Co-Parenting Coaching

It is difficult for many couples to transition from being spouses to being effective co-parents. In an effort to ease that shift we have developed Consilium ® Co-Parent Coaching. Co-Parents meet with a Consilium attorney for one and a half hours three (3) times a year for their first two (2) years post-divorce. During those sessions the parties develop healthy communication patterns relative to issues that impact their children such as their education, extra-curricular interests, healthcare, religious/spiritual upbringing, social/emotional/psychological development, vacations and holiday rituals.

After Marriage Covenants

At Consilium we recognize that when a marriage ends, a family does not. Therefore we created After-Marriage Covenants, working documents that acknowledge a couple’s shared history, and expresses for themselves and their children their common values, beliefs, aspirations and goals.

After-Marriage Covenants are named such for two reasons: (1) they are created more as blessings than contracts, a means of finding common ground relative to your children and to validating your best mutual aspirations, and (2) they are not enforceable contracts nor should they be confused as documents that can be made Orders by a Court.

Moving Out of State- Relocation

One of the most difficult situations co-parents can confront is that of one parent wanting to move out of the state in which they had resided together with their children.

Moving away or relocating, or “removal” as it is often called, has significant impact on both children and their parents. When parents can’t agree about a move, the cases often end up Court involved with the appointment of a Guardian ad litem for the children. Massachusetts has established laws related to removal, and the decision to leave the state can be complicated both legally and psychologically. Before deciding that you want to move away, or making a decision that you wish to try to prevent relocation it is important to understand both the laws and the emotional complexities involved.

Through the Cosiliium Process we are able to help parents understand the legal, psychological and emotional impact of removal, consider multiple relevant perspectives, and then make an informed legal, familial and psycho-social decision as how best to move forward.

Representation of Children by Appointment of the Court

Massachusetts Judges appoint Heidi Webb as an Attorney to represent children in contested family law matters where the Court deems children have interests independent of their parents. Although Heidi only represents children when requested to do so by the Court, her experience in those matters informs her ongoing work with parents outside of the Courtroom.

Spousal and child support modifications

We work with individuals who seek to alter an existing support order when there has been a material change in their circumstances, and help them understand possible avenues of resolution.

Modifications of residential and decision-making responsibility (formerly called legal and physical custody)

We work with individuals when there has been a material change in their circumstances, which results in their desire to alter an existing order relative to their children. .

Dissolution to Evolution

Navigating Your Divorce Through The Consilium Process

This book, that describes the Consilium Process, was developed to help people considering divorce to simultaneously create a parallel path of personal growth. It highlights common scenarios, presents thoughtful options and constructs optimal outcomes. The workbook helps people structure and pre-think their process so that logic can prevail during a time fraught with high emotion.