January Peak Month for Divorce - National Expert Advises Couples on Down Economy

Divorce Expert and Author, Karen Stewart, Gives Couples Five Tips on How to Cope
with Divorce
SALT LAKE CITY--(Business Wire)--
According to a leading North American divorce expert, January could be
designated as national divorce month-and January 12th could be national divorce
day. It is a time when divorce professionals notice a spike each year in divorce
inquiries, but the down economy is adding an interesting twist.
www.fairwaydivorce.com

"There are varying opinions on whether the current economic condition is
increasing or decreasing divorce rates," said Karen Stewart, founder and CEO of
Fairway Divorce. "Two things are clear-couples are definitely considering
whether they can afford to divorce, and the annual January spike shows no signs
of letting up in 2009."

The increase in January divorce decisions is attributed to couples wanting to
wait until after the holiday season. Many will also make the decision to divorce
one of their New Year`s resolutions. January 12th is significant this year since
in many places it is the first day kids are back in school following the holiday
season break when thoughts of divorce turn into decisions.

For couples making January divorce decisions in the down economy, Stewart
provides five tips to consider in order to ease the emotional divorce process:

* Lawyers do not get paid well to settle fast. There is nothing wrong with
getting legal advice for certain aspects of a divorce, but it is always in the
best interest of the legal system for divorces to be long and drawn out.
* Divorce is not the end, it is the beginning. Move through your divorce as an
empowered decision-maker. Divorce is a transition-an event that should not
define your life. It can be about new beginnings.
* A stranger is NOT the best person to make your decisions. Many believe the
only way to divorce is to hire a lawyer often causing adversarial confrontations
for couples, and pain for children. There are alternative ways to divorce that
provide empowerment to couples in making sound decisions.
* Adversarial divorce does not achieve a win-win. Divorce should not be about
destroying the enemy; it should be about bringing a fair ending to a partnership
and laying the foundation for both parties to move on-at a lower cost and
without causing the fear and anxiety of the traditional divorce system.
* You don`t need a lawyer to divorce. Hiring a lawyer doesn`t give you control;
it causes you to lose it. Couples are best served getting legal advice to know
their rights and obligations. To negotiate parenting and money issues, couples
are best served with professionals who have strong financial and parenting
backgrounds.

"Couples should be proactive in controlling the outcome of their divorce," said
Stewart. "A better, fairer way is available. All you have to do is research your
options and take advantage of free consultations to ask how you and your family
will fair through the process they offer."

About Karen Stewart

Karen Stewart, BSc., M.B.A., RHU, CDFA, R.F.M., is a Certified Divorce Financial
Analyst and author of Clean Break: How to Divorce with Dignity and Move on with
Your Life. She is founder and CEO of Fairway Divorce Solutions, the first real
alternative to the traditional divorce process. With a winning combination of
business and financial acumen, Karen is a key guest speaker at conferences at
the local, regional and national level. She is a regular guest on the Big Brain
Radio Show in Minneapolis and has been featured in many articles on divorce
across North America. www.fairwaydivorce.com

About Fairway Divorce Solutions

Established in 2006, Fairway Divorce Solutions provides an alternative to the
traditional system of divorce with a new divorce model that saves money, time,
stress, and protects children. Charging a flat fee, Fairway Divorce Solutions
uses a commonsense, step-by-step, proven approach called The Fairway Process.
The Company is growing rapidly with franchises throughout Canada, and is
expanding in the U.S. www.fairwaydivorcefranchise.com

Snapp Conner PR
A. Cory Maloy, 801-994-9625
cmaloy@snappconner.com

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