How does your faith play into the decision to Divorce, Legally Separate, or Reconcile?
There are many conflicting views on God's commands regarding divorce and varying biblical interpretations of the institution of marriage. Is divorce ever appropriate? How do we reconcile God’s commandments with a situation that feels beyond our control and seems hopeless? I understand that, as a Christian going through a divorce, you may be grappling with feelings of guilt and betrayal—not only towards the person you made a promise to but also towards God. The emotional weight can feel overwhelming. My goal as a mediator is not to judge but to provide a safe space for working through challenges, in an effor to find peace. I aim to help you find common ground and focus on healing for your entire family.
Twenty-five years ago, as I was beginning my legal career, I was drawn to family law. At first, I struggled to reconcile my personal beliefs with the nature of this practice. I had grown up with the firm belief that “God hates divorce.” How, then, could I be part of ending marriages, particularly those that had once been happy, without compromising my faith? Despite my internal conflict, I moved forward.
What changed for me was my understanding of my role in this process. As I continued to help couples and individuals, I began to see how God could use me to bring down the temperature in highly charged divorces. And as I moved from a practice totally dedicated to alternative dispute resolution, I could see that people facing divorce needed a moment to pause. I discuss alternatives like legal separation, allow space for reconciliation, and for those moving forward with divorce, I support families in navigating difficult transitions.
Dispute resolution processes involve helping clients reach an agreement out of court. Divorce may be an unavoidable reality for you. If that resonates with you, I am here to walk you and your spouse through the process while supporting your family and helping you co-exist and co-parent cooperatively for the well-being of your children. For those of you who want to separate but don't want to break the marital covenant, Legal Separation is an option. Legal Separation allows married couples to live apart without ending their marriage. It addresses important issues such as property division, child custody, child support, and spousal support.. Ask me about Legal Separation if you and your spouse are opposed to divorce but struggling to find common ground in your marriage. Finally, if you want to have conversations around reconciliation, I'm happy to walk you through that potentiality as well. Let's have a conversation and know that reaching out to a mediator isn't necessarily the beginning of the end of your marriage.