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Monday, January 5 th , is what we in the family law world quietly call “divorce day.” On the first Monday back in the office of a new year, divorce inquiries skyrocket by more than 25%. Researchers at the University of Washington studied this divorce seasonality and called it the Broken Promise theory. In short, a dissatisfied spouse thinks in October or November that if they can just get through the holidays and rediscover that spark with his/her spouse, then they can make t

Starting January 1, 2026, California will offer a new option for couples who want to end their marriage cooperatively rather than combatively—the Joint Petition for Dissolution. This isn't just another piece of legal paperwork. It's recognition of and action on a mindset shift in divorce – a mindset shift from an adversarial process to a cooperative process. California joins Nevada and Illinois in embracing a joint petition. What Makes This Different? Think of the Joint Petit

Co-parenting through the holidays can be stressful, and no one wants that stress to ruin the magic of the holidays for children. So, how can families create special, happy new memories for their children after separation or divorce? Put the Children First - Prioritize your children's needs over your own. One of the most difficult issues children of divorce face during the holidays is feeling torn between two parents, two homes and extended families. Ideally, co-parents are ab

I never expected to write a divorce coaching blog post that referenced Dancing With The Stars. But, on October 14th, during dedication week, two of the dancers dedicated their dances to half-siblings from a parent's remarriage. Dylan Efron dedicated his dance to his five-year-old sister, Olivia, who was born in 2019 to Efron's father and stepmother. TikToker Alix Earle similarly dedicated her dance to her 12-year-old sister, Izabel, who was born to Alix's father and stepmothe