Attorney Karen J. Levitt was selected to be a presenter at two different workshops at the October 25-28, 2018 Annual Forum of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP).
The theme of this year’s conference is “Collaborative Creativity” in divorce and family law. The conference is being held in Seattle, Washington. Attendance is by attorneys, financial, mental health and other collaborative professionals from countries around the world who practice in divorce and family law.
The Levitt Law Group, LLC, was a finish line sponsor at the Lowell Humane Society Muddy Paws 5k on June 2, 2018. We all walked, not ran, with lots of other supporters and their dogs, on a very hot but fun day. Participating in our group were Attorney Karen J. Levitt, Attorney Andrea M. Wells and her dog Jack, Attorney Emily A. Weber, Legal Assistant Paula Dumont along with her daughters Hannah and Courtney and their dog Lacey, our intern Lauren Elkins, and friends Ellen Makarevich and Steve Morris.
We had a booth with information about our office and our services, with Andrea’s dog Jack serving as our office dog greeter. He was very good about not eating all the biscuits we had at our booth for the other dog participants!
The Lowell Humane Society exceeded its goal for the fundraiser, raising over $44,000.00 for local animals. The Lowell Humane Society provides shelter to over 1,100 animals each year, and fundraisers such as these are important to the shelter’s ongoing care and protection of animals.
We are proud to have contributed. If you would like to donate to the shelter, go to http://www.
Each party must complete a financial statement form and file with the Court to get divorced in Massachusetts – it’s required. Yet the financial statement form comes with little if any instructions. While most clients and their attorneys hate these forms because they’re time consuming and painful to complete, learning why the form is necessary and how it’s used may make you love (or at least not hate) the form! Here goes:
Continue reading “Divorce and Family Court Financial Statements: What we love and hate about them!”
Levitt Law Group, LLC is proud to be a Finish Line Sponsor for the Lowell Humane Society’s upcoming Muddy Paws Benefit 5k Walk/Run taking place on June, 2, 2018 in Lowell! The Lowell Humane Society, a private not for profit organization, is one of the oldest humane organizations in Massachusetts and works tirelessly to prevent cruelty, provide care for homeless and distressed animals, and educate the public about responsible pet ownership. Levitt Law Group employees (and their dogs!) will also be participating in the 5k as walkers and runners to raise money for the organization. Check out https://www.classy.org/event/muddy-paws-5k/e151371 to donate to Levitt Law Group’s fundraising team, or to sign up for the event. We hope to see you there!
Attorney Karen J. Levitt and her colleagues psychologist Gina Arons, Psy.D and Attorney Patrice Brymner, have been selected by the Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council (“MCLC”) to present one of the four workshops at the MCLC 2018 Collaborative Practice Forum: Collaborative Leadership: Modeling Collaborative Values In Business, Life And Community, which is scheduled for April 27, 2018 at the Four Points Sheraton, Norwood, MA. Entitled “Navigating Leadership: The Rough Seas of Family Business & Divorce”, the workshop addresses how the Collaborative Law process can be used to help couples who have a family business navigate not just their divorce, but the division of the business and the running of the business both during and after divorce. Addressing family businesses in divorce not only may require a complex financial analysis, but the issue of leadership of the business to ensure its continuation post-divorce can be a challenge. The conference is attended by attorneys, financial professionals, and mental health professionals. Attorney Karen J. Levitt is excited to be part of this exciting conference!
Attorney Karen J. Levitt was a guest speaker along with Collaborative Coach Michelle Tetreault, LICSW, at a Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council practice group meeting of the Tri River practice group, held on November 16, 2017. Attorney Karen J. Levitt and Michelle Tetreault spoke about some of the dynamics and challenges for same sex couples in divorce. The meeting was well attended with a lively discussion amongst attorneys, financial professionals, and mental health professionals about the issues presented. Ms. Tetreault has been in private practice in Exeter, New Hampshire for over twenty (20) years, and works primarily with couples. Michelle and Attorney Levitt were some of the co-authors of the MCLE publication, Collaborative Law: Practice and Procedures, MCLE’s first manual on collaborative practice.
Continue reading “Attorney Karen J. Levitt has been busy this fall!”
Attorney Karen J. Levitt will be co-presenting at a Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council sponsored workshop entitled “Ethics: Maintaining Our Collaborative Compasses”, to be held on November 14, 2017 at the Courtyard Marriott in Woburn, MA. Ethical issues come up all the time in the law. Ethics is an important part of any profession, and is guided by various ethical rules, but it is also about doing the “right thing”. How do ethics apply in the Collaborative Law Process and what are the implications of ethical issues that may arise? Attorney Karen J. Levitt will be co-presenting with Attorney Jeffrey Fink, Coach/Facilitator Linda Cohan, and Financial Professional and CPA Lauren Desforge. This interactive presentation will help participants to think more about and become more aware of how to balance personal and professional ethics in the context of the Collaborative Law process. For more information, contact Attorney Karen J. Levitt at klevit@levitlawgroup.com, or go to www.massclc.org.
On September 8, 2017, Attorney Karen J. Levitt participated in the Maine Lighthouse Ride 2017 Team Challenge Cycle event, to raise money to find a cure for Crohn’s and Colitis. The ride was along the Eastern Trail in Portland, Maine, a trail that extends 65 miles from South Portland to Kittery. Only two charitable organizations participated in the ride which drew almost 1000 bicycle riders, and Team Challenge was one of those organizations with 20 members.
Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis are both major categories of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). IBD affects an estimated 1.6 million Americans. These chronic diseases tend to run in families and they affect males and females equally, and both children and adults. Those who suffer from Crohn’s or Colitis have significant challenges in managing the disease and its symptoms at home, school and work. As with any chronic disease, it also takes its toll on the family. The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation and Team Challenge work together to create events such as the one Attorney Levitt participated, not just to raise money to help find a cure, but also to create more awareness and understanding of these diseases.
Karen bicycled 40 miles (plus 3 ½ miles each way to/from the ride start, which Karen found that out after she signed up, making it really 47 miles!). It was a spectacularly beautiful sunny day for the ride which went past lighthouses, down the Eastern Trail winding its way through lovely ocean marshes, and along wonderful country back roads. However the best part of the ride was Karen’s 20 team members, who together raised an amazing $95,000.00! The team members were from all over the country, many of whom suffer themselves from Crohn’s or Colitis, or had family members supporting those in their family who suffer from these diseases, all riding to help find a cure and to create awareness and understanding of Crohn’s and Colitis. Attorney Levitt found all the riders in her team inspiring.
If you are interested in donating, your tax-deductible check can be made payable to “Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.” Please mail your check to Attorney Karen J. Levitt, Levitt Law Group, 4 Meeting House Road, Chelmsford, Massachusetts 01824. Or better yet, go online to http://online.ccfa.org/goto/KarenJLevitt and make your donation. Please don’t hesitate to contact Attorney Karen J. Levitt if you have any questions.
On August 22, 2017, Karen will be a guest speaker at a meeting of the American Bar Association Collaborative Law Committee. Karen will discuss new Access to Collaboration initiatives for family law clients of modest means.
Karen received the 2016 Massachusetts Bar Association and Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly award for Excellence in the Law: Alternative Dispute Resolution. Please read more and enjoy our “Around the Table” winter 2017 newsletter which highlights Karen’s award and other Levitt Law Group activities in 2016 and early 2017.
