Your marriage is irretrievably broken, and life as you know it is unraveling fast. You feel overwhelmed and confused by the well-intentioned (but let's face it, often clueless) advice of your friends and family. Does your lawyer's strategy alarm you instead of calm you down? Does the light at the end of the tunnel seem farther and farther away? You are not alone. In fact, you sound like a lot of the men and women who walk into my law office every day. But don't despair. You have come to the right place to find some straight talk about the legal process and the steps you should take to regain your equilibrium and be smarter about your split. Like most people facing the demise of their marriage, you might feel like your world has turned completely upside down. Uncertainty and unease about the future, and your children's future, may cause you to lose sleep. You may fear being taken for every dime by your vengeful and hell-bent spouse. You may fear losing rights to your most precious assets: your children. You might be intimidated by your spouse, or his lawyer, and maybe even your own lawyer. Still, at a time when your family and financial life are falling apart, it is critical that you take control, and make sound decisions that will affect the rest of your future. But how? Let's break it down. After you get over the emotional hurdles -- a process that is unique to every individual and every relationship -- there are three main legal categories to address, namely: I. Custody; II. Support; and III. Asset Distribution. Each of these areas must be fully resolved in writing -- by settlement agreement or court order -- before you can move on with your life. Easier said than done to be sure, but take heart. In your hands, you have a GPS to navigate the rocky terrain in the months ahead. You will learn how and why the high road is the best road. The organizing tools, lists and 'reality checks' in these pages will help you obtain tangible results and a clearer path. I will coach you with strategies to help you deal with your ex, and provide you with talking points for your meetings with your lawyer. I know that you are at an important crossroads in your life. I encourage you to read this entire book, and be open minded about the possibility of a civilized and uncomplicated break up. Just as I do with my clients, I am rooting for you to move on with your life, and to avoid self-destructive and sabotaging behaviors. I urge you to avoid a victim mentality, especially because all that it will get you is an invite to an everlasting 'pity party'. (Author's Note: This book is not going to change your life. You have to do that on your own.) My first objective for you? To calm you and encourage you to think rationally, not emotionally, about your divorce. To begin and strengthen habits of successful financial planning and smooth co-parenting (even when your ex does not necessarily cooperate). Your new mantra starting today? Repeat The Three C's after me: Civility, Clarity, Common sense. If, on the other hand, you are feeling angry and vindictive, go find a "shark" lawyer to lead you into Armageddon (and empty your pockets), because this book is not for you. Are you willing to accept some tough love from an expert that has helped thousands of clients move forward with their lives? If so, keep reading!

Over the past thirty years, there has been a dramatic shift in the way the legal system approaches and resolves family disputes. Traditionally, family law dispute resolution was based on an “adversary” system: two parties and their advocates stood before a judge who determined which party was at fault in a divorce and who would be awarded the rights in a custody dispute. Now, many family courts are opting for a “problem-solving” model in which courts attempt to resolve both legal and non-legal issues. At the same time, American families have changed dramatically. Divorce rates have leveled off and begun to drop, while the number of children born and raised outside of marriage has increased sharply. Fathers are more likely to seek an active role in their children’s lives. While this enhanced paternal involvement benefits children, it also increases the likelihood of disputes between parents. As a result, the families who seek legal dispute resolution have become more diverse and their legal situations more complex. In Divorced from Reality, Jane C. Murphy and Jana B. Singer argue that the current "problem solving" model fails to address the realities of today's families. The authors suggest that while today’s dispute resolution regime may represent an improvement over its more adversary predecessor, it is built largely around the model of a divorcing nuclear family with lawyers representing all parties—a model that fits poorly with the realities of today's disputing families. To serve the families it is meant to help, the legal system must adapt and reshape itself.

A controversial look at whether a marriage can be saved—or if its “time to go.” For the millions caught in unhappy marriages, consumed by sadness, anger, and fear, the question haunts: “Should I divorce?” Now, in their insightful new book, a husband-and-wife team of marriage experts helps readers find the answer by taking them through ten steps to determine if their relationship has reached the breaking point. While Drs. Birnbach and Hyman do not advocate divorce, they point out that the most desirable situation—a happy long-term marriage—may simply not be possible in some cases. The book also discusses how the lives of people who stay in chronically unhappy marriages compare with those who split up. Filled with poignant case studies, cutting-edge research, and a 100-question self-assessment to determine if its “time to go,” this unique guide dispels the myths about divorce and enables readers to recognize if there is still hope . . . or if they (and their families) are better off apart.

A step-by-step approach to making your marriage loving again.

Families with boys often find the world reacts to them in mock horror. Even though parents love their sons, privately they admit that boys can be a handful to raise--they are boisterous, competitive, reckless, distractable. The challenge of wills between parent and son starts early, and the quest to civilize young bulls may seem hopeless some days. Yet believers know that God has given them children as a gift of heaven, specially chosen for their particular families and marked as a blessing. If that's so, why does it seem so hard? How can we prepare these boys to serve God when it's all we can do to make it through another day? Isn't there a better way? Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching and Appreciating Boys shows the answer is emphatically yes. Written by the parents of six boys, Raising Real Men provides hope and encouragement to families with sons. Starting from the premise that God made boys to become men, Hal and Melanie Young offer Biblical principles and tested, practical ideas for training the manly virtues that can drive parents and teachers up the wall. This is a practical guide to equipping the hearts and minds of boys without breaking or losing your own. "...earthy, realistic, humorous, and scriptural ..." -- Douglas Wilson, author, Future Men "This is just what the doctor ordered for parents who want to raise capable Christian men of character." -- John Rosemond, author, Parenting By The Book

You¿ve waited for this moment your entire life. Being able to come and go as you please, to eat what you want when you want, to listen to your music as loud as you¿d like, and the option of going to Wal-Mart at 3am just because you can. Your mind is filled with excitement, enthusiasm, and anticipation as you grow up and prepare to enter the real world of life. But then it hits you like a ton of bricks¿A Reality Check.The days of choosing between white milk and chocolate milk are replaced by decisions on paying bills, making career decisions, attending college classes, and preparing your taxes. Recess and nap time are distant memories that have now been exchanged for frustrations with your boss, relationship challenges, and the need for health insurance. Pretty exciting, huh? In this humorous and relevant book, Reality Check, author Grant Baldwin helps you navigate both the challenges and opportunities of the real world in a practical and applicable manner. He addresses the real and honest questions that students are asking on issues such as creating a budget, applying for scholarships, dealing with relationships, and finding a career that you¿re passionate about. This is your guide to the Real World.