Divorce Articles by Westfield Mediation, LLC

Alimony or No Alimony - That Can Be The Question
Alimony or no alimony -- that can be the question. Is it better to take a larger chunk of the assets up front, or to take a smaller share ...

Big Changes May Be Coming for Alimony
The tax bill that Congress is working on includes a big change to alimony/spousal support. ...

The Hot-Button Issue of Alimony
Alimony is often a hot-button issue in divorce mediation, ...

Ameican Rescue Plan Act and Child Support
Even in the divorce mediation world, everyone is talking about the new law just passed by Congress ...

Child Support
Figuring out how the parents are going to support their kids after divorce is an important part of the divorce mediation process ...

Child Support Duiring Coronvirus Pandemic
With all the layoffs, furloughs and unemployment accompanying the Covid-19 pandemic, many divorced couples ...

Explaining Child Support
During divorce mediation, divorcing parents are often confused by child support. How is it calculated? ...

50/50 Parenting Plans
A lot of people come to divorce mediation thinking that they want a 50/50 parenting plan ...

Back to School
For divorced or divorcing parents, the shift from summer schedules to school can sometimes be particularly stressful. ...

Getting Co-Parenting Help Online
We explain to our clients that parenting is a lifelong commitment. So, it is best for you and your kids to have tools to make it work effectively. ...

Nesting
Divorcing parents often ask about "nesting" or the child custody/parenting plan where the kids stay in the family home ...

Parenting Plan Tune-Ups
Is your parenting plan still working or does your parenting plan need a tune-up? ...

Parenting Plans
How do you create a parenting plan with someone you no longer want to be around? ...

Sharing Custody
For the most part, divorcing parents come to mediation with the idea that they will share custody of the kids ...

Sharing Parenting
What is the best way to share parenting when you are getting divorced? ...

Telling the Children About the Divorce
When is the best time to tell your children that you are getting divorced? We often hear this question ...

Yay for Summer!
For divorcing families, summer sometimes comes with extra challenges ...

A Good Time for Divorce Mediation
Now is a good time to start divorce mediation. People often ask us ...

Announcing your Divorce on Facebook
Is it a good idea to announce your divorce on Facebook? Despite the fact that everyone knows someone who has gotten divorced ...

Best Divorce
What is the cheapest way to get divorced? The most expensive way? The best way? ...

Divorce During the Holidays
Sometimes couples who are divorced or divorcing feel additional stress this time of year. Families may have had long-established holiday rituals ...

Divorce in the Current Economy
The ups and downs of the current economy are making some couples contemplating divorce a little nervous ...

Is Divorce Mediation Right for You?
Divorce Mediation sounds like a great alternative to litigation, but is it for everyone? We often talk about the advantages ...

Is the Divorce Rate Really 50%?
How many of your friends and family are divorced? Is it every other marriage? Not for.. ...

Negotiating a Divorce
Divorce mediation is different from a business negotiation. Couples who go into the mediation process with an attitude of compromise are more likely to preserve a civil, working relationship. ...

Post-Divorce Mediation
Sometimes the divorce decree is not the final stop for divorcing spouses ...

Telling the Children About the Divorce
When is the best time to tell your children that you are getting divorced? We often hear this question ...

The Divorce Rate Myth
The commonly-held belief that 50% of marriages end in divorce is a myth. ...

The Intersection of Divorce Law and Mediation
If you filed for divorce, can you still do mediation? If you go through divorce mediation, do you still need a lawyer? We commonly hear these questions from potential clients. And the answers, for the most part, are.. ...

Can You Afford to Get Divorced?
Can you afford to go through the process of separating and can you afford to live on your own? ...

College, Covid and Costs
In New Jersey, including provisions for paying for the kids' college has become ...

Divorce and Retirement
Divorce mediators always have to consider a couple's retirement assets like pensions, IRAs 401ks, when helping couples ...

Learning More about Your Family Finances Before Divorce Saves Time and Money
In divorce mediation, we help divorcing couples make sense of their financial picture. ...

Lower Cost Divorce
Divorce mediation is a lower-cost alternative to litigation ...

Mediation and Tax Issues in Divorce
It is tax season again which makes us think about all the tax issues that we raise in divorce mediation. ...

More About Divorce and Taxes
While tax filing day has passed for this year, taxes are still an important issue for couples going through divorce ...

Parenting Plans and 529 Accounts
Parents can now use funds in their 529 accounts to pay for private school tuition and books from elementary school ...

Splitting up the Money in Divorce Mediation
During divorce mediation, we can help the couple develop a feasible division of their assets and debts that is fair and equitable. ...

What is a Marital Asset?
Divorce mediation allows you to divide up your marital assets according to your needs post-divorce. But what is a marital asset? ...

December Divorce
No one seems to want to think about divorce during the holidays ...

Divorce is the Solution
Divorce is the solution to a problem, not the problem itself. The problem is you are in an unhappy marriage and ...

From Panic to Resolution Through Mediation
Deciding to get divorced can feel overwhelming, and it often takes couples a long time to accept that their marriage is not working. ...

Mediation or Separation. Which Comes First
Many couples interested in divorce mediation ask us, "Is it better to separate first, then start mediation? Or should we mediate before we separate?" ...

REACT-The Five Factors for Finding Your Divorce Mediator
Say you have already decided to get divorced, and you know you need to hire a mediator. How do you find the divorce mediator that is best for you? ...

Reluctant Spouses
A lot of times in divorce mediation, we find that one spouse is more ready to get divorced than the other ...

The Free Consultation in Divorce
When looking at the big picture and the overall cost of divorce, the free is really not much of a savings and may end up costing if your consult goes over the alloted free time. ...

Things to Think About if Considering Divorce
Getting divorced can feel overwhelming. We break it down into small steps for our clients. ...

When Only One Person is Ready
It is a pretty common scenario to have one spouse who wants to move on from the marriage, while the other wants to stay ...

When to Start Divorce Mediation
When is the best time to start divorce mediation? ...

50/50 Parenting Plans
A lot of people come to divorce mediation thinking that they want a 50/50 parenting plan ...

A Good Time For Divorce Mediation
Like most people, we are feeling drained by the endless pandemic. ...

Adult Chidren of Divorcing Parents
What is the impact on children of divorcing parents when the parents are older, and the kids are already adults ...

Alimony or No Alimony - That Can Be The Question
Alimony or no alimony -- that can be the question. Is it better to take a larger chunk of the assets up front, or to take a smaller share ...

Another Benefit of Mediation is Stress Release
As divorce mediators, we are often promoting the benefits of divorce mediation over litigation ...

As Covid Fades, New Parenting Issues Arise
As we start resuming normal life activities with the reduction of cases of Covid-19 in the US ...

Back to School
For divorced or divorcing parents, the shift from summer schedules to school can sometimes be particularly stressful. ...

Best Divorce
What is the cheapest way to get divorced? The most expensive way? The best way? ...

Can You Afford to Get Divorced?
Can you afford to go through the process of separating and can you afford to live on your own? ...

Celebrating Halloween
As part of holiday planning during divorce mediation we also talk about Halloween. Since Halloween is a smaller, sillier holiday, we often have to remind clients that they should create a Halloween plan too. ...

Child Support Duiring Coronvirus Pandemic
With all the layoffs, furloughs and unemployment accompanying the Covid-19 pandemic, many divorced couples ...

Child Support for Grown Children
Most states have a legal limit for emancipation but, in reality, not all kids are magically able to support themselves once they hit that date. ...

Communicating during and after Divorce
Divorcing or divorced couples often have trouble communicating. ...

Dealing with Divorce in the Days of Coronavirus
Many couples who have decided to get divorced are currently confined to their homes together because of the pandemic ...

December Divorce
No one seems to want to think about divorce during the holidays ...

Dividing Money
In a lot of marriages, one spouse is in charge of handling the money - investing, paying bills, taxes, etc. ...

Dividing the Holidays
Divorced or divorcing families are wondering how they are going to spend and share the holidays this year. Which house? Who gets the kids ...

Divorce and Money Troubles
Divorcing couples often have money troubles. ...

Divorce and Pets
If a couple is getting divorced, how do they decide how to share the pets? ...

Divorce and Retirement
Divorce mediators always have to consider a couple's retirement assets like pensions, IRAs 401ks, when helping couples ...

Divorce and Snow Days
Divorcing parents have to create provisions in their parenting agreements to deal with unexpected occurrences ...

Divorce and Theraphy
We generally advise our divorce mediation clients to seek professional therapy for themselves and their children. ...

Divorce and Therapy
When going through a divorce, it is quite common to need therapy for yourself, your co-parent, your children ...

Divorce and Unemployment
Recently, a lot of the people who have been calling us at Westfield Mediation, LLC, to find out more about divorce mediation have found themselves newly unemployed ...

Divorce During the Holidays
Sometimes couples who are divorced or divorcing feel additional stress this time of year. Families may have had long-established holiday rituals ...

Divorce For One, Please
What if only one half of the couple wants to get divorced? ...

Divorce in the Current Economy
The ups and downs of the current economy are making some couples contemplating divorce a little nervous ...

Divorce Mediation for Small Business Owners
Many of our divorce mediation clients at Westfield Mediation, LLC are small business owners or self-employed. ...

Divorce Mediation or Collaborative Divorce, Which Way to Go?
What are the differences between divorce mediation and collaborative divorce and which works better? ...

Do We Really Need a Lawyer?
Do I really need a lawyer? I often get asked this question by my clients in divorce mediation ...

Enforcing the Agreement
ne of the many advantages of divorce mediation, is that the agreement is not binding until it is filed with the Court. ...

Fair and Equitable
The focus in divorce mediation is on coming up with a plan that is fair and equitable. ...

Getting Back to Life After Coronavirus
Many couples contemplating divorce before the pandemic put things on hold while they waited out the stress and uncertainty ...

Getting Divorced with Pets
So what happens to the pets if you get divorced? ...

Gift Giving and Divorce
Tis the season for celebrating and for presents ...

Gray Divorce
Divorce among couples over 50 -- is becoming more common. According to research recently reported in The New York Times ...

Housing and Divorce
For many divorcing couples, their house is their biggest asset, and they want to maximize their potential profits, as they make a financial plan for their future. ...

How Long Does Divorce Mediation Take?
When prospective clients call, they often ask how long the divorce mediation process takes ...

How Long Does it Take to Get a Divorce?
Everyone has heard horror stories about how long it takes for some couples to get divorced through litigation. ...

How to Get the Most Out of Divorce Mediation
Many clients come to divorce mediation at Westfield Mediation, LLC to save time and money. ...

How to Use the First Session of Mediation
The first session of divorce mediation is an introduction to the process ...

If We Agree on Everything, Why Do Mediation?
good divorce mediator adds value to the process and makes it easier, less stressful and ...

Is Divorce Mediation Right for You?
Divorce Mediation sounds like a great alternative to litigation, but is it for everyone? We often talk about the advantages ...

Is Mediation Right for Me
Many people wonder whether mediation will work for them. As mediators, we know that going through a divorce is a difficult and emotional process.. ...

Is the Divorce Rate Really 50%?
How many of your friends and family are divorced? Is it every other marriage? Not for.. ...

It Takes a Village
I want my clients to get the best support possible when going through a divorce. This means rallying the village. ...

Lower Cost Divorce
Divorce mediation is a lower-cost alternative to litigation ...

Mediation and Domestic Violence
When there is a history of domestic violence, the couple's relationship changes and there is a shift in the power dynamic. ...

Mediation and Tax Issues in Divorce
It is tax season again which makes us think about all the tax issues that we raise in divorce mediation. ...

Mediation- Now or Later
When is the best time to start divorce mediation? Should you talk to a lawyer first? ...

Mediation or Separation. Which Comes First
Many couples interested in divorce mediation ask us, "Is it better to separate first, then start mediation? Or should we mediate before we separate?" ...

Memorandum of Understanding is Non Binding Agreement
A divorce mediation agreement, also called a Memorandum of Understanding ...

Money, Money, Money
Why do many people get divorced? They argue about money. The husband and wife have different ideas about how ...

Moving Forward in a Fair and Sensible Way
Divorce mediation helps clients resist the impulse to give in to unreasonable demands just to ...

Moving Out During Divorce
Generally, during the divorce process, at least one person moves out of the shared home ...

Multitasking After Divorce
Sometimes during and after a divorce, people find themselves facing a task that the other spouse always handled. ...

New Partners
Some people come into divorce mediation vowing never to marry or even date again ...

New School Year, Covid and Divorce
With summer winding down and the new school year starting soon, this may be a good time for divorced or divorcing couples to evaluate their current parenting and financial plans ...

No Secrets
In Divorce Mediation, there can be no secrets. ...

Obamacare and Divorce
Keeping health insurance coverage can often be a primary reason why couples choose NOT to get divorced. One spouse does not ...

Parenting
Sometimes when we are creating a parenting plan in divorce mediation, a divorcing couple ...

Parenting and Non-disparagement Clauses
Can you limit what your ex-spouse says about you to your kids? Yes and no. ...

Parenting and Post Divorce Mediation
Why do divorced couples go to post-divorce mediation? ...

Parenting Plan Tune-Ups
Is your parenting plan still working or does your parenting plan need a tune-up? ...

Parenting Plans
How do you create a parenting plan with someone you no longer want to be around? ...

Parenting Plans and Moving Within the State
What happens to the family's parenting plan if one parent wants to move ...

Paying for College
When divorcing clients come to mediation to work out a parenting plan, they are often surprised that the agreement extends through college. ...

Post-Divorce Family Vacation
Some said that the divorced couple is lucky that they have developed such a good post-divorce relationship, others argued that the joint vacation creates unhealthy confusion for their children ...

REACT-The Five Factors for Finding Your Divorce Mediator
Say you have already decided to get divorced, and you know you need to hire a mediator. How do you find the divorce mediator that is best for you? ...

Reluctant Spouses
A lot of times in divorce mediation, we find that one spouse is more ready to get divorced than the other ...

Returning to Mediation After Divorce
After finalizing a divorce, many people assume that the process is over forever. ...

Role of the Mediator
What is the role of the mediator in divorce mediation? We believe that the mediator should be your guide through the process ...

Same-Sex Divorce and Mediation
Divorce mediation is a valuable alternative to litigation for both opposite-sex and same-sex divorcing couples.. ...

Separation Without Divorce
For various reasons - health, health insurance, children, religion - many couples want to live separately from each other without getting divorced. ...

Sharing Custody
For the most part, divorcing parents come to mediation with the idea that they will share custody of the kids ...

Sharing Parenting
What is the best way to share parenting when you are getting divorced? ...

Sharing the Facts in Mediation
For divorce mediation to work, the clients need to share the facts. ...

Social Security and Divorce
With the rise of divorce among older married couples so-called gray divorce ...

Some Changes to Divorce Mediation as a Result of Covid-19
As the Coronavirus has turned everyone's life upside down, it has also impacted divorce mediation ...

Specializing in Divorce Mediation
If you want to get divorced using divorce mediation then use a full-time mediator, not someone who dabbles in mediation. ...

Splitting up the Money in Divorce Mediation
During divorce mediation, we can help the couple develop a feasible division of their assets and debts that is fair and equitable. ...

Summer Schedules
In divorce mediation, we meet with a lot of divorcing parents to help them create two parenting schedules, including one for the summer. ...

Summer Vacations
Now is often the time for summer vacations, and during divorce mediation at Westfield Mediation.. ...

Summertime Plans
School is almost out for the year! While many kids are doing their happy dance, for divorcing families, this change ...

Taking a Break
Sometimes we get clients who want to take a break from their marriage. They are not sure whether or not they want to get divorced ...

Taking the Stigma Out of Divorce
With almost half of all marriages ending in divorce, the decision to separate should not be something that causes couples any embarrassment ...

Thanksgiving, Christmas, Divorce and Coronavirus
The holiday season is often a difficult time for newly divorced or divorcing families ...

The Benefits of Online Mediation
Since the Coronavirus has forced us to move our practice online, and we have seen many of the benefits of online ...

The Cost of Divorce
As divorce mediators, we often hear the question "Why is it so expensive to get divorced?" ...

The Divorce Timeline
Sometimes couples come to divorce mediation in a hurry to get through the process. Maybe they have been thinking about it for a long time ...

The Elements of Divorce Mediation
While divorce mediation is a good solution to the problem of an unhappy marriage, the divorce mediator cannot do it all alone. ...

The Expenses of Divorce
In many cases, the emotional costs of staying in an unhappy marriage outweigh the financial costs of divorce ...

The Intersection of Divorce Law and Mediation
If you filed for divorce, can you still do mediation? If you go through divorce mediation, do you still need a lawyer? We commonly hear these questions from potential clients. And the answers, for the most part, are.. ...

The Mediation Plan
Sometimes people come to divorce mediation with a plan. On the other hand, sometimes new clients come to us and say that they haven't talked at all about anything. ...

Using a Mediator Without Getting Divorced
You do not need to be interested in getting divorced to make good use of our mediation services. ...

What Does Divorce Mediation Look Like?
What does divorce mediation look like? Many clients do not know what to expect when they begin divorce mediation ...

What is a Marital Asset?
Divorce mediation allows you to divide up your marital assets according to your needs post-divorce. But what is a marital asset? ...

What is the Best Way to Choose a Divorce Mediator?
Divorce Mediation is a simpler, cheaper, less contentious alternative to litigation ...

What to Do About the House When Getting Divorced
Generally, people are emotionally attached to their home, and worried about the impact of moving ...

What to Expect in Divorce Mediation
Sometimes it is easiest for prospective clients to understand what divorce mediation is like, by learning ...

When to Get Divorced
There is no perfect time to get divorced. Still, a lot of our clients begin the divorce mediation process ...

When to Start Divorce Mediation
When is the best time to start divorce mediation? ...

Why Choose Divorce Mediation Over Litigation
Divorce mediation is a much better option for most couples than litigation ...

Why Choose Mediation
Divorce mediation is faster, cheaper, more private, and less stressful than litigation. ...

Why Now May Be a Good Time for Divorce Mediation
Many couples who were considering divorce before the Coronavirus hit, are currently wondering whether they should move ahead now ...

Working Out the Details
Generally, it is good to have some specifics in the divorce agreement ...

Yay for Summer!
For divorcing families, summer sometimes comes with extra challenges ...

You Must Hear Some Crazy Stories
You must hear some crazy stories." This is the comment I typically get when I tell someone I meet for the first time that I am a Divorce Mediator. ...