Book Review written by Joe Anne Adler

Getting Divorced Without Ruining Your Life by Sam Marguilies, Ph.D., J.D. is published by Fireside Books. It is available at most bookstores and at any of the Rhode Island Public Libraries.

Getting Divorced Without Ruining Your Life, written by Sam Marguilies is an excellent primer for people just beginning the divorce process. It provides readers with a foundation of knowledge they can use throughout the divorce process. The book provides a realistic yet concise outline of the options a couple have when considering divorce and shows how both the mediation process and the conventional legal process can be used to negotiate a divorce settlement that is tailored to the couples needs.

The author, a practicing attorney and mediator, has divided the book into two parts. The first half, entitled Getting Ready, informs, equips and empowers the reader to negotiate. In this section, Marguilies explains the divorce laws and their implications, addresses the emotional crisis experienced in divorce and lays out the economic considerations that have to be made in addition to addressing the purpose, intent and options that need to be considered in deciding custody, visitation, child support, alimony, and property distribution.

The second half, entitled Negotiating Your Agreement, provides information and ideas on negotiating all aspects of a divorce settlement. The author uses both real life case studies and his substantial experience in the legal field to provide a well written book that walks the reader through the emotional, legal and economic realities of divorce and provides them with expert information about ways that the mediation and legal process can be used to construct a viable and satisfactory divorce settlement.