Blog
Barney Connaughton on divorce and mediation: custody, support, property, and how the process works.
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Divorce, Rising Interest Rates and the Family Home
Since I started mediating divorces in 2003 there have been a variety of housing trends over the years that have impacted dealing with houses in the divorces that I have handled. House values have skyrocketed then plummeted. Interest rates have fluctuated. Qualifying for loans and refinances became extraordinarily simple, then incredibly difficult. Over this past […]
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Divorce Attorneys and Therapists Should Be Sharing a Cup of Coffee More Often
There was a time years ago when the San Diego chapter of CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) and the San Diego County Bar Association paired up to have a monthly attorney/therapist interface luncheon. There would be a speaker that would present but then the therapists and attorneys would be left to eat […]
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My Journey to A Healthy Divorce
My name is Barney Connaughton, Divorce Mediator and owner of A Healthy Divorce located in Chula Vista. I went to law school because I wanted to become a lawyer to help solve the problems of the world and make it a better place. I originally envisioned environmental law but my path took a detour into […]
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Happy Mediation Awareness Week!
If you are reading this announcement you have just been made aware of one of the best kept secrets in the world of Divorce, the option to mediate. We have been conditioned to pick up the phone and call a Divorce Attorney when there is a breakdown in our marriages to set it up to […]
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How Divorce Mediation Can Keep You Out of the Backlogged Court System After COVID-19
With COVID-19 making life uncertain, it can help to find ways to stay out of the backlogged court system. If you and your ex are trying to work through a divorce, or you are trying to settle a custody modification, mediation is the answer. When you work with a mediator, you can get the answers […]
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The Family Courts are Opening. Ready, Set, Go?
We live in a world where information changes by the minute and it now appears we have an opening day for the Courts! On May 26, 2020, after nearly 11 weeks of closure, the Court will be back open for more than just emergency orders. The clerk’s office has indicated that filings will start being […]
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5 Essential Skills to Look for in a Good Divorce Mediator
Take control of your divorce and make the decision to mediate. You and your spouse will govern the decision making process to avoid the costly, stressful, and unbelievably backlogged Court system. How refreshing will it feel to know that you will be moving onto the next chapter in your life based upon your timing and […]
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Divorce, Mediation, and Health Insurance
During marriage couples will typically obtain health insurance through the employment benefits of one working spouse. If both spouses have insurance available through their employer the family considers their options and may select the less expensive plan, the best comprehensive coverage, or may pick and choose between the plans by selecting the primary health coverage […]
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Healthy Relationships During COVID-19
Online media sources have reported a dramatic increase in divorce filings in China since the reopening of their Divorce Courts following the COVID-19 closures. About two-thirds of the couples filing for divorce during this period cited the stresses of dealing with the virus or the quarantine measures as the reason for the breakdown in the […]
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Divorce, COVID-19, and Your House
There is speculation that the shelter in place directives around the Country may result in a spike in divorce filings as things progress. Couples are being forced to spend more time together in close proximity which may exacerbate relationship challenges. While the jury is out on that eventuality, I have been working with couples who […]
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Changing Child and Spousal Support During COVID-19
The way child and spousal support typically work in California is that either spouse/parent can seek to obtain an order for support from the Superior Court upon filing for divorce, legal separation, paternity or other appropriate action to bring a case to the family court. The person seeking support would file a motion to request […]
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Divorce and COVID-19: The Courts are closed so now what?
If you are counting on the Courts to resolve the issues of your divorce you may be waiting for a while…a long, long while. The San Diego Courts closed last week and in their announcement indicated they would not reopen until April 6, 2020. With the impact that the virus has had on other Countries […]