February 2018 - Jeff Molenda Mediation

Each Parent Has Full & Equal Access to His or Her Child’s School Records.

2018-02-14T16:12:12+00:00 By Jeff Molenda|Divorce, Family|

I've heard a lot of mis-information from parents about whether they can access their child's school records. Parents have heard that only the parent with "primary custody" can have access to school records. Or, parents believe that they can only get access to their kid's records if they are educational decision-maker. Both of those are incorrect. Parents Have Full & Equal Access to School Records Access to school records is governed by West Virginia Code Section 48-9-601. It says , [...]

Why I Don’t Do Battle In Court

2018-02-14T15:32:50+00:00 By Jeff Molenda|Divorce, General Conflict|

I don’t take on litigated divorce & family cases. You know, the kind of court battle where Mom & Dad both hire lawyers, and spend a bunch of time, money and physical and emotional energy fighting about money, retirement plan division, the house, who hurt who the most, who was right and who was wrong, time with the kids, who makes decisions about the kids, and everything else that needs to be decided in a divorce. Over & Done With [...]

What Is The “Conflict” I Help With?

2018-02-12T19:17:20+00:00 By Jeff Molenda|Community Conflicts, Divorce|

My business card and this site both say "I work with people in conflict to figure out a way to untangle the fuss, and achieve peace, calm and a way forward." Okay, fine, but what do I mean by "conflict" in this context? It can mean a lawsuit. I mediate lawsuits where the people involved decide that continuing to fight in court is not getting what they want. Peace, and an end to a lawsuit have value. But conflict doesn't [...]

What Do You Want To Know About Conflict and Mediation?

2018-02-13T20:04:56+00:00 By Jeff Molenda|Community Conflicts, General Conflict|

As I add to this blog, I am interested in hearing what questions you have about conflicts, disputes, or disagreements and the possible ways to resolve them. When we talk about a conflict or disagreement, does it always need to get resolved? Does every dispute or argument need a clear winner? What about learning how to communicate within our disputes in a way that allows everyone to be heard, and understood--does that have value? What questions do you have about [...]

The New Tax Law Could Affect Your Money After Divorce

2018-02-20T15:18:48+00:00 By Jeff Molenda|Divorce|

The new tax law changes how spousal support (alimony) is treated by both the paying spouse and the receiving spouse. The new rules go into effect for people who divorce, or sign separation agreements, in or after 2019. If you are thinking about divorce, or are already in the process of divorcing, you may want to explore the effects and consequences of the new law on your decision-making with your attorney and financial advisors. Here is a link to the [...]