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New Divorce Law Program on April 14

Posted on Apr 12, 2011 in Press Releases

The next session of the newly revamped Divorce Law in Hawaii program will be held on Thursday, April 14, from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Judiciary History Center’s historical courtroom on the first floor of Aliiolani Hale at 417 South King Street.

The program is free and open to the public. It is presented monthly by the Oahu Family Court to provide general information to parties going through or considering a divorce. RSVPs are not necessary. A list of the dates and times that the program will be held during the rest of the year is posted on the Hawaii State Judiciary’s website.

The Divorce Law in Hawaii program has been changed to provide an equal focus on mediation to give divorcing parties the option of trying to reach an agreement outside of court in a more informal and voluntary process. Unlike litigating in court or arbitration where solutions are respectively imposed by a judge or arbitrator, in mediation, a mediator trained in facilitation and negotiation techniques helps parties craft their own mutually acceptable agreement.

Family Law attorney William C. Darrah, who has been presenting the Divorce Law in Hawaii program for 10 years, will continue to cover the “money issues” involved in a divorce such as property division, debt allocation, child support and alimony.

The new segment of the program occurs during the second half when Tracey Wiltgen, the Executive Director of the Mediation Center of the Pacific, covers the benefits of mediation, the cost of mediation, and how to prepare for mediation.

Darrah has practiced divorce law in Hawaii for 35 years. A trained mediator, arbitrator, and settlement master, Darrah is the editor of the Hawaii State Bar Association’s Hawaii Divorce Manual and Journal of Hawaii Family Law. He has taught numerous family law education programs to judges, lawyers and members of the public since 1979.

Wiltgen has been the Executive Director of the Mediation Center of the Pacific, Inc. since 1999. The Mediation Center of the Pacific is a not-for-profit corporation that serves approximately 5,000 individuals annually. In addition to overseeing the operations of the Center, Wiltgen consults with businesses and other governmental agencies to design and develop in-house mediation and dispute resolution programs.

The Hawai`i State Judiciary does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information provided by the speakers. The speakers’ remarks do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Judiciary. The information provided by the speakers is a general overview of basic legal concepts, and is not intended as legal advice for any specific person or situation.

For more information, contact the Communications and Community Relations Office at 808-539-4909 or via email at pao@courts.hawaii.gov.

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