War in the courtroom hurts kids, maximizes pain

Emotions run high during divorce, with the anger, pain, and hurt leading to bitter, expensive courtroom battles that cause considerable emotional damage to adults and children. Minimize conflict and protect the children by handling matters yourself, says attorney Ed Sherman, author of How to Do Your Own Divorce in California; A Guide for Petitioners and Respondents.

“Divorce is hard on kids but it is the failure to resolve conflict that damages kids the most. They learn that problems can’t be solved. When parents settle things eventually, kids learn that problems can be solved, which is a valuable lesson,” says Sherman.

How to Do Your Own Divorce in California is a complete kit for an out-of-court divorce or dissolution of a domestic partnership that provides the practical legal advice, court forms and step-by-step instructions required to make an uncontested divorce as easy and painless as possible. The book provides solutions to the myriad issues that surface when you seek a divorce:

• Reduce disputes and protect your children
• Create the best post-divorce parenting arrangements
• Deal with your emotions so they don’t get in the way
• Reduce conflict, and cost, of divorce
• Assert your rights firmly
• Settle disputes without lawyers or court appearances
• Manage money matters
• Fight efficiently – if necessary

Currently in its 30th edition, How to Do Your Own Divorce in California has helped Californians save billions of dollars in legal fees since the first edition was published more than 30 years ago. This latest edition, updated for 2007, contains current court forms.