Divorce Advice for Men | Fathers Rights Divorce | Child Custody

By Jennifer M. Paine

Attorney, Cordell & Cordell, P.C., Detroit office

There’s a war of words waging between exes in divorce cases, sometimes subtle, sometimes blatant and yelling loud as can be. They fight over school, sports, new girlfriends and boyfriends, stepmoms and stepdads, who pays what share for summer camp, whether McDonald’s is dinner or a treat, everything under the sun and then some.

It is so easy to snap back. But that old adage, "You better bite your tongue" is never truer. What you say will come back to against you. And your children.

You should consider a non-disparagement clause instead.

Part 1 explained what a non-disparagement clause is. Part 2 showed you what a non-disparagement clause looks like. Today's final part will discuss your options to enforce the clause.

By Jennifer M. Paine

Attorney, Cordell & Cordell, P.C., Detroit office

There’s a war of words waging between exes in divorce cases, sometimes subtle, sometimes blatant and yelling loud as can be. They fight over school, sports, new girlfriends and boyfriends, stepmoms and stepdads, who pays what share for summer camp, whether McDonald’s is dinner or a treat, everything under the sun and then some.

It is so easy to snap back. But that old adage, "You better bite your tongue" is never truer. What you say will come back to against you. And your children.

You should consider a non-disparagement clause instead.

In Part 1 you read about "What is a non-disparagement clause?" This part examines "What does a non-disparagement clause look like?" Part 3 discussed options to enforce the clause.

By Jennifer M. Paine

Attorney, Cordell & Cordell, P.C., Detroit office

They had five teeth between them, in a sandwich bag tucked amid sweatshirts and socks. Mom always sent them with extra, even in the summertime, as if Dad hadn’t enough. He did. "What’s that?" he said, tugging at the bag. The teeth jingled. "Mommy says the Tooth Fairy won’t come to her house because she’s too poor," they replied, yanking the bag out and plopping it on the bedroom pillows. "She said we should bring these to your house because the Tooth Fairy likes people with money."

Will was so upset when he told me this story, his face turned red and he started drumming his fingers pointedly against my desk. The pens clanked. "What did you say?" I asked.

The temptation: "Your mother’s a no-good-sunnuva . . .  a liar and a cheapskate."

The reality: "I didn’t say anything."

Good. There’s a war of words waging between exes in divorce cases, sometimes subtle like the Tooth Fairy story, sometimes blatant and yelling loud as can be. They fight over school, sports, new girlfriends and boyfriends, stepmoms and stepdads, who pays what share for summer camp, whether McDonald’s is dinner or a treat, everything under the sun and then some. It is so easy to snap back. But that old adage, "You better bite your tongue" is never truer. What you say will come back to against you. And your children.

You should consider a non-disparagement clause instead.