For some people, one of the hardest parts of divorce is telling your spouse that the marriage is over. I get people asking me about this all the time – how should they do it, when should they do it, is there a better and worse way to do this… Unfortunately, this is just one…
Category Archives: Practical Advice
Why am I a Family Law attorney? It’s all about relationships.
Recently someone asked me why I do what I do, which really got me thinking about my practice as a divorce and family law attorney. Over the years, I have attracted a certain type of client, over and over. And I believe that the reason why I attract this type of client is my personality…
The Hart Law Firm offers a Written Guarantee
For several years now, we have offered an implicit guarantee in our employment contracts with our clients. We have decided it’s time to step up our game. Effectively immediately, The Hart Law Firm is offering a written guarantee to all clients. We can’t guarantee results – no law firm can. However, we can guarantee how…
Vindication! I love being right…
I rarely use my blog forum to gloat about the outcome of a divorce case, but today I just have to. Here is a quick summary of how I met this client and the information they gave me when they initially came to see me last year: Client came to see me – we conducted…
Are you scared to call a law firm?
One of the things that we as lawyers often forget is that we can be intimidating. One of the first things I tell clients who come to visit with me for the first time is that they have nothing to be afraid of. I pride myself in not trying to pull one over on a…
What makes a Happy Marriage?
Evidently, the key to a happy marriage is to be a bit selfish. So says a recent article in the New York Times entitled “The Happy Marriage is the ‘Me’ Marriage.” According to the author, couples in lasting marriages are effective at communicating what they want to their spouse and by doing so are able…
Common QDRO Questions and Answers
QDRO’s are a source of lots of confusion for clients (as well as many attorneys). Here are some answers to questions I get on a pretty regular basis: What is a QDRO? A QDRO is short for “Qualified Domestic Relations Order”. It is a court order that is usually signed by both parties (making it…
Spouse left with the kids and the money – what can I do?
This is an all-to-common question, and although I have answered it several times in my “Ask a Lawyer” section, I thought I would answer it again here. The answer to this question depends, unfortunately, on the financial circumstances of the person asking it. If you have a good job, the money issue may not be…
Can I complete an absolute divorce if my spouse won’t cooperate?
One question I get all the time is what should I do if my spouse won’t agree to the divorce? Usually, it’s not that your spouse won’t agree to the divorce, but rather they won’t agree to the custody arrangement, child support, your alimony request, or how to divide up the property. Obtaining a divorce…
How do I decide whether to accept a case?
Whenever I sit down with someone that has a legal problem, I have to determine whether that client is a good fit for my law practice, and also whether I would be the best lawyer for them. For some lawyers, this decision is easy – if the client is willing to write a check, they…