This is a great question for any parents considering divorce,  and it really is an issue that is worth thinking through before you act.

Although there may be animosity between you and your spouse, in most cases it is best for the children if the two of you can work together to strategize about what to say to the children. Divorce or separation can be a time of great transition and instability for the kids, and so it’s very important for children to feel safe and certain in their relationships with you as parents.

Once you decide with certainty that you are planning to divorce, you should discuss what you want to say to your children. The more the two of you can come together as a united front, the better the difficult conversation about your divorce is going to be for your children. (more…)

NH Supreme Court Chief Justice John Broderick was the keynote speaker for a Symposium on the Future of Alternative Dispute Resolution in NH, hosted by  the Alternative Dispute Resolution Alliance on June 9, 2010. NH divorce Attorney Kim Weibrecht has been a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Alliance since 2009.

Attorney Kim Weibrecht, a NH divorce attorney focusing on collaborative law and alternative dispute resolution, recently took part in a successful 12-hour training through the Collaborative Law Alliance of New Hampshire.

Attorney Weibrecht is a member of the Board of CLANH, which hosted the training on Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice for 40 new and veteran collaborative professionals.  The Alliance brought trainers from Maryland for the event.

“The number of family law attorneys in New Hampshire getting trained in Collaborative Divorce is a sign that we are gaining momentum.  We still have a ways to go before Collaborative Divorce is as well utilized as it is in most other parts of the country, but we are getting there,” Weibrecht said. “I look forward to future collaborative law learning opportunities from CLANH.”

NH Divorce Attorney Kimberly Weibrecht has been nominated to sit on the Board of the Collaborative Law Alliance of New Hampshire (CLANH).

A statewide organization of collaborative professionals that oversees training and membership of collaborative professionals in New Hampshire, the Collaborative Law Alliance includes more than 60 trained members.

“It is an honor to be nominated to serve on the Board of the Collaborative Law Alliance of NH,” Weibrecht said. “This organization is committed to providing NH families access to peaceful dispute resolution and I’m proud to be involved in this effort.”

CLANH is a New Hampshire voluntary corporation governed by a board of directors. It was formed by a handful of members of the New Hampshire Bar in 1998 who had too often seen the damage done to families through the litigation process, and who  enthusiastically mobilized upon learning of the alternative originated by Stu Webb in Minnesota. We have trained over 100 lawyers to resolve disputes collaboratively. In 2010, we expanded to include mental health professionals and financial planners in our membership. CLANH is a member organization of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, and is proud to be a part of furthering that organization’s goal, Resolving Disputes Respectfully.

Have questions about collaborative divorce? Feel free to contact Attorney Kim Weibrecht for more information on collaborative law or collaborative divorce in NH.

Kimberly Weibrecht, a divorce lawyer serving Portsmouth and Dover, NH has been invited to join the Alternative Dispute Resolution Alliance (ADRA).

The ADR Alliance is an independent group of mediation professionals and representatives from the New Hampshire Bar Association’s Dispute Resolution section, the New Hampshire Conflict Resolution Association, and the New Hampshire Judicial Branch’s Office Of Mediation and Arbitration.  The group’s focus is on improving the future of ADR in New Hampshire through strategic planning and coordination.

If you’re wondering about alternative dispute resolution, Attorney Weibrecht is available to answer questions about ADR as a strategy to resolve divorce or family law issues. Contact her by email.

Orlando Sentinel – Orlando, FL    May 18, 2009

“You’ve heard of happily married, but is it possible to have a happy divorce?
 A growing number of lawyers — including some who’ve spent careers brawling in divorce court — say yes.  They’re disciples of “collaborative divorce,” which tries to bring civility and cooperation to the traditionally bitter battle over the kids, family home and Grandma’s silver….”  Read full article.

Forbes – NY, USA   June 3, 2009

“Not many people enter marriage thinking it will lead to divorce. While accurate divorce rates are difficult to calculate and often unreliable, many social scientists conclude that up to 40% of marriages are terminated. The chances are fairly high that you or someone you know will get divorced….”  Read full article.

The Olympian — Seattle, WA    June 14, 2009

It’s always interesting to see collaborative law and mediation practices in other parts of the country. The Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County, WA started 18 years ago and has been quietly empowering people to resolve their own conflicts without lawyers or courts. It saves city and county taxpayers more than $100,000 by mediating divorces and diverting commercial disputes away from Small Claims Court…  Read full article.