To Mediate Or Not To Mediate? – Quite simply: because it often resolves disputes that would otherwise end up in court or before arbitrators. If mediation is successful, considerable time and costs involved with litigation and arbitration are avoided. And there are other benefits to mediation. Relations are preserved and sometimes even strengthened. Also, even though the parties are assisted by a mediator, they keep control over the process and outcome. Mediation tends to create a buy-in to faithfully execute a settlement agreement reached during the mediation.

Should You Divorce Your Family After the Holidays? – Splitting from a bad spouse is accepted but a stigma remains about cutting out a damaging sibling or parent. How do you decide to let one go?

Mortgage rates rise slightly – The average interest rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage crossed over the 4.5 percent mark earlier this week, increasing to 4.53 percent, Freddie Mac reported Thursday.