States Considering Counseling Before Divorce

States Considering Counseling Before Divorce

Should the state force couples to attend counseling sessions before their divorces are finalized? That’s what Oklahoma has just done. Oklahoma has one of the highest divorce levels in the nation. Since November 1st of last year, divorcing couples who have children need to attend four counseling sessions before they are able to obtain the divorce.

Each person attends their own sessions. It is not mediation or collaborative divorce, but rather to communicate information about the impact of divorce on children and the possible scenarios that could come up. Counselors ask the parent how they would handle particular situations seen post-divorce.

The goal of the counseling sessions is to get couples to reconsider their divorce, yet so far the program has not seen a single divorcing couple reconcile due to the sessions.

By the time someone gets the courage to say they want a divorce and take action, bringing up the subject of children may not be enough to save the marriage. More often, people won’t bring it up at all until after the children are grown.

Do you have questions about divorce counseling or getting a divorce in the State of Washington? Call Elise Buie Family Law Group, PLLC to schedule a consultation. Our family lawers will work with you to find a fair solution for everyone involved. We specialize in mediation and collaborative divorce. Read our website to learn more.

STAY UP TO DATE

Subscribe to our newsletters

 
Subscribe to one or more of our newsletters, delivering meaningful insight on topics that matter to you and your family.
ebl home subscribe image

FURTHER READING

Latest Blog Posts

If you and your partner reside in Washington state and are unmarried, you each might qualify for the legal protections availed to you by law by classifying your relationship as a committed intimate relationship.

One of the greatest gifts you can give your family is to build an estate plan while you are alive and well. Estate planning allows you to formally communicate your wishes so they will not be up for interpretation by…

A co-executor can help facilitate the distribution of assets, minimize conflicts, and provide much-needed support to grieving families.

The law makes it easy for people to get out of bad marriages. Washington, like most states, acknowledges no-fault divorce. This means that if you want a court to dissolve your marriage, all you have to do is file for…

Washington state’s laws on non-marital relationships, including committed intimate relationships (CIRs), can be convoluted, especially in the absence of a cohabitation agreement. Given the ambiguity that exists for unmarried partners in Washington state, thinking about the future and what it could look like is more important than ever. This is especially true in terms of aging, incapacity, and death. Fortunately, you can address each of these issues in a comprehensive estate plan.

Prenups and postnups can strengthen a marriage, given how they require relationship partners to put their cards on the table for each other to see, offering transparency and peace of mind. Despite their similarities, there are a few significant differences between the two.

Child support is one of the most contentious issues in divorce cases where parties have minor children. Even though Washington state law uses the same complex mathematical formula to determine the amount of child support for each child, there is…

Family law and estate planning often intersect. This is particularly true when contemplating divorce, remarriage, or blending families.

At some point during your divorce case, friends and family members whose own marriages ended in divorce probably told you that it gets better, and it does. Of course, from your perspective, getting out of a bad marriage might be…

Co-parenting over a long distance when you are a non-residential parent does not have to equate to sacrificing involvement in your children’s lives. But it likely does mean you will have to make tweaks in your communication and parenting style to accommodate the new living arrangement.