MA Divorce & Family Law, Mediation & Collaborative Law | Martin Murphy

It’s All About the Kids

martymurphy — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:53:34 +0000

I was cleaning up “that pile” on my desk this morning. You know ”that pile”- old notes from conferences, industry magazines with articles you meant to get to, old “to do” lists. Anyhow, I found an Ask Amy column from December of 2011 that I had cut out of the paper.

The column addresses the letter of a teenage girl who was sad, anxious and worried about all the fighting her parents were doing. She was seeking advice on what she should do.

Amy responds by saying that conflict isn’t necessarily a bad thing if it leads to a resolution. She also suggested the young girl approach her parents at a quieter moment and share her feelings of anxiousness and sadness.

I wonder how it turned out for that young woman and her family.

As a collaborative attorney and mediator, I often get to witness the interplay of a couple in conflict and the children of the marriage. When an emphasis is placed on protecting the children, as it is in mediation and collaborative practice, the new reconstituted family often benefits.

Despite the many disagreements my clients have, they almost all indicate a high level of desire to minimize the impact on the children of the marriage. That common goal often serves as the linchpin to build the rest of a sustained agreement.

When there are disagreements as to how best achieve that joint goal, there are a tremendous variety of resources available to families including child specialists, therapists and parenting classes. When those resources are properly marshaled for a family, they can provide a structure and support system to help the children of divorce for many years to come.

While I will most likely never find out how the family in the column made out, I do know that my clients that have made the process choice of mediation or collaborative law have a much better chance of helping their children move through the divorce more successfully.

Martin Murphy, Esq. is a collaborative attorney and seasoned mediator. He is dedicated to using the principles and benefits of mediation and collaborative law in the general representation of businesses, their owners and in helping families facing divorce, child custody and other family law issues. The Law Office of Martin Murphy, LLC located in Norwood MA, serves clients in the surrounding communities including Attleboro, Canton, Foxboro, Franklin, Mansfield, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Plainville, Sharon, Walpole, Westwood, and Wrentham., Marty can be reached at marty@martinmurphyatlaw.com

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A New Pope and an Old Prayer

martymurphy — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 19:30:16 +0000

I had the opportunity this week to attend a presentation by Dan Finn, a gifted Collaborative Attorney. Dan spoke on the topic of “Understanding Impasse: Preventions and Interventions.” A theme of the presentation was that in order to separate effectively, couples or parties to a dispute really need to become connected.

While that concept may seem odd, without some connection on some level, people who are in dispute will find it impossible to work out an agreement. Mediators and Collaborative Attorneys assist their clients in staying “connected with the other party” to assist them in reaching an agreement that is in their best interests. Talented Mediators and Collaborative Attorneys have many tools in their toolkits that can assist their clients even in cases where there is a very high level of disconnect with the other party.

My thanks to Dan for a great presentation.

On another note, Catholics around the world celebrated this week as they learned of their new pope. I thought that his choice of name, Francis, was significant. The prayer of St. Francis, which is attributed to St. Francis of Assisi from the 13th century, even with the religious portions removed, provides an inspiration for those seeking resolution.

. . . make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
. . . ,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned…

If we could implement even a portion of this prayer as we approach conflict, I think that we would find enough connection with the other party to resolve the dispute in a way that is beneficial to all.

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Oscar Time – Are you a Winner or a Loser?

martymurphy — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:24:01 +0000

Over the past few months, this theme has been going through my mind. Obama won the election but gets to head back to Washington to deal with a deadlocked Congress. The Patriots made it to the AFC championship only to watch the Ravens roll to the Superbowl. Recently, various actors, actresses and other Hollywood types have jumped, walked and tripped on their way up to the stage to collect awards that must have seemed just beyond the grasp of those nominees still sitting in the audience.

Winning and losing. It happens everyday. Only with time however does one truly understand the success or failure of their quest. Like countless financially broke lottery winners, many find there are ultimate costs associated with the attempt to win. In time, many losers gain the perspective that what they sought wasn’t really worth the cost.

Those experiences often ring true when it comes to a family going through a divorce. Our legal system is still dominated by the framework of winning and losing. That framework can be devastating to a family going through transition. Even in a situation where a wrong has been done, the ultimate cost of “winning” often leaves the victor feeling like they have lost.

Options to the standard approach are available. Mediation and Collaborative Law provide clients with the opportunity to resolve their dispute while maximizing their opportunity to reach as many of their positive goals as possible.

Divorce is unlike running for public office, playing in a championship game, or waiting to be called on stage for an award. Most people don’t grow up looking forward to the opportunity to go through a divorce. Why not choose a process that will be more likely to provide you with a long-term sense of success?

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Convenience of Mediation and Collaborative Law

martymurphy — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:08:58 +0000

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Mediation and Collaborative Law are Cost Effective

martymurphy — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:56:05 +0000

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Wonder at the Possibilities

martymurphy — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 20:07:26 +0000

Those of you who have gotten to know me know that I am a big Red Sox fan and that my passion for the Sox has been passed on to my now teenage son. Over the years we have shared many great moments together around the baseball diamond. One moment I will never forget occurred as the Fenway Park groundskeeping crew was preparing for a rain delay. I brought my then 8 year old over to “canvas alley” to watch the crew cover the field. As I explained the job, he looked up at me in amazement. “You mean they actually get paid to work at Fenway Park?” His little mind couldn’t comprehend that people would not want to volunteer at Fenway Park for free every day.

When I recall this learning moment for my son, I know that it is also a reminder for me. When you are lucky enough to do something each day that you feel passionately about, it transforms from simply being work, to being something that can engage you and amaze you. I am truly grateful for the opportunity I have to help my clients each and every day. I recommit to doing all that I can to maintain “the beginner’s mind,” and wonder at the possibilities. Happy New Year.

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Resolve to Finish by Beginning Again

martymurphy — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:57:05 +0000

For those considering divorce, this “merry” season can be fraught with stresses that lead to arguments, frustrations, and a sense of hopelessness. If you have been overcome by the stress of the season, I simply suggest that you take a few moments to reflect back on the moment you decided you were ready for a new start. This isn’t the moment you were filled with anger, frustration or anxiety, but the moment of clarity when you knew without question it was time to move on.

Suzuki Roshi was a Sōtō Zen monk and teacher, and is credited with saying “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind, there are few.”

Approaching the obstacles of the season with the “beginner’s mind” will help you develop more potential options for their resolution. New traditions can be crafted, and families can be reshaped. Disagreements can be sorted out, and life can move on in a new direction. Mediation and Collaborative Law are processes that can help you stay focused on the ultimate goal rather than give in to the distractions and frustrations foisted upon us.

As the calendar turns to the New Year, resolve to finish the process already begun by focusing on that moment of clarity that truly began you on this journey. I wish you the very best in the New Year.

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The Right Parenting Plan

martymurphy — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 18:52:51 +0000

The kids heading off on a Disney cruise through the Bahamas with one parent may seem completely reasonable, but how about the other parent wanting to visit relatives with the kids…. in Somalia?

International travel is one of the many areas in a parenting plan where parents have to be particularly thoughtful and considerate of the future. Parents headed through a divorce might want to consider this and other important issues.

Drop Off Duty
Which parent is responsible for dropping off the kids? What happens when the kids are intentionally running late? One way to avoid the “waiting in the driveway” syndrome is to have the parent with the kids be responsible for delivering them to the other parent.

Time Off vs. Time With
In today’s economy with both parents usually working, the primary or custodial parent is often looking for some “time off.” Making sure the other parent lives up to his or her allotted time allows for the custodial parent to rest and recharge their batteries.

Sick Days, Doctors’ Appointments and No Power Days
Providing for “surprise days” and scheduled doctors’ appointments will make for a better parenting plan.

She’s a Teenager!
Preparing a flexible parenting plan that allows for the needs of a sociable teenager is wise. At the same time, it is equally important that the parents try to have a consistent voice about what is permitted behavior and what is not!

Family Traditions
If your spouse’s family has a tradition of spending the 4th of July with multi-generations in New Hampshire, are you sure you want to demand alternating all such holidays? At the same time, divorce can be all about starting new traditions with your kids. Finding the best parenting plan for your family is an important part of the divorce process.

Mediation and Collaborative Law can provide you with the best opportunity to come up with the best plan for your family. If you have any questions on finding the right parenting plan, please contact my office for a free process presentation.

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Election Fatigue – Three Steps to Eliminating Washington Gridlock using Mediation Techniques

martymurphy — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 18:57:41 +0000

Like many, I am fatigued by the barrage of ads and endless news coverage of the 2012 election. Personally I am grateful for the fact that I don’t live in a swing state. I can’t imagine the saturation point of the average citizen there. I never thought an ad for a personal hygiene product or for a drug that will cure some dysfunction would bring a sense of relief while watching a little television.

For me however, watching the election of 2012 was more troubling because so many of the approaches, behaviors and activities being played out on the national stage were the very things I work day in and day out to eliminate as a mediator and Collaborative Attorney. The polarizations, personal characterizations and positional approaches make it harder for people to work together to build consensus.

So what recommendations would I make to help Washington break its gridlock and get back to the work of the people? My experiences with mediation clients can help highlight some potential options. Here are three are three steps that can lead us forward in a very productive way.

First, insist on an atmosphere of respect. Personal attacks, belittling comments and broad generalizations about others have no place in a mediation and will have a detrimental impact on any negotiation. Instead, all parties have to begin to truly accept that those who hold positions that vary from their own are not “bad” people because of it. I would ask each politician to consider their staunchest opponent and then list three things about that person that reminds them of themselves. Personalizing the “enemy” in this way should lead to a decrease in the acrimonious rhetoric.

Second, create a mutual acknowledgement that some differences because of ideology will just not be able to be diminished. In mediations, I typically get clients who want to win the war on the “facts” of a particular event. After allowing each to present their perspective, I often inquire if there is anything the other could say that would change this perception of the past. Accepting that those differences will just coexist frees the parties to focus on other issues. We need our politicians in Washington to start focusing less on their differences and more on the common needs of all the people.

Lastly, I would suggest that we take a little more time to celebrate the successes. I regularly highlight for my clients the “mini” agreements they have reached throughout the process. This positive momentum helps build consensus on other more difficult topics. Too often, clients and politicians focus on why something failed. We need to focus more on the concrete successes.

Our President has presented a message for moving forward. I would suggest that he and all of our elected officials consider the above steps as a way to help them begin moving forward together.

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The Costs of Divorce

martymurphy — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 16:42:58 +0000

I just have to vent a little bit on the subject of an article featured by one of the main speakers at this weekend’s IACP event in Chicago (see link below).

The story summarizes the failed divorce trial of a couple with an estate valued at $100 million. The trial ended almost before it started with a mistrial and for that experience the couple spent approximately $7.4 million combined in legal fees.

Wow.

The story goes on to describe how the couple fired their litigation counsel and hired collaborative attorneys. For about 1% of their prior legal bills, the collaborative team brought the couple all the way through to a completed divorce agreement.

Very few people can relate to having an estate worth $100 million. Unfortunately countless families can personally identify with the economic devastation that the costs of divorce have wrought on their finances.

I regularly have clients who litigated a divorce several years ago and have now sought out mediation or Collaborative Law to work out a modification of their agreement. One of the main reasons they are seeking an alternative process is to avoid repeating the financially devastating process they went through.

Many with a bit of perspective can look back and realize the money they spent on the process just wasn’t worth it. In a way, their own emotions hijacked their own wallet.

While mediation and Collaborative Law are not without costs, they can be and should be a far better cost alternative to litigating a case. If you would like to discuss how mediation or Collaborative Law might work for you and your budget, please contact my office.

Article Link:

http://www.dmagazine.com/Home/D_Magazine/2012/September/Ed_Bailey_100_Million_Dollar_Divorce.aspx

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