Mediation | Fields and Dennis LLP

Attorney Jon Fields receives the 2022 John Adams Fiske Award

At Fields and Dennis, LLP, we congratulate Attorney Jon Fields on the honor of receiving the 2022 John Adams Fiske Award which is bestowed every year for excellence in mediation by the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediators. Read more about the award and past honorees here: https://mcfm.org/pro/fiske-award

Attorney Jonathan Fields Featured in Q&A in citybizlist

Here is my Q&A with citybizlist where I offer some advice on how using skills from mediation can help you get through quarantine and social isolation.

Addressing Power Imbalances in Mediation

One of the advantages of divorce mediation is that it allows both people in the relationship to come together and speak directly to each other — and just as importantly, to be heard. Mediation facilitates decision-making and encourages compromise, but there is one thing about it that makes some people nervous: how to deal with power imbalances.

Power imbalances can take different forms…

Read post here.

Five Huge Benefits of Choosing Mediation

Let’s face it, divorce is messy and painful and can be very expensive. Did you know there was an alternative to make it less volatile and more affordable? Have you heard of mediation?

Mediation is a unique alternative to divorce. It provides a gentler, more productive approach to navigating the tricky legal waters of divorce and usually ends up being less stressful, less costly and easier to move on for the entire family.

Opinion | Mediating Abusive Relationships

Interesting letter to the editor of the New York Times from a divorce mediator.

To the Editor:

Re “How Abusive Relationships Take Root” (Health, nytimes.com, May 11):

As a divorce lawyer and a medically trained professional who specializes in psychologically infused mediation as a successful method to help abused women in divorce, I can testify that domestic violence ensnares women of all backgrounds and that psychological abuse and controlling behaviors are often the root cause of many divorces.

I tell my clients that abusers can’t be reformed. Dominance is slow and insidious. Abuse creates self-doubt, weakness, shame and at some point, out of disorientation and fear, a self-imposed prison.

The use of mediation in abusive divorce situations gives strength to the abused, provides a worthy opponent (mediator) for the abuser, and the opportunity to peel back the psychological layers of abuse in a supportive environment, helping the abused gain freedom.

LOIS BRENNER, NEW YORK

The writer is the author of “Getting Your Share,” a divorce book for women.

Source: Opinion | Mediating Abusive Relationships – The New York Times

Jon Fields Offers Expert Advice in “Hidden Costs of Divorce” Interview

How do you know if mediation or litigation is right for you? What are some of the ways the needs of affluent families affect the cost and planning process of divorce? What is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst?

Jon Fields joins Kelli Adams, Financial Counselor, CFP®, EA to answer some of these questions in GW & Wade’s “ask the experts” interview, focusing on the hidden costs of divorce.

“If your balance sheet contains more than a few basic assets—your bank accounts, your home, your car—the cost of your divorce will probably be affected. Stock options, restricted stock, trusts, executive compensation packages, business interests: assets like these require more nuanced negotiations. You’ll want to make sure your lawyer has experience dealing in complex financial instruments.” -Jon Fields

Please click on the link to read the full interview.

Jonathan Fields Speaking on Family Law Mediation in Wellesley

Fields and Dennis LLP is pleased to announce that Jonathan Fields will be speaking on the topic of “Mediation Challenges for the Family Law Practitioner” in Wellesley on April 8th.

He, along with Kate Fanger, Esq. and Ellen Waldorf, Esq., will be presenting on behalf of the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation (MCFM) at the Wellesley Public Library.

Jon recently completed a two-year term as President of the MCFM and continues to serve on its Executive Board, as he has since 2005. With extensive experience as a neutral, he is well-versed in the rewards and challenges of family law mediation, and he has successfully mediated many family law disputes between couples.

The event is from 2 – 4 p.m. Please contact Jonathan Fields for additional details or if you wish to discuss this topic.

What to Look for in a Divorce Attorney and What to Avoid

Divorce is a trying time for everyone who goes through it, but each divorce is also different. Whether the couple has been married for a lengthy span, if there are children involved, if the parting is amicable or the separation is wrought with hostility and resentment. With so many unique concerns to consider, there is not a “one size fits all” approach to divorce. Read more.

Mediation for Families

Mediation is a tool that can be invaluable to families. At Fields and Dennis, we are well-versed in all aspects of Family Law, and we often turn to mediation as an agreeable and less distressing means to an end. There are many ways that mediation can benefit families at various stages of life. From divorce to estate planning and everything in between, mediation can be an indispensable tool to quell interfamilial tensions and disputes.

If this were a game of Family Feud (Instances a family may call upon a mediator…) ‘divorce’ and ‘estate planning’ may very well be the top two answers on the board, but there are a variety of times when the services of a mediator may benefit a family unit. Read More.

Case Law Updates from Family Mediation Quarterly, October 2013

Case Law Updates by Attorney Jonathan Fields from Family Mediation Quarterly, October 2013, including:

PC Agreement Held Enforceable.
Post-Retirement Alimony Obligations.

Sheryl J. Dennis Quoted in Second Most Read Article in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

January 3, 2023

Attorney Sheryl Dennis was quoted in Massachusetts Lawyer Weekly’s second most read article of the year. The article discusses the feasibility of remote work from the viewpoint of a number of major law firms in the Boston area. If you are in the office, you are much more invested in the firm and the people […]

Fields and Dennis LLP Fundraiser for K9s for Warriors

December 1, 2022

Over the years Fields and Dennis have been proud to sponsor an annual holiday fundraiser for K9s for Warriors. We will be holding another holiday fundraiser through the end of the year. K9s For Warriors is a program to reduce veteran suicide and help our warriors return to a life of dignity and independence. The […]

Here are 4 Ways Divorced Parents Can Make the Holidays Joyful for Their Children – Attorney Vicki L. Shemin’s Article Featured on Divorcemag.com

November 29, 2022

Just because you and your ex-spouse are no longer together doesn’t mean you can’t co-parent peacefully during the holiday season. There are many ways divorced parents can make the holidays memorable for their children. Read the full article on Divorcemag.com https://www.divorcemag.com/blog/here-are-4-ways-divorced-parents-can-make-the-holidays-joyful-for-their-children

Congratulations to Fields and Dennis LLP Firm members who were selected as Top Lawyers for 2022 by Boston Magazine

November 22, 2022

Fields and Dennis LLP is proud to congratulate Sheryl Dennis, Vicki L. Shemin and Jonathan Fields on being selected as Top Lawyers for 2022 by Boston Magazine. The Boston Magazine Top Lawyers list is extensively peer-reviewed and curated to bring together the top quality attorneys in Boston, making it easier for anyone seeking an […]

Sheryl J. Dennis Quoted in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

November 16, 2022

Attorney Sheryl Dennis was quoted in Massachusetts Lawyer Weekly this week. The article discusses the feasibility of remote work from the viewpoint of a number of major law firms in the Boston area. If you are in the office, you are much more invested in the firm and the people around you. It really is […]

The Boston metro family law, divorce and estate planning attorneys at the law firm of Fields and Dennis LLP are based in the Newton Wellesley area and serve the city of Newton: Auburndale, Chestnut Hill, Newton Centre, Newton Corner, Newton Upper Falls, Newton Lower Falls, Nonantum, Oak Hill, Waban and West Newton and town of Wellesley: Babson Park, Wellesley Hills, Wellesley Square Fields and Dennis also serves many clients in the Greater Boston and Massachusetts region including Ashland, Dover, Holliston, Medfield, Needham, Sherborn, Westwood , and all of Massachusetts. Attorney Jonathan Fields is a recognized authority on bitcoin and divorce

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