[Updated 6/7/2019] A lot of clients ask me if their attorneys can attend their divorce mediation sessions.   I tell them “yes” with other mediators, but not with me.  ​It still seems I'm one of the only mediators in town that prohibits couples from bringing their attorneys into the mediation sessions. I've found that once I [...]

Owner Mediator Mara Linder with Mediators Nicole Pelcic and Shahnaz Stanley [Updated 12/15/21] Choosing the right divorce mediator can be confusing. There are so many people out there claiming to offer mediation services. Are they all different? And why are some more expensive? Your choice comes down to finding a mediator with the relevant background [...]

    [Updated 5/24/2019] This is one of the most common questions I receive as a Phoenix Divorce Mediator.  There tends to be some general confusion around the difference between a Legal Separation and a Divorce and the reasons for choosing one versus the other. In Arizona, the process for Legal Separation and the process for [...]

[Updated 4/12/2019] Another question I receive a lot as a Phoenix Divorce Mediator is: “How much Spousal Maintenance will be awarded?”  That is a great question and many of us divorce mediators wish there was a black and white answer!  In Arizona, the amount and duration of spousal maintenance (alimony) is discretionary with the Court.  [...]

There was a debate on the radio this morning (I know, I still don’t subscribe to Satellite which irritates my husband to no end) about whether to continue to spend Super Bowl Sunday together after your divorce for the sake of the kids.  The caller explained that it had been a family tradition and the […]

If keeping a child’s home life as in-tact as possible following a divorce is a priority, look no further than our next divorce trend, bird-nesting or nesting. Families who opt for this route have the great benefit of their children staying in one place, likely what was the family home, and the parents stay in […]

Ending a marriage can be one of the hardest things an individual can experience. If there are children in the middle of the separation, the stress can be even harder to manage; particularly, when you are trying to protect your children. Below are some things you can do today to manage your stress during your […]

     It has been just under two weeks since Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement from the Supreme Court. This kind of significant news that has the ability to impact the country for decades gets us all talking about who will fill the vacancy, what cases will be heard or changed, and (of course) […]

The Arizona Supreme Court has adopted new child support guidelines effective April 1, 2018. The child support amounts remain essentially the same.  The major changes include: The designation of parents is changed from Father/Mother to Parent A/Parent B The self-support reserve amount has been increased from $1,115 to $1,456, which may affect lower income earners but [...]

In working with divorce mediation clients, I am privy to the emotions and stress most people experience while going through a divorce. Here are a few tips and resources to help restore balance, promote relaxation and instill some calm energy: Try not to read negative articles or social media that focus on negative thoughts, feelings […]