Articles from Michael Becker

Celebrities Mediate, Too!

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s relationship, dating back to the early 2000’s has been one of the most public love stories in Hollywood. And when they recently got divorced, they chose a more private and pragmatic approach: mediation.

No doubt, they could have afforded to hire armies of attorneys to fight it out for years publicly in the courts and the media with sensational headlines. But they didn’t.

Instead, their complicated, multimillion-dollar divorce was settled in just four months — by using a mediator. And they didn’t have a prenuptial agreement, which made things even more complicated. The divorce involved their $68 million Beverly Hills mansion, as well as earnings from various films, business ventures and endorsement deals.

Mediation cuts the cost, conflict and delay of divorce. In mediation, a neutral professional guides both spouses to mutually agreeable solutions, most often resulting in a smoother, more efficient, less costly and less contentious process.

Their decision to handle the situation with maturity, respect, privacy — and at much less emotional and financial cost — has become increasingly common for high-profile couples who want to resolve their divorces without a lengthy public court fight. As of the time of this writing, Lopez and Affleck have submitted a comprehensive settlement agreement to the court and await a judge’s approval.

This high-profile case is a reminder of the value of mediation — finding peaceful divorce settlements, even for wealthy celebrities who are in the public eye with complex cases.

Recent Articles

The 5 Steps in a Troubled Marriage

In her upcoming book, I (Think) I Want Out, couples’ therapist Becky Whitestone lays out the five milestones in a failing marriage. She hopes couples who identify these stages early on can save their marriage before it’s too late.

Spending Limits Help Couples?

Couples that agree on spending limits have less conflict about money.

Legal Documents for College

Critical legal documents parents should have in place for college students.

Tax Stuff: A New Use for 529s

Owners of overfunded 529 college savings accounts can roll some of the funds to a Roth IRA tax free.