Meet Barbara Liftman
Attorney, Mediator
1. What is your current occupation?
I have been a trial attorney for 27 years. In 2016 I started a new business called Cape Cod Uncontested Divorce and Mediation. Our specialty is “taking the nasty out of divorce.” Our ideal client is a divorcing couple who wants to dissolve their marital partnership amicably but realize that they need a professional to prepare their divorce agreement and other documents to be sure they are done correctly. I assist them in dividing their marital assets including their real estate and retirement accounts, help them create a parenting plan that meets their needs and their children’s, and ensure their agreement contains proper provisions for medical care and financial support. My experience litigating contested divorces has taught me how to draft an agreement that is free from ambiguities and which includes provisions for all of the “what ifs” that may come down the road so they can avoid future trips to court. In the end, my clients save tens of thousands of dollars by not having to each hire their own lawyer, and avoid the costly mistakes that can occur if they do it themselves.
2. What do you love most about your job & why?
My clients generally are not fighting. They realize that they and their children are far better served by working out an agreement and so they both have the same goals and objectives: to save time and money, and to maintain their dignity during what can otherwise be an unpleasant experience. I even offer evening and even weekend appointments to meet the busy schedules of my clients. My clients are so happy with the experience I provide and the money they save that they refer friends and family members to me.
3. What has changed in your industry in the past five years?
The trend in co-parenting after divorce is moving more toward shared physical custody where the children spend equal time in both households and moving away from the more traditional model where they reside with the parent who was the primary caretaker during the marriage and visit with the other parent on alternate weekends. Sharing custody requires the parents to be able to communicate effectively and make parenting decisions together. Starting off with a nasty, contested divorce is never going to lead to a healthy co-parenting relationship. This is why reaching an agreement with the help of an experienced attorney-mediator is so important
4. How has CapeSpace improved your work life?
The mood and décor at Capespace are very soothing. People feel relaxed from the minute they walk in the door. I love coming to work in such beautiful surroundings which, in my opinion, capture the spirit and essence of Cape Cod. Having my office at Capespace also keeps the overhead low because I only have to pay for what I use. If I had to rent an office, furnish it and staff it, I would need to charge a lot more for my services. This way I am able to pass the savings on to my clients.
5. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
In the winter I enjoy clamming and oystering, cooking and entertaining. In the summer you can find me out on Crowe’s Pasture or Sandy Neck in my bright yellow Jeep (with the license plate “TAIYO” which is Japanese for sun and ocean) with family, friends and my two crazy dogs.
6. What is your favorite place on Cape Cod?
The estuaries behind South Cape Beach near Waquoit Bay. Kayaking, paddle boarding and clamming there is my idea of heaven.
7. If you could invite any three people living or dead to a dinner party who would they be and why?
My maternal grandfather, Barack Obama, and John Lennon. All three have/had a similar outlook on life, politics and spirituality. All three made the world a better place because they were in it, as I hope to do too. All three understood that there is no higher purpose than to help someone in need.
8. What is your superpower?
I make things happen for people. My family, friends and clients all know that if they ask me to do something, I get it done.
Learn more about Barbara here.