"Civil Disengagement"

In a recent newsletter, Gerald Le Van, a strong proponent of family wealth mediation, introduces the concept of "civil disengagement" as an alternative to financially and emotionally costly litigation when family members cannot reach an amiable solution.

Mr. Le Van explains that civil disengagement:

• acknowledges current irreconcilable differences,
• but avoids family litigation;
• manages each divided camp separately,
• but leaves the door open to family reunification in later generations.

See Gerald Le Van, Divided Families: Civil Disengagement Instead of War  (Aug. 2005).