The immensely popular reality television show Real Housewives has catapulted dozens of women, their marriages, and often times their divorce, into the lime light. This week, Bethenny Frankel, Real Housewife of New York (RHONY) veteran, ended her two year marriage with...
Jess Lill
Now What?
We exit the courtroom, and hang back as my now-ex spouse walks ahead. My attorney turns to me, heavy files in her hands, “You’re officially divorced,” as she passes me the dozen or so pages the judge had just signed. I ask, “now what?” I look down at the first page of...
You Can’t Shock Me.
Next to bartenders and therapists, family law attorneys hear the most intimate details of a person’s life. We’ve heard it all. So, you can’t shock me. Tell me what is going on, don’t spare the details. I need to know. I take the panicked calls from clients who...
A First Christmas
Her eight-year old daughter still believes in Santa. And for the past seven years, it's worked out well that the little girl travels to a winter wonderland each Christmas. Her father's house in the suburbs of Toronto, Canada have snow-covered roof, twinkling lights,...
Monster
He started to send me hundreds of messages by text at all hours of the night day. Mostly asking me where I was, who I was with, why wouldn't I take his calls, why didn't I text back. After the fiftieth question, like clock work, he'd start to call me names and cuss at...
I Trusted Him
I trusted him. So, we opened a joint account. We were both working and soon I set it up so my paycheck was direct deposited. We used it to pay our bills.I trusted him. So, we bought a house. I had the final say and gave him part of the down payment from my savings. I...
Up and Gone
He woke up early, and called his wife. Voice mail. Leaving a message to, "Call me back when you and junior get a minute. I'm headed to the airport. Miss you. Love you!" He shrugged, figured, maybe she was busy.Soon he checked out of the hotel room paid for by his...
We Are In The Break Up Business
Divorce is the ultimate break up. As divorce attorneys, we are in the break up business. Unfortunately, that is often overlooked in the lawyer's office where the focus is on asset division, child support, and rotating weekends.Sitting in an uncomfortable chair, across...
Finding Your Voice
"You want me to stay for dinner? I'll make my mac n' cheese for you. You'd love that. Only Daddy can make the best mac n' cheese." A three year old boy is nodding vigorously, bouncing up and down with a grin on his face. Anything for his favorite food.Over the child's...
The Sacrifice
It was late and there was a roaring in her head that overtook the sound of his shouting. She stopped processing his words after the threat left his lips."I'll kill you."She believed him.Each word dripped with malice, hate, venom. What he was actually saying faded out,...