Sharon Oberst DeFala

It’s Called EnFORCEment for a Reason

Photo by Designecologist on Pexels.com Enforcement means forcing someone to do something they do not want to do. Just because a judge rules that your ex-wife has to treat you with respect in front of the kids, doesn’t mean she is going to do it. A judge who orders alimony payments does not show upContinueContinue reading “It’s Called EnFORCEment for a Reason”

Bad Start Turns Happy Ending

Photo by Elle Hughes on Pexels.com https://www.pexels.com/@elletakesphotos A Former Client called today. Her ex-husband, from whom I divorced her about 10 years ago, passed away. Frankly, he lived a lot longer than I would have guessed. While we were going through the divorce process, I never expected him to make it to the nextContinueContinue reading “Bad Start Turns Happy Ending”

Don’t Take Your Ex’s Word for Everything

I received a call this week from “Tony,” a fictitious name for a man I represented in 1998, when he and his first wife had a 3 year old son together. He has been a generous and involved father to his child from that marriage for the entire 15 years since his divorce. He paidContinueContinue reading “Don’t Take Your Ex’s Word for Everything”

Whose divorce is this, anyway?

I had a surprising phone call today with an old friend. He has been in the divorce process for almost a year, and could not see a way to conclude the process and get on with his life. The reason, sadly, is because his wife won’t let him. After all of these years of lettingContinueContinue reading “Whose divorce is this, anyway?”

Getta’ loada’ THIS guy!

I rarely do this, but – you think your ex (or soon-to-be-ex) is a jerk? Getta’ loada’ THIS guy! Mr. and Mrs. “Michaels” were married while Mr. Michaels was finishing his education at a prominent New York law school. Mrs. Michaels worked two jobs so they could afford a decent place to live while herContinueContinue reading “Getta’ loada’ THIS guy!”

A Diamond Necklace

I was looking for something in my jewelry box recently, and ran across a piece I had almost completely forgotten. The diamond necklace from Brad. Brad and I dated for about two years. We never lived together, and the relationship never got too serious, but we were “boyfriend” and “girlfriend” in our 30s. He wasContinueContinue reading “A Diamond Necklace”

Finding A Theme In Life

I don’t know about your house, but in my family, the resolutions have already begun meeting reality. Diets are hard to maintain in cold weather. No one is going out for a run in the snow. With only one day of school under our belts, the backpacks were already in the middle of the livingContinueContinue reading “Finding A Theme In Life”

Holidays and Who to Have Over

The holiday guest lists are being written. I love asking people whom they are going to see over the holidays because there are so often fun surprises tucked inside the “usual” family list. A few of my favorite answers I have heard include: * My husband and our kids, my 2 sisters, their husbands andContinueContinue reading “Holidays and Who to Have Over”

Home for the Holidays

Even though this post was originally made 2 years ago, for the holidays in 2011, what we love still rings true today. My friend, whom I will call Bill, is divorced with two teenaged sons. The boys live in the marital home with their mom. Bill still lives in the same town and sees theContinueContinue reading “Home for the Holidays”

Trust Issues and Moving Forward

When a love affair goes bad a jilted party often wants to reduce his or her feelings to writing as a way of processing the experience. Some people then burn these letters, or file them away. Of course, there are those who drop them in the mail or hit “send” once they are written. Occasionally,ContinueContinue reading “Trust Issues and Moving Forward”