they drifted out to sea following a romantic marriage proposal in a dinghy. Colin Howell, 35, enjoyed a champagne picnic with his girlfriend,…
Negotiating with your spouse: children, money problems, differences in sexual desire, and a happy marriage
The Jamaica Gleaner helps set the stage for relationship negotiations with advice from counselor Omar Thomas. Paul Messam lists Thomas’ seven “routes” to an exciting marriage (excerpt): Ensure that you want your marriage to work. This is key. Put yourself…
How to tell your children you are divorcing
The MayoClinic and CNN helps you help your children cope with your divorce (excerpt): How to tell them It’s best if you and your spouse can tell your children about the divorce together. Make sure the children understand that you…
How to talk to your teen about sex
The MayoClinic and CNN suggest we think of sex education as an ongoing conversation and provide advice on getting the conversation started (excerpt): * Seize the moment. When a TV program or music video raises issues about responsible sexual behavior,…
The lawyer as witness: a basic rule of cross examination
McElhaney on Litigation reminds us that the point of cross examination is to tell the jury your side of the case. Jim McElhaney writes (excerpt): “Because,” said Angus, “trying to argue the case gets in the way of your most…