Getting divorced is hard. It’s no wonder that most of what we hear or read about divorce and separating a family is negative, sad and angry. But there are a lot of positive things that can come from going through this process, too. As a society, sometimes I think we tend to focus so much on the negative when a marriage ends that we lose sight of the very positive life changes that can make a divorce so worth going through. Once you get to the other side, there are benefits of

Probably the most frequent question I hear when I meet with a new client is this: how long will it take for my divorce to be final? As with most things in Vermont family law, the answer to this question depends on a number of things. Every situation is unique and it’s hard to predict, but still, most divorces do follow a similar pattern. You can read the detailed answer here, or skip to the punchline below, where I talk about “The Bottom Line.” The following factors influence

I practice law in a small town in rural Vermont. This presents challenges for me as a divorce lawyer. But it presents even larger challenges to my clients who are going through family problems in Vermont Family Court. It’s bad enough that your marriage problems and custody disagreements play out in a public courtroom. It’s even worse when you live in a place where gossip about you is happening in your own social group, your small town, and your children’s school. In the littl

My general advice is against battling over custody if at all possible. Why? It’s bad for you, it’s bad for the kids, and you’ll have much less money when it’s over. Oh, and it may not be over until your kids are adults. That said, there are times when you have to fight for custody. Make no mistake: a custody battle is the most hurtful and brutal court proceeding there is. It is expensive, emotionally exhausting and bruising. Your kids will know this. If you go down this road,