Divorce

A primary issue faced by many couples that are going through a divorce is what to do with the marital home. The issue is an emotional one for many couples as well as a financial one — the marital home is often the most valuable asset owned by a couple and has years’ worth of memories tied to it as well. Due to the state of the housing market over the past few years this issue has grown even more complex. In an “up” housing market divorcing couples are more…

While most people would expect that the financial stress from the recent economic downturn would tear marriages apart, it seems to have had an opposite effect. Some couples cannot afford divorce and are simply waiting for better economic times, according to a 2011 New York Times article. The NY Times article, For Some a Recession-Proof Marriage, took information from the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia. According to the project, economic adversity strengthened some marriages by creating emotional bonds where couples used their marriage to forge greater financial…

The American Bar Association (ABA) endorsed collaborative divorce in an article entitled Kinder, Gentler Collaborative Divorce Also Costs Less. Collaborative divorce continues to gain support from attorneys and clients as a practical and beneficial approach to divorce issues. Collaborative law was the brainchild of a Minnesota attorney, Stuart Web. He expanded on the idea of negotiating settlements by having parties and their counsels cooperate and as needed bring in neutral professionals to advise and suggest innovative solutions. The collaborative process replaced adversarial legal battles with a broad problem-solving approach through…

While emotional ties and the children’s stability are important factors, financial considerations let you know the most practical perspective on selling or keeping a home. When deciding, weigh the following factors: Affordability. Determine whether you can afford mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, utility bills, yard upkeep, and major maintenance (new roof). Sales price and costs. Find out the house’s market value, projected time to sell in today's market, and real estate broker fees. Financing the home. Find out whether you can take over financing or would have to refinance the…

Texting, tweeting, Facebook posting, and sending emails have changed how we communicate in today’s world. Social media has become part of the everyday routine for many people. However, when you and your spouse are separating or getting a divorce, you have stepped outside of your everyday routine. This fact requires some mental evaluation of your actions and how they may affect the outcome of your separation or divorce. We often do not envision our actions from a legal perspective, but when divorcing, it is time to do so. According to…