Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Celebrity Divorce Lawyers Provide Marriage Advice WRITER/ATTORNEY SURVEYED 100 OF AMERICA'S LEGAL EXPERTS TO UNCOVER MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DIVORCE—AND HOW TO AVOID THEM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE LOS ANGELES, CA – March 6, 2006: America’s most public “Newlyweds,” Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, joined an estimated 1.2 million other American couples who filed for divorce in 2005. Although divorces of the rich and famous receive the lion’s share of the publicity, they are merely a reflection of the overall societal epidemic: nearly 50% of all first marriages, and an astounding 66% of all subsequent marriages, don’t make it to “death do us part.” Hoping to help stem the tide of this epidemic, writer/attorney Wendy Jaffe set out to write “The Divorce Lawyers’ Guide to Staying Married” . In order to pinpoint the primary causes of divorce and how best to avoid them, Jaffe conducted in-depth interviews with 100 of America’s top divorce attorneys, including several who can count among their clients some of America’s biggest names. Her impressive list includes, among others: Eleanor Breitel Alter (who represented Mia Farrow in her divorce from Woody Allen) Irwin Buter (repped Viacom’s Les Moonves), Bruce Clemens (Brad Pitt), Robert Nachshin (Barry Bonds, author Terry McMillan), Sorrell Trope (Nicolas Cage, Rosanne Barr) and Dennis Wasser (Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin). Jaffe’s father, prominent Beverly Hills attorney Daniel J. Jaffe—whose renowned firm has represented Nicole Brown Simpson (in her divorce from O.J.), and the wives of media mogul Rupert Murdoch and director James Cameron—wrote the foreword to the book. The attorneys’ consensus was that two-thirds of divorces are entirely avoidable if couples learn to identify and treat the key symptoms of divorce. Jaffe outlines how to diagnose and treat these symptoms, involving everything from low-sex marriages, infidelity, addiction, abuse, workaholics and “kidaholics”, blended families, dealing with exes and in-laws, the “Clone Syndrome” and its impact on second marriages—to even the most basic of issues, such as unrealistic expectations and poor communication. Jaffe concludes the book with a full chapter dedicated to “final thoughts” directly from the attorneys themselves, leaving the reader with powerful insight to consider and apply to their own relationship. Beverly Hills attorney Stephen Kolodny, who has represented the wives of author Michael Crichton and billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, is quoted in the book as saying, “You need to continue to work to make your relationship good every day, and not take your spouse or relationship for granted. Find some rules for your relationship that keep it vital, alive, happy and desirous all the time.” However, while mutual respect, honesty and commitment were among the common issues emphasized in the book, Manhattan’s Raoul Lionel Felder (who has represented Liza Minelli’s ex, David Gest and New York Mayor Rudolph Guiliani), stresses the importance of also having a good pre-nup. “Many wars have been caused by miscalucation of entitlements and ambitions,” Felder says. “A prenuptial agreement prevents this.” An invaluable resource for anyone (famous or not) hoping to sustain a successful relationship, “The Divorce Lawyers’ Guide to Staying Married” is AVAILABLE NOW for purchase at www.volt-press.com, as well as bookstores and all major online retailers. About the Author Wendy Jaffe, Esq. graduated from UCLA in 1983, and the McGeorge School of Law in 1986. She has practiced entertainment and family law, written articles for the Los Angeles Times, and has co-written many articles on cutting edge family law issues for both the American Bar Association and the California Bar Association. She is the daughter of prominent Beverly Hills lawyer Daniel J. Jaffe, recently described by Forbes Magazine as "the hottest divorce attorney in Los Angeles." In the 1990s, Jaffe created and marketed a successful and highly publicized novelty item, geared toward enhancing passion between couples. She resides in Los Angeles, California, with her husband and two children. TITLE: The Divorce Lawyers’ Guide to Staying Married AUTHOR: Wendy Jaffe, Esq.; Foreword by Daniel J. Jaffe, Esq. PUBLICATION MONTH: FEBRUARY 2006 ISBN: 1-56625-268-7 PRICE: $14.95 SPECS: 210 pages, paper, 6” x 9” 8:04:47 AM    comment []