The Collaborative Law Institute of Minnesota

10/12/2026

The Magic of the Collaborative Process - Part 1
Collaborative Practice attorney Audra Holbeck takes us on a magical journey in this Part I blog inspired by Harry Potter, exploring how Collaborative professionals use their own special tools to transform conflict, encourage cooperation, and create positive solutions for families navigating divorce.
Visit the Collaborative Law Institute of Minnesota blog at https://collaborativelaw.org/blog/ and read the full article and check back for part II!
Author: Audra Holbeck, Attorney, Mediator, Holbeck Law |Web: http://holbecklaw.com

10/01/2026

(RE)LEARNING THE SEVEN POWERS OF PLAY – PART 5 has been posted at the CLI Blog by Author Audra Holbeck, Attorney, Mediator, Holbeck Law |Web: http://holbecklaw.com
Description: What if the skills children learn through play could help adults navigate divorce? Creative thinking, self-control, confidence, collaboration, communication, and more can transform conflict into problem-solving. Discover how seven childhood “powers of play” can help couples approach Collaborative Divorce with respect, resilience, and a healthier vision for the future.
Read the full article at https://collaborativelaw.org/blog/

09/24/2026

The Fed Just Raised Rates — But That Could Actually Create an Opportunity...

A Federal Reserve rate increase may sound like bad news, but it can create opportunities for divorcing homeowners. Mortgage rates, home values, equity, refinancing, and divorce decree language all affect housing options.

Before deciding to keep, refinance, or sell the family home, understand the numbers and whether the plan works.

Read the full article at the Collaborative Law Institute - MN Blog: https://collaborativelaw.org/fed-rates-divorce-mortgage/

Blog Author: David Jamison, Rainbow Mortgage, Inc.
www.RainbowMortgageInc.com

THE CLI BLOG | https://collaborativelaw.org/blog/

09/10/2026

(RE)LEARNING THE SEVEN POWERS OF PLAY – PART 4 has been posted at the CLI Blog by Author Audra Holbeck, Attorney, Mediator, Holbeck Law |Web: http://holbecklaw.com

Article description: What can childhood play teach us about divorce? Collaboration skills learned in the sandbox—listening, empathy, cooperation, and working toward shared goals—can also help couples navigate divorce. Discover how Collaborative Divorce helps families work through conflict, solve problems together, and create healthier outcomes while preserving important relationships for the future.

Read the full article at https://collaborativelaw.org/blog/

09/03/2026

Why I Became a Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert ...
When a marriage ends, the family home can represent far more than property—it holds memories, financial security, and hopes for the future. Shannon Lindstrom shares why she became a Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert and how a neutral, informed approach can reduce conflict, protect equity, and bring clarity during divorce.

Read this blog article by Shannon Lindstrom, Realtor® at the Collaborative Law Institute of Minnesota Blog | https://collaborativelaw.org/blog/

Author: Shannon Lindstrom, Realtor®, AHWD, CDRE®, GREEN, MILRES, MRP, VCA
RE/MAX Results
Direct: 612-616-9714 | www.ShannonLindstromRealtor.com

08/31/2026

The Losing Strategies: Why We All End Up Part of the Problem

Description: Eight common relationship strategies—venting, being right, shaming, controlling, assuming, covert contracts, retaliation, and withdrawal—can quietly damage a marriage. This article explains how these patterns develop, why they persist, and how recognizing your own behaviors can help break unhealthy cycles, improve communication, and create stronger, more connected relationships.

Read the full article posted at the CLI-MN Blog: https://collaborativelaw.org/blog/

Author Brian Burns, LMFT, MN Relationship Repair
https://www.mnrelationshiprepair.com/

08/18/2026

CLI Blog post
In her recent blog Adjusting the Tension Gay Rosenthal, MA, LP , Psychologist/ Mental Health Professional explores the delicate balance parents face between protecting children and giving them the independence they need to grow into confident, resilient adults. That balance becomes especially challenging during separation or divorce, when family stress and parental conflict can affect children at every developmental stage. From preschool through adolescence, children need stability, appropriate boundaries, positive role models, and the freedom to develop age-appropriate independence. The article examines how parents can create a supportive “holding environment” that provides security without limiting growth. It also highlights how Collaborative Divorce can help parents preserve their shared hopes for their children by providing professional support, improving communication and conflict-resolution skills, and keeping parents focused on their children’s healthy development and long-term well-being.
Author: Gay Rosenthal, MA, LP | https://rosenthal-psychology.com/
Read more at the CLI-MN Blog: https://collaborativelaw.org/blog/

08/05/2026

5 Financial Decisions in Gray Divorce You Can't Take Back
Gray divorce brings financial decisions that are harder to reverse than people expect: not knowing your real post-divorce budget before waiving maintenance, dividing retirement and investment accounts without accounting for the tax bill, deciding to keep the home without running the full numbers, claiming Social Security before modeling the options, and letting beneficiaries and estate documents lag behind the decree. This article walks through five of the most common ones, written for a dual audience — the people going through it, and the attorneys, mediators, and CPAs guiding them. The financial substance here doesn't change based on process. Whether a case is mediated, collaborative, or litigated, these are the details that determine whether a settlement holds up financially five and ten years down the road. Written to support informed decisions regardless of path, not to advocate for one approach over another.

Author: Mike Miller, CFP®, CDFA®, Integra Shield Financial Group
Ph: (763) 201-1390 | www.integrashieldfinancial.com

Article at CLI-MN Blog: https://collaborativelaw.org/gray-divorce-financial-decisions/

07/22/2026

What Will That Low Interest Rate Mortgage Really Cost You?
Author: David Jamison, Rainbow Mortgage, Inc.
www.RainbowMortgageInc.com
Article at Collaborative Law Institute Blog: https://collaborativelaw.org/refinancing-vs-retirement-withdrawal-divorce/
Article Description: Many divorcing homeowners focus on keeping their low mortgage interest rate—but is it really the smartest financial decision? This article explores a common divorce scenario and compares two options: withdrawing retirement savings to avoid refinancing or refinancing at today's higher interest rates. Using real-world numbers, it demonstrates how protecting a 3% mortgage could cost more than $130,000 in lost retirement growth over just five years. The lesson is clear: interest rates are only one piece of the financial picture. Before making a decision that could affect your long-term wealth, understand the true cost of each option and choose based on your overall financial future.

Protecting a low mortgage rate during divorce could cost far more than refinancing—and how to make a smarter long-term financial decision.

07/09/2026

A new article Feel Stuck During Divorce? How Divorce Coaching Can Help Collaborative Divorce has been posted at the CLI Blog https://collaborativelaw.org/blog/

Author: Bridget Leschinsky, CDC Certified Divorce Coach®, Co-Parenting Coach, Mediator, The Bridging Coach, LLC | www.bridgeyourdivorce.com

About the article: Divorce is more than a legal process. It is an emotional one. Learn how divorce coaching can help you navigate the emotional challenges of divorce, communicate more effectively, reduce conflict, and participate more successfully in the Collaborative Divorce process with greater clarity and confidence.

Professional Divorce Mediation in Minneapolis and across Minnesota. Bridget provides compassionate support through separation and divorce.