May 13, 2013David C. Sarnacki recently was named a “Leading Lawyer” in Michigan Family Law. His past designations include selection as one of “The Best Lawyers in America,” designation as a “Michigan Super Lawyer,” and acceptance as a fellow in the Michigan State Bar Foundation. Mr. Sarnacki concentrates his practice in the areas of family [...]
Posted in Contributors, Divorce Grand Rapids, Gentler Divorce, Host, Something Different, The Practice 
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March 25, 2013CNN Opinion reveals Mick Jagger’s parenting philosophy on not spoiling your children.
Ruben Navarrette Jr. writes (excerpt):
But those are the wrong questions. We need ask ourselves only one question: Will buying my child this item teach him positive values or negative ones?
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Like the saying goes, you want to leave your kids enough money so they can [...]
Posted in Families/Children, Something Different No Comments »
March 2, 2013Today, Theodor Geisel’s birthday, is a good day to grab a Dr. Seuss book and read it with someone you love. It was Dr. Seuss who said, “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
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February 4, 2013The Las Vegas Review-Journal spotlighted the Nevada Supreme Court’s ruling allowing a son–an attorney–to represent his father in a divorce action against his mother.
Ed Vogel writes (excerpt):
In the decision written by Justice James Hardesty, the court said that several Nevada Rules of Professional Conduct allow a lawyer to represent a family member and that “no [...]
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January 16, 2013CNN and all other media outlets have reported on United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas breaking his nearly seven-year silence on Monday during oral arguments.
CNN reported (excerpt): “The next words were hard to hear in the back-and-forth between the justices. But Thomas made a joke about the competence of Yale lawyers [...]
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September 19, 2012David Sarnacki has been selected by attorneys and judges for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America, 19th Edition. His peer-review selection includes three areas: Family Law; Family Law Mediation; and Collaborative Law–Family Law.
Posted in Collaborative Divorce, Divorce Grand Rapids, General, Mediation/ADR, Something Different, The Practice No Comments »
August 31, 2012Wall Street Journal highlights the work of psychologist Terri Orbuch, a research professor at the University of Michigan, who looked into 373 marriages over 25 years. Of those who learned lessons the hard way (In line with the national average at 46%), Orbuch found five major themes divorced couples wish they could have done differently:
1. [...]
Posted in Gentler Divorce, Relationships, Something Different No Comments »
April 17, 2012The ABA General Practice-Solo Section shows what might happen when you disconnect from technology–you might just think!
Steve Andersen writes (excerpt):
But are we forgetting what it’s like to take our time and to think, process, and create? To do one thing at a time? To do it well? And to actually enjoy it? Studies show that [...]
Posted in Something Different, Technology, The Practice No Comments »
March 19, 2012CNN shows us how happiness promotes success and how daily habits promote happiness.
Shawn Achor offers these five tips for transforming your attitude (excerpt):
• Write down three new things you are grateful for each day;
• Write for two minutes a day describing one positive experience you had over the past 24 hours;
• Exercise for 10 minutes [...]
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October 4, 2011USA Today and Health Day reveal the secret to getting through a divorce and coming out okay: self-compassion.
Robert Preidt writes (excerpt):
They [the University of Arizona researchers] explained that self-compassion — a combination of kindness toward oneself, recognition of common humanity, and the ability to let painful emotions pass — “can promote resilience and positive outcomes [...]
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February 7, 2011Ontario Superior Court Justice J.W. Quinn wrote some interesting footnotes to his decision in Bruni v. Bruni, 2010 ONSC 6568 (COURT FILE NO.: 384/07; November 29, 2010):
[2] At one point in the trial, I asked Catherine: “If you could push a [...]
Posted in Law: Cases/Statutes, Procedures/Rules, Something Different No Comments »
September 30, 2010Findlaw explains how your social networking postings may become subject to discovery in litigation.
Eric Sinrod writes (excerpt):
In the case of Romano v. Steelcase, a New York judge ruled that defendant Steelcase was entitled in discovery to access the plaintiff’s current and historical Facebook and MySpace pages and accounts, including previously deleted information, on the basis [...]
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September 30, 2010USA Today reminds us that imperfections can “bring life together perfectly.”
Craig Wilson writes (excerpt):
But what I was most pleased to learn is that wabi sabi pertains to people, too — that you accept each other, even when they are “imperfect, unfinished and mortal.” It says so right here in the article.
I like the word “unfinished.” [...]
Posted in Families/Children, General, Relationships, Something Different No Comments »
September 3, 2010The Associated Press reported on Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg speech at a Colorado judicial conference. She commented on parenting a spirited child.
Kristen Wyatt writes (excerpt):
Ginsburg told a humorous story about having a young son while teaching law school at Columbia University in New York. When her rambunctious boy acted up in class, [...]
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August 24, 2010The ABA Journal reports on dress codes for courtrooms and bans on: pajamas, saggy pants, exposed undergarments, bare feet, curlers, gang clothes, muscle shirts, tank tops, halters, bare midriffs, miniskirts (hemlines more than 4 inches above the knee),
excessive, uncovered body piercings and tattoos, flip-flops, T-shirts with inappropriate messages and clown suits.
Debra Cassens Weiss writes (excerpt):
The [...]
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February 28, 2010Pine Rest is presenting workshops and classes of interests to parents:
Starting March 4–Parenting With Love & Logic (March 4 – April 29): Pine Rest’s Holland Clinic presents an 8-week class for parents of children ages 6-12. Call 616/820-3780 for more information or to register.
Starting March 9–Together We Can: Support Our Kids During Divorce: Pine [...]
Posted in Finances/Tax, Relationships, Something Different 1 Comment »
December 24, 2009WOOD-TV reports that Grand Rapids marriage expert/author Emerson Eggerichs is off to Iraq to visit the troops. Here’s why (excerpt):
In November, the military released statistics noting in the 2009 fiscal year alone there were more than 27,000 divorces among service members. The military says those numbers have been rising steadily since 2001.
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November 8, 2009The New York Times shows how children of same-sex couples are doing just fine, highlighting research by Abbie E. Goldberg, an assistant professor in the department of psychology at Clark University and author of “Lesbian and Gay Parents and Their Children.”
Lisa Belkin writes (excerpt):
More enlightening than the similarities, however, are the differences, the most striking [...]
Posted in Families/Children, Relationships, Something Different 1 Comment »
October 30, 2009The New York Times focuses on a different topic (Money Talks to Have Before Marriage), but includes an interesting discussion of statistical analysis and the risk of divorce.
Ron Lieber writes (excerpt):
The risk that any marriage will end in divorce is about 45 percent, according to David Popenoe, a professor of sociology emeritus at Rutgers University. [...]
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October 22, 2009USAToday shares some of Uma Thurman’s reflection on motherhood and “Motherhood,” including struggling to balance home and work lives, and being caught outside in her nightgown.
Olivia Barker writes (excerpt):
So, then, what does motherhood mean to her?
“It’s an invitation to love. It’s the most expansive, loving experience I have ever had … humbling, beautiful” — nightgown-as-streetwear [...]
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