The Collaborative Mindset

FAQs, stories, thoughts and articles on divorce from the collaborative perspective.

Divorce and Covid-19

April 17th, 2020
Posted By
Sean Cleland
I have a lot of empathy for those who are navigating divorce issues during a pandemic.  As I reflect on these difficulties, I believe that many of the things we are doing to survive this pandemic are analogous to divorce, or even provide lessons for… Read More
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Categories: Other Musings

Divorce - A Time to Compromise or a Time to be Uncompromising?

May 1st, 2019
Posted By
Sean Cleland
I regularly speak with people who are not prepared to proceed with a divorce but want information about divorce.  They want to know about issues involving child custody, child support, spousal support and property division.  I always describe the d… Read More
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Categories: Other Musings

Divorce Using Collaborative Practice

March 26th, 2019
Posted By
Sean Cleland
Michigan law recognizes collaborative practice as a way to provide full time legal representation to divorcing spouses while avoiding courts and combative attorneys. Read More
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Categories: Other Musings
Tags: Change to Michigan Divorce Law, Cleland Collaborative Solutions, Collaborative Practice, Michigan Divorce Law, Sean Cleland

Mediation to Resolve a Divorce

March 20th, 2019
Posted By
Sean Cleland
Mediation is a way to resolve a divorce by reaching voluntary agreements through the assistance of a neutral mediator. Read More
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Categories: Other Musings
Tags: Change to Michigan Divorce Law, Cleland Collaborative Solutions, Mediation, Mediation to Resolve a Divorce, Michigan Divorce Law, Sean Cleland

Do-It-Yourself Divorce

March 12th, 2019
Posted By
Sean Cleland
A do-it-yourself divorce is when people want to handle the divorce on their own. Both spouses are able to discuss and reach agreements and complete all necessary legal documents. They are not represented by attorneys and do not need a mediator to hel… Read More
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Categories: Do-it-yourself Divorce
Tags: Change to Michigan Divorce Law, Cleland Collaborative Solutions, do-it-yourself divorce, Michigan Divorce Law, Sean Cleland

Divorce Law in Michigan is Changing.

March 5th, 2019
Posted By
Sean Cleland
Recently there have been some big changes to Michigan divorce law that will affect the entire structure of how people get divorced. During the following podcast I will explain what the two changes mean for people getting a divorce. Read More
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Categories: Michigan Divorce Law
Tags: Change to Michigan Divorce Law, Cleland Collaborative Solutions, do-it-yourself divorce, Michigan Divorce Law, Sean Cleland

Divorce When You Are Over 50 - Planning for Financial Security

April 27th, 2018
Posted By
Sean Cleland
Divorce by nature causes financial problems.  Divorce for people over 50 – known as “gray divorce” – can be a full blown financial crisis.  On average, the gray divorced will end up having only 1/5 of the assets of gray married couples.… Read More
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Categories: Other Musings

Getting Honest and Good Advice About Divorce - For Free!

April 21st, 2018
Posted By
Sean Cleland
I get two types of questions about my services. First, I am often asked by people if I handle contentious divorces. Of course I do.  I am an attorney who represents people in court all the time.  I just don’t encourage people to take a combative… Read More
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Categories: Other Musings

The Age of Divorce

April 13th, 2018
Posted By
Sean Cleland
It seems like nowadays all I hear about is how the country is heading in the wrong direction. Wendell Berry, a writer, philosopher, farmer and father of the locally grown food movement, has been saying this far before it became fashionable.  Since t… Read More
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Categories: Other Musings

Divorce and the Science on Adverse Childhood Experiences

March 1st, 2018
Posted By
Sean Cleland
Since the divorce rate peaked in the 1980s, we have learned a great deal about how divorce affects children, and what it is about divorce that negatively affects them.  We know today that children of divorce are at an increased risk of serious and l… Read More
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Categories: Other Musings
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Services

Divorce Without Courts
One of the primary missions of Cleland Collaborative Solutions is to help you resolve your divorce in Michigan without going to court, through mediation and collaborative practice. Learn more about the benefits of these approaches.
Divorce in Court
Although Cleland Collaborative Solutions sees divorce litigation as a last resort, it may be unavoidable. In these cases, our work centers on protecting your interests while preventing costly, unnecessary battles. Learn about how we help.

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