Masterson Law

⚖️ AI use is on the rise across the board and we understand that. To be clear, AI is an amazing tech tool. Nearly every day now, I see pro se people in court using AI and they are failing, miserably.

The judges spot it and they don’t like it. It significantly increases fees for those with attorneys.

And I will bill you for reading and responding to your AI slop. Is that really an effective use of your resources?

Masterson Law is a firm that embraces tech and all ethical tools available, but non-lawyers using AI is an awful idea. Heck, we’ve talked at two Missouri Bar conferences about ethical and efficient use of AI in the small firm practice.

I’ve seen critical deadlines blown because folks relied on false information, I’ve seen mountains be made out of mole hills, I’ve seen relationships end because parties relied too strongly on AI copy and paste rather than just being a human being and communicating like a normal person. Me using AI is like giving LeBron James a basketball.

Non-lawyers using AI is like giving a kindergartener a chainsaw. I promise you, we are not the same ⚖️

Steven Benmor, a Toronto family lawyer, recently drafted a prenuptial agreement the way he said his client asked. Then the client emailed him a 13-part list of revisions nearly as long as the prenup.

Some revisions went so deep into the weeds, Benmor said, that no human could have come up with them. Benmor knew his client had turned to an artificial intelligence chatbot. And he knew that taking the time to explain why the chatbot was mistaken would require charging his client extra.

His mantra: “Don’t spend money unduly by asking a human expert to enter into a debate with a robot expert.”

It was hardly the first time this had happened to Benmor. Family lawyers, who handle everything from prenups to divorces and custody fights, say many of their clients are now showing up with pages of legal advice that look like the result of ChatGPT or other chatbots.

🔗 Read more: https://on.wsj.com/4z2vhpE

⚖️ 🎃 Happy Halloween 🎃⚖️

⚖️ Meet Crystal Blesi | Law Clerk at Masterson Law!

We are delighted to introduce Crystal Blesi, a third-year law student at Washburn University School of Law and a valued member of our team!

Crystal graduated from Missouri State University with a degree in psychology, making her a natural fit for our approach to family law. Before attending law school, she served as office manager at Aleshire Robb, bringing valuable legal office experience to our firm.

Crystal and her husband, Trent, are the proud parents of four incredibly talented boys!

Our relationship with Crystal began in the summer of 2024, when she reached out to ask if she could shadow Summer and explore her interest in family law. What began as a simple opportunity to learn has grown into a wonderful professional relationship. Crystal now works closely alongside Summer, developing her litigation skills and gaining hands-on experience in family law practice. She currently fulfills the role of discovery coordinator and case manager.

We are especially excited that Crystal plans to continue her career with Masterson Law as an attorney following her anticipated licensure in the fall of 2027!

Crystal’s work ethic, dedication, and commitment to excellence are truly exceptional. We are incredibly grateful for everything she brings to our firm and couldn’t be prouder to have a role in her professional development.⚖️

Please join us in welcoming Rebekah Arwood to Masterson Law! ⚖️

We are excited to introduce Rebekah as our newest Associate Attorney!

A recent graduate of the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law, Rebekah brings a passion for family law and valuable experience from her work in UMKC’s Family Law Clinic as well as her internships in estate planning and the Greene County family court. She is eager to begin her legal career helping families navigate the challenges of the family court system here in Greene County.

Rebekah will be working alongside Summer as she learns all aspects of litigation, trial preparation, and courtroom advocacy, while also welcoming clients of her own.

Even better? Rebekah will be accepting new client consultations! With our consultation calendar often booked several weeks in advance, her addition means we can serve more families and help new clients get started sooner.

We are delighted to have Rebekah on our team and look forward to the work ahead!

Welcome to Masterson Law, Rebekah! ⚖️

⚖️ 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

⚖️ 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?

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

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