Introduction
Those who interact with family law courts often wryly note the disparity between the term “family law,” conjuring up images of collaboration and warmth, with the reality of the knock-down, drag-out wars experienced by family law litigants. When people divorce and engage in financial fights and custody battles, emotions run high. Money, marital status, and parenting status go to the very heart of human identity, so it isn’t surprising that legal proceedings involving divorce or the breakup of a nonmarital relationship involving children trigger fear, anger, recrimination, and an array of other strong feelings.