Divorce Expert Lester L. Barclay Gives Advice on Protecting the Kids and Preserving Peace

Couples should think twice before turning to divorce, while always keeping the kids' best interests at heart. End Quote

They are not. Parents should speak to the children in one cooperative voice. Children connect the dots. They'll make their own judgments. Attempts to influence their judgments can backfire.

(1888PressRelease) July 18, 2014 - Chicago, Ill. - Chicago family law practitioner Lester L. Barclay, author of the new book The African-American Guide to Divorce & Drama: Breaking Up Without Breaking Down, believes in putting children first. Known for his role in representing the interests of the children of NBA star Dwyane Wade in an infamous custody battle, Barclay, himself a father of three, advises couples going through divorce to spare their kids from being "collateral damage."

"In 90 percent of the cases, parents conclude their children are fine," Barclay says. "They are not. Parents should speak to the children in one cooperative voice. Children connect the dots. They'll make their own judgments. Attempts to influence their judgments can backfire."

Barclay also says that sometimes couples divorce too soon. "25 percent of African-American marriages in my practice could be saved from ending," Barclay says. In his book, Barclay advises:

Look before you leap: Don't separate and leave your spouse too soon. Unless your situation is threatening, it's better to endure a bad living situation until you've thoroughly considered arrangements to support the best interests of you and your children.

Barclay also counsels couples to pause to review what marriage means to them:

Take a marital inventory of yourself and your spouse before deciding to divorce, considering what you have to gain - or to lose.

The African-American Guide to Divorce & Drama: Breaking Up Without Breaking Down is a comprehensive book on divorce tailored to the black community. This detailed guide skillfully shepherds readers through the often painful process of separation and divorce while seeking to minimize the drama for them and their children.

"(In his new book), Barclay, a celebrity attorney, advises estranged couples on how to avoid drama, protect their children and get peace of mind," says Claire McIntosh, writer for Ebony Magazine, which recently featured an interview with Barclay.

The groundbreaking tools and information provided in The African-American Guide to Divorce & Drama: Breaking Up Without Breaking Down serve as supplements to the services provided by divorce attorneys and have been created to show readers how to make the divorce process as peaceful as possible. Regardless of where readers are in the divorce process, Barclay reminds them that it's not too late to impact the outcome and the long-term effects the process will have on the children involved.

The African-American Guide to Divorce & Drama: Breaking Up Without Breaking Down is being distributed to chain and independent bookstores, wholesalers, libraries, the gift and specialty markets and online retailers through Small Press United and is also available in hardcover and as an ebook from Khari Publishing, Ltd., at http://www.divorceanddrama.com

About The Author
Lester L. Barclay is the managing partner of the Barclay Law Group in Chicago, Illinois. A graduate of Oberlin College and Case Western Reserve University School of Law, he has practiced matrimonial law since 1985. In that time, he has earned a sterling reputation as a skilled litigator who seeks to maintain the family's integrity during and after divorce.

In addition to his law practice, Barclay is a legal advocate for the disadvantaged and a helpful mentor to young attorneys. He has also been actively involved in civic affairs, serving as president of both the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture and the Christian Community Health Center in Chicago, and he is a member of the Illinois African-American Family Commission.

His passionate calling is to help children who are so often the collateral damage in custody and divorce matters. Frequently, courts appoint him guardian ad litem to protect the interests of children in marital breakups.

Lester L. Barclay lives in Chicago with his wife, Dr. Sue Barclay, and their three children.

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