Relationship Planning
Explore the Magic in Uniting
Cohabitation Planning
When people live together and share a physical space many “cohabitation” challenges can arise. Many people in committed relationships choose not to get married, but that does not mean you can avoid legal consequences. Couples may share expenses, purchase a home together and make other joint financial decisions to care for each other, without the protection of any marital laws. That could leave you vulnerable in the event of a separation or death. How do you hold title to your home? What is required for your partner to make medical decisions if you are incapacitated? How will assets be divided if you separate? What else should you be thinking about? Julie has the experience to guide you through these discussions and create a written contract (Cohabitation Agreement) if you decide that you need one.
Creating Together
Choosing Mindfully
Sorting Through Your Options
Premarital Education
Not everyone needs a premarital agreement, but all engaged couples need education about the laws that will apply to them when they get married. Julie helps couples discuss their financial expectations and educates them about where the law supports those expectations and where it does not. If they choose to create a Premarital Agreement, she will facilitate a discussion of what the terms of that Agreement will be in a healthy, non-adversarial process.
You, as a couple, will learn about the laws that apply to your money in marriage and acquire tools for healthy communication about money. Divorce attorneys and therapists know that arguments over money are common in marriages. Spending the time to understand your partner’s thoughts and expectations about how money will be handled can reduce those conflicts in the future and allow you to create joint goals. If you are getting married, give yourself the gift of knowledge and planning – your relationship will benefit from it!
Finding Harmony
Balancing New Relationships
Blending Families
New relationships are exciting! They can also be challenging when you or your partner have children from former relationships. You may have questions about your rights and obligations as step-parents. You may need insight into the financial considerations you should think about. Maybe it’s been difficult to talk about balancing the needs of your partner and your children. Julie can help you navigate these questions and plan – your family will benefit from it!
Mediation as Education
We all vaguely understand that there are legal consequences when you live together or get married, but few people know what those consequences are. Julie has personally seen the damage and heartache that can result when someone’s understanding of the law does not match the reality.
Many people are shocked to learn that their decision to live together or get married brought financial and legal consequences that they did not expect. The results of what they didn’t know can be devastating, emotionally and financially. That’s why education is important and why Julie provides that service as part of all her mediations.
What to Expect
Julie is a very creative problem solver with a commitment to finding options that reduce conflict and allow you to determine your future. When working with her you can expect Julie to do the following: :
- Minimize and neutralize conflict to keep you focused on your path to a new life
- Tailor the discussion and mediation to your unique, individual needs
- Ensure your process addresses more than just the law,
- Honestly face the reality of the decisions that must be made
- Creatively find options for resolution
- Weigh the strengths and vulnerabilities of each option.
Benefits of Mediation by Video Conference
Our society has also changed and now videoconferencing has given people a more efficient way to meet with professionals. Having conducted hundreds of mediations by video conference since March 2020, Julie has found that it reduces conflict in the mediation process, reduces anxiety because people do not need to be physically together, and it is more efficient.