Family Law Blog
A Collection of Posts Discussing Such Topics as: Collaborative Divorce, Mediation, Family Law
Recent Posts
Roy N. Martin
Attorney at Law
Collaborative DivorceMediation
Family Law
119 N. Commercial Street
Suite 910
Bellingham, WA 98225
Phone: (360) 746-0400
Why We Have Coaches in Collaborative Divorce
in Collaborative Divorce, Divorce, Family Law, Mediation/by Roy N. MartinIn collaborative divorce cases, coaches play a crucial role in supporting individuals through the process.
The Importance of Preserving Parenting Relationships Post Divorce
in Collaborative Divorce, Divorce, Family Law, Mediation, Parenting, Parenting After Divorce/by Roy N. MartinThere’s a great deal of research showing that children of divorce do well when their parents respect each other and when each parent encourages the children to have a good relationship with the other. The terms of the parenting plan itself are of far less importance, from a child’s point of view, so long as […]
Questions about Collaborative Divorce – A Podcast with Attorney Roy Martin
in Family Law/by Roy N. MartinThe collaborative process is designed to provide emotional safety for spouses and children. The parties and their lawyers meet in a series of four-way meetings. Other professionals – such as psychologists who focus on divorce-related issues or the needs of children, and financial advisors – may be employed as well.
Thoughts on Collaborative Family Law for my Conventional Family Law Colleagues
in Family Law/by Roy N. MartinFollowing are some thoughts recently posted to colleagues who practice in non-collaborative divorce and family law settings. In other words, to those attorneys who represent clients at contested hearings before a judge, judicial officer or arbitrator who has the power to make decisions for the former spouses or partners, irrespective of whether those former spouses […]
Divorce with Love #2
in Family Law/by Roy N. MartinThe very notion of “Divorce with Love” may seem radical, perhaps even nonsensical. After all, love is difficult to define. Everyone has a different view of what it means to love another, and each of us fails to live up to our ideals, at least some of the time, particularly in our most intimate relationships. […]
Divorce with Love
in Family Law/by Roy N. MartinThe very notion of “Divorce with Love” may seem radical, perhaps even nonsensical. After all, love is difficult to define. Everyone has a different view of what it means to love another, and each of us fails to live up to our ideals, at least some of the time, particularly in our most intimate relationships. […]
Common Themes in Alternative Dispute Resolution
in Family Law/by Roy N. MartinAlternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is the term used to describe various processes to resolve conflict peacefully. It applies to those couples who sit down across the kitchen table and come up with their own agreement, to those who reach settlement with the help of a mediator, and to those who get there through the collaborative […]
Why You Should Want Your Attorney to Play Nicely
in Family Law/by Roy N. MartinDivorce clients, being unfamiliar with litigation, often arrive in my office convinced that the best attorney is the most aggressive, even the nastiest, lawyer they can find. In my experience this is rarely true. Attorneys who play well together can help their clients resolve cases efficiently, by which I mean obtaining the best possible result […]
The Range and Breadth of Mediation
in Family Law/by Roy N. MartinThese Articles were published in the Whatcom County Bar Journal. Though written for the legal community, I’ve linked these articles because mediation is a broad field containing a whole range of styles and approaches that differ enormously. The style selected can have a huge impact on the likelihood of achieving settlement, the quality of settlement […]
Anatomy of a Happy Ending
in Family Law/by Roy N. MartinFollowing is an anecdote from a real dissolution of marriage. It’s intended to illuminate the way a mediated or collaborated case can unfold when all goes well. In the context of my last three-part article on the various approaches to mediation, what’s set forth below is an essentially transformative model. All three of the approaches […]
Can This Marriage Be Saved?
in Family Law/by Roy N. MartinRight up front I want to establish that I’m neither a therapist nor a marriage counselor. I claim no particular expertise in relationship. I’m simply an attorney and mediator who has worked with hundreds of couples. Over the years, I’ve observed some subset of what works and what doesn’t when it comes to reconciliation. What […]
The Miracle of Conflict
in Family Law/by Roy N. MartinOver the years, while learning to help people navigate through conflict, I discovered something really cool. Most of us do what we can to avoid disagreements. It’s unpleasant to argue. But if one can be present, there are huge gifts to be found. When we’re upset, we have the opportunity to discover much of importance […]
When its Necessary to go to Court
in Family Law/by Roy N. MartinIf you’ve read through my website, you’re no doubt familiar with my philosophy that disputes are best resolved through non-adversarial means. But resolving conflict amicably requires that each spouse be willing and able to act in good faith. If, for instance, your spouse is hiding assets or income, running up debts or deliberately turning the […]
A Letter to My Bellingham Colleagues
in Family Law/by Roy N. MartinThe February, 2012 issue of the Whatcom County Bar Association Newsletter contained the following article that I was an invited to pen as a means of introducing myself to the Bellingham legal community. It’s republished here so that clients and potential clients can get a better sense of who I am and my views on […]