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Divorce paperwork can land like a battlefield announcement, but we see it differently. Steve Altishin sits down with senior paralegal Lisa Parsons to reframe divorce as a peace treaty: a deliberate, negotiated ending that helps you protect your kids, your finances, and your future without turning every issue into a fight.

We talk about why people feel so afraid at the start of the divorce process, and how grief and the need for control can pull you into toxic patterns with someone who knows how to push every button. Lisa explains why “not fighting” is not the same as “not advocating,” especially in custody and parenting plan decisions where going to court can mean handing your voice to a judge who barely knows your family.

You’ll also hear why comparing your case to a friend’s divorce can backfire, how negotiation often works best when you understand the other side’s incentives and fears, and why settling early can prevent expensive, repeat conflicts later. If you want practical family law guidance and a calmer path through divorce in Oregon or Washington, this conversation is built for you.

Subscribe for more Modern Family Matters, share this with someone who needs a steadier approach, and leave a review with the question you want us to tackle next.

If you would like to speak with one of our attorneys, please call (503) 227-0200 or visit our website.

Disclaimer: Nothing in this communication is intended to provide legal advice or constitute an attorney-client relationship.

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A family can be real, loving, and stable while still confusing the paperwork and the strangers in the grocery store. We’re joined by author and teacher Lane Igoudin to talk about what it actually looks like to build a modern family through foster care adoption, and why that choice can feel both deeply personal and quietly political, especially for LGBTQ parents who have had to claim space everywhere they go.

Lane shares the road he and his husband took as a multiracial same sex couple adopting two children from foster care, and how the legal system treated them for years during the patchwork era of marriage recognition. We get specific about the everyday friction points that families hit: school enrollment forms that assume “mother” and “father,” the visibility that comes with being different in public, and the way supportive community can matter as much as extended family when you’re raising kids.

We also talk about culture and identity without turning a household into competing boxes. The big takeaway is parenting as a long conversation: stay present, put the phone down, and respond thoughtfully instead of reacting from your own baggage.

If you care about family law, foster to adopt, LGBTQ adoption, multicultural parenting, and what makes kids feel like they truly belong, you’ll get a lot from this one. Subscribe, share with someone navigating family changes, and leave a review with your biggest question about modern family life.

If you would like to speak with one of our attorneys, please call our office at (503) 227-0200, or visit our website at https://www.pacificcascadelegal.com.

To learn more about Lane and how he can help you, you can visit his website at: https://laneigoudin.com/about-me/

Disclaimer: Nothing in this communication is intended to provide legal advice nor does it constitute a client-attorney relationship, therefore you should not interpret the contents as such.

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You hired a family law attorney, so why are you spending so much time talking to a paralegal? If that’s been bugging you, you’re not alone and it might actually be a sign your case is being handled the right way.

We sit down with our senior paralegal, Lisa Parsons, to explain what paralegals really do in divorce, custody, and other family law cases: drafting and organizing key documents, managing discovery, digging through financial records, running support calculations, and keeping the day-to-day tasks moving so deadlines don’t slip. We also talk about the practical reality of an attorney’s schedule with hearings, trials, and back-to-back meetings, and why a paralegal can often get you answers faster by acting as the communication bridge.

We also get specific about where the line is. Paralegals cannot give legal advice or stand up in court, and they are not the person building final trial strategy or doing direct and cross examination. But they can help translate what you’re experiencing into the “legalese” your attorney needs, flag issues that could become landmines later, and prepare clean, complete materials that make your lawyer more effective. We even dig into how family law process differs across states, including how Oregon can require more custom declarations compared with more structured form-driven systems.

If you want your case to move efficiently and feel less confusing, this conversation will help you know who to contact, what to ask, and how to use your legal team well. Subscribe for more practical family law guidance, share this with someone going through a tough case, and leave a review so more families can find real help when they need it.

If you would like to speak with a member of our legal team, please call (503) 227-0200 or visit our website.

Disclaimer: Nothing in this communication is intended to provide legal advice or constitute an attorney-client relationship.