Masterson Law

10/19/2026

⚖️ BPD is on the rise, nationally. We see BPD in a handfull of our cases at any given time. This is a very handy list of advice for those dealing with BPD in their divorce or custody case.

MASTERSON LAW ⚖️

The most dangerous moment in a high-conflict divorce is the moment you think you can reason with them.

You can't. That's the premise of this book, and it's the premise that will save you months of your life and thousands of dollars in legal fees. Bill Eddy spent eighteen years as a family lawyer and twelve as a therapist before writing this. Randi Kreger co-wrote Stop Walking on Eggshells, the book that introduced a generation to borderline personality disorder. Together, they know exactly what happens when someone with BPD, NPD, or antisocial traits decides to make a divorce as painful as possible.

Eddy calls them "persuasive blamers." People who appear charming and convincing to lawyers and judges while privately creating chaos, shifting blame, and escalating conflict rather than solving it . They lie to the court. They make false allegations. They use the legal system as a weapon. And because they're so convincing, it often works.

What the book actually gives you.

1. The BIFF method. Brief, Informative, Friendly, Firm. That's how you communicate with a blamer. Not emotional. Not defensive. Not angry. Just the facts, delivered without am******on they can use against you. Anything you write, texts, emails, can and will be introduced into evidence . Act accordingly.

2. Document everything. Immediately after incidents, write down accurate details. Keep a journal. Save hostile emails and texts. Copy important records and keep them somewhere safe . You are building a record. The record is your protection.

3. Plan for the worst. Eddy's quick-start guide is blunt: develop an emergency plan. Your partner could assault you or evict you at any time. Figure out a safe place to go. Get cash. Know who can help you on short notice . This isn't paranoia. It's pattern recognition.

4. Protect your children from the conflict. Don't say anything against your partner in front of them. Don't ask them questions about the other parent. Don't discuss court within their hearing. Don't ask them to compare you. Don't put them in the middle . The conflict is yours. Don't make it theirs.

It doesn't replace a lawyer. It doesn't guarantee a good outcome. It doesn't pretend the system is fair. And it doesn't work if you're not ready to stop fighting emotionally and start fighting strategically.

But if you're divorcing someone who makes every conversation a trap, who turns your children into messengers, who lies to your face and then charms the judge, this book is the closest thing to a shield you'll find.

Read it before you file. Read it before you respond to that email. Read it before you say one more word you'll regret.

BOOK: https://link.amazon/B06iVueaQ

10/19/2026

⚖️ We hear things like this all the time, on our consults, from clients, from their friends and family. This is a good list to keep in mind. If you are experiencing any of these things in your marriage, maybe divorce isn’t your immediate answer, but it might be time to rethink your dynamics. It’s never too late to turn things around if both partners are willing.

MASTERSON LAW ⚖️

Safe doesn’t always feel exciting at first. It can feel quiet, even a little boring, especially if you’re used to guessing where you stand 🫠

The biggest clue is what you don’t do anymore. You stop rehearsing texts. You stop checking their face before you speak. You stop bracing for the fight that used to come with every honest sentence.

That ease is what it feels like when your body finally gets to relax 🥹

How many did you tick?

10/16/2026

At Masterson Law, we generally prefer to complete discovery before scheduling mediation.

Why? Because good settlements require good information.

It’s not because we’re unwilling to settle cases early. Quite the opposite! We are always willing to explore reasonable settlement opportunities.

But mediation is most productive when everyone has the information necessary to make informed, concrete decisions. Going to mediation before discovery is completed is the same as going to a doctor and asking them to asses whether a limb is broken without taking an x-ray, it’s just guessing.

Without completed discovery, too much of the conversation becomes hypothetical. We find ourselves negotiating based on assumptions, incomplete financial information, or agreements contingent upon facts we haven’t yet established.

And here’s the problem: When those missing facts finally come to light, all that progress can unravel.

Now we’re back to negotiating, potentially scheduling another mediation, and spending additional time and money revisiting issues we thought were resolved.

That’s not particularly efficient, and it isn’t always in our clients’ best interests.

Our philosophy is simple: Prepare thoroughly. Negotiate intelligently. Settle with confidence. Basically, as your grandfather used to say: do it right the first time or don’t do it at all.

We would much rather invest the time gathering the necessary information upfront and approach mediation prepared to make real decisions and reach a lasting agreement.

Because the goal isn’t simply to reach an agreement. It’s to reach an informed, workable agreement that actually resolves the case.

Masterson Law | Springfield, Missouri

10/12/2026

10/09/2026

This doesnt surprise us.

A domestic abuse survivor’s ex-husband used his access to her BMW’s connected smartphone app to open car doors and windows, start the engine and track her location. She claims BMW didn’t help.
Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/the-wiretap/2026/10/06/bmw-app-turned-into-a-dangerous-stalker-tool/?utm_source=ForbesMainFacebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ForbesMainFB
📸: Matthias Balk/Picture Alliance via Getty Images

10/09/2026

🍂 Another wonderful SMWL Harvest Party in the books! 🍂

Eric and I have had the pleasure of attending this special tradition every year since the Southern Missouri Women Lawyers organization began hosting it. It is always a wonderful evening celebrating our newest “crop” of attorneys who have passed the bar and are beginning their legal careers.

This year was particularly special as I now have the honor and privilege of serving as Treasurer of SMWL, an organization dedicated to supporting women in the legal profession and strengthening our local legal community.

And, of course, I was especially proud to celebrate our very own Rebecca Arwood as part of this year’s new crop of lawyers! What an exciting milestone, and what a privilege to watch the next generation of attorneys begin their careers.

The practice of law is challenging, rewarding, and built upon the relationships we develop along the way. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve this organization, celebrate our colleagues, and welcome those who will carry our profession forward.

Congratulations to all of our newest attorneys! Here’s to a wonderful harvest and bright futures ahead! 🍁

10/05/2026

Be sure to go to the new space from now on

10/02/2026

Congrats, Rebecca! We are so excited to have you on our team.

09/28/2026