Divorce is a life event that can have a significant effect on your financial situation. Beyond the emotional stress of going through a divorce, there are many other issues to settle: what to do with the house, the cars, and sometimes even the pets. And, not the least of your concerns, there are financial issues to deal with, such as the potential impact on your taxes and investments.
Although no one solution applies to everyone, there are a few fundamentals you need to understand if you ever find yourself in this situation. Like all tax laws, the rules governing divorce are complicated, and you should always consult your attorney and tax advisor about your specific situation. But we can provide you here with a brief overview of some of the issues that can arise.
For one thing, your tax situation will change as a result of a divorce...
To read the remainder of this article, click here
For more information, contact the Law Offices of Renee M. Marcelle at (415) 456-4444, or online at www.familylawmarin.com
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Parents' divorce Is Hard On Kids — No Matter How Old
Question: My wife and I have talked about divorce for years. Now that our kids are 13 and 14, we really do not agree on parenting and we are thinking about making the break, but we wonder if we shouldn't wait until the younger is 18 and off to college.
Answer: Battling parents often ask us what we think about waiting "for the kids' sake," and we will tell you what kids have told us: Most kids, no matter their age, vote against their parents' breakup. The exception: when one parent has been subjected to violence, addiction or mental illness. Older kids understand infidelity as a reason, but younger kids have no concept of infidelity, so discussing it with them as a reason for the breakup just confuses an already confused child.
Don't bet waiting will make it easier on your kids. Eighteen is only a number arbitrarily assigned to adulthood – many kids really struggle with the changes associated with taking the next step after graduating from high school. Many have told us stories of desperation the first time they returned home from college for the holidays after Mom and Dad separated. Nothing was the same...
To read the remainder of this article, click here
For more information, contact the Law Offices of Renee M. Marcelle at (415) 456-4444, or online at www.familylawmarin.com
Answer: Battling parents often ask us what we think about waiting "for the kids' sake," and we will tell you what kids have told us: Most kids, no matter their age, vote against their parents' breakup. The exception: when one parent has been subjected to violence, addiction or mental illness. Older kids understand infidelity as a reason, but younger kids have no concept of infidelity, so discussing it with them as a reason for the breakup just confuses an already confused child.
Don't bet waiting will make it easier on your kids. Eighteen is only a number arbitrarily assigned to adulthood – many kids really struggle with the changes associated with taking the next step after graduating from high school. Many have told us stories of desperation the first time they returned home from college for the holidays after Mom and Dad separated. Nothing was the same...
To read the remainder of this article, click here
For more information, contact the Law Offices of Renee M. Marcelle at (415) 456-4444, or online at www.familylawmarin.com
Monday, December 22, 2008
Divorce Enquiries Rise Amid Economic Crisis
Divorce lawyers and financial advisers are seeing a 50 per cent increase in the number of enquiries amid the economic crisis.
Numbers have risen significantly as couples seek to reach an agreement before fears of a prolonged recession become a reality, they said.
Spouses with money are keen to sort out a deal while the value of their assets is low and those without concerned about missing out if their partners assets drop further in value.
It comes after Madonna - who reportedly has an estimated fortune of £275 million - separated from her husband Guy Richie this week, triggering what could be the biggest divorce payout by a female celebrity.
Traditionally, the busiest month for couples to get divorced is January when they realize after a fraught Christmas that they cannot continue their relationship any longer...
To read the remainder of this article, click here
For more information, contact the Law Offices of Renee M. Marcelle at (415) 456-4444, or online at www.familylawmarin.com
Numbers have risen significantly as couples seek to reach an agreement before fears of a prolonged recession become a reality, they said.
Spouses with money are keen to sort out a deal while the value of their assets is low and those without concerned about missing out if their partners assets drop further in value.
It comes after Madonna - who reportedly has an estimated fortune of £275 million - separated from her husband Guy Richie this week, triggering what could be the biggest divorce payout by a female celebrity.
Traditionally, the busiest month for couples to get divorced is January when they realize after a fraught Christmas that they cannot continue their relationship any longer...
To read the remainder of this article, click here
For more information, contact the Law Offices of Renee M. Marcelle at (415) 456-4444, or online at www.familylawmarin.com
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
More Moms Paying Child Support Say Top Divorce Attorneys
CHICAGO, Oct 01, 2008 - Latest National Survey also Reveals Increase in Payment Amounts:
More women are paying child support these days, according to the latest survey of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML). In all, 55% of the respondents have cited an increase in the number of mothers who have been assigned to make child support payments over the past five years. Additionally, 42% of the divorce attorneys have seen the size of overall payment amounts rise during the same period of time.
"The changes in our society are almost always reflected in divorce courts and the legal system. The issues involved with child custody payments are certainly not an exception," says James Hennenhoefer, president of the AAML. "If one spouse is better suited to provide financial care, it is in the best interests of the court and all parties involved to put the needs of the child first.
To read the remainder of this article, click here
For more information, contact the Law Offices of Renee M. Marcelle at (415) 456-4444, or online at www.familylawmarin.com
More women are paying child support these days, according to the latest survey of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML). In all, 55% of the respondents have cited an increase in the number of mothers who have been assigned to make child support payments over the past five years. Additionally, 42% of the divorce attorneys have seen the size of overall payment amounts rise during the same period of time.
"The changes in our society are almost always reflected in divorce courts and the legal system. The issues involved with child custody payments are certainly not an exception," says James Hennenhoefer, president of the AAML. "If one spouse is better suited to provide financial care, it is in the best interests of the court and all parties involved to put the needs of the child first.
To read the remainder of this article, click here
For more information, contact the Law Offices of Renee M. Marcelle at (415) 456-4444, or online at www.familylawmarin.com
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
When Parents Divorce and You're An Adult
Dear Christine,
I just found out my parents are getting a divorce which has totally caught me off guard as I thought they'd be married forever. Although I am a married adult with my own grown-up life, this is still really affecting me. I am sad for both of them and I want to step in and try to help them reconcile. On the other hand, I am a bit angry too because they are giving up on a 35 year commitment. I am torn and feel ten years old again. How do I handle this? - Adult Child of Divorce, 29, Atlanta
Dear Adult Child of Divorce,
Your parents getting divorced at any age is going to be difficult, so do not expect to be unfazed by this just because you are an adult. It's natural to have feelings of sadness, confusion, and anger. Your desire to help them stay together is also very normal and is probably two-fold. First, you hate to see their marriage end because it represents the foundation on which your life was built.
Second, by focusing on what you can do to get them to stay together, you can ease and/or avoid your unsettling feelings about them splitting apart. But here's the truth: you really do not know the intricacies of your parents' marriage and this separation may be the best possible thing for both of them...
To read the remainder of this article, click here
For more information, contact the Law Offices of Renee M. Marcelle at (415) 456-4444, or online at http://www.familylawmarin.com/
I just found out my parents are getting a divorce which has totally caught me off guard as I thought they'd be married forever. Although I am a married adult with my own grown-up life, this is still really affecting me. I am sad for both of them and I want to step in and try to help them reconcile. On the other hand, I am a bit angry too because they are giving up on a 35 year commitment. I am torn and feel ten years old again. How do I handle this? - Adult Child of Divorce, 29, Atlanta
Dear Adult Child of Divorce,
Your parents getting divorced at any age is going to be difficult, so do not expect to be unfazed by this just because you are an adult. It's natural to have feelings of sadness, confusion, and anger. Your desire to help them stay together is also very normal and is probably two-fold. First, you hate to see their marriage end because it represents the foundation on which your life was built.
Second, by focusing on what you can do to get them to stay together, you can ease and/or avoid your unsettling feelings about them splitting apart. But here's the truth: you really do not know the intricacies of your parents' marriage and this separation may be the best possible thing for both of them...
To read the remainder of this article, click here
For more information, contact the Law Offices of Renee M. Marcelle at (415) 456-4444, or online at http://www.familylawmarin.com/
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
When Friends Divorce
My longtime friend and her husband of three years, now also a friend, are divorcing. He called us to say he moved near our new home and would love to see us. I think I have to stay true to my old friend; plus, she told me tales of misery. My husband wonders if he's exempt. What are the ground rules for divorced friends?
If you and your long-term friend are close, then your loyalty to her is a no-brainer. But if this is a friendship that has worn thin, and you like her husband a bit more, you should keep a distance from her ex until she's moved on. Unless, of course, her misery includes complaints of abuse. In that case, cut him out of your life.
As for your husband? Although he may not think it's fair, he needs to play by your rules because you brought this friendship into your world and that gives you the right to end it if there are indications the ex is bad news. Accusations of abuse, cheating or criminal acts are huge "guilty-until-proven-innocent" flags; tell your husband about them and explain that you don't want to have the ex in your lives until you know more...
To read the remainder of this article, click here
For more information, contact the Law Offices of Renee M. Marcelle at (415) 456-4444, or online at www.familylawmarin.com
If you and your long-term friend are close, then your loyalty to her is a no-brainer. But if this is a friendship that has worn thin, and you like her husband a bit more, you should keep a distance from her ex until she's moved on. Unless, of course, her misery includes complaints of abuse. In that case, cut him out of your life.
As for your husband? Although he may not think it's fair, he needs to play by your rules because you brought this friendship into your world and that gives you the right to end it if there are indications the ex is bad news. Accusations of abuse, cheating or criminal acts are huge "guilty-until-proven-innocent" flags; tell your husband about them and explain that you don't want to have the ex in your lives until you know more...
To read the remainder of this article, click here
For more information, contact the Law Offices of Renee M. Marcelle at (415) 456-4444, or online at www.familylawmarin.com
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Protecting Your Credit During Divorce
RICHLAND, WA - When a marriage ends in divorce, the lives of those involved are changed forever. During this time of upheaval, one thing that shouldn't have to change is the credit status you've worked so hard to achieve.Unfortunately, for many, the experience is the exact opposite. Unfulfilled promises to pay bills, the maxing out of credit cards, and a total breakdown in communication frequently lead to the annihilation of at least one spouse's credit.
Depending upon how finances are structured, it can sometimes have a negative impact on both parties.The good news is it doesn't have to be this way.
By taking a proactive approach and creating a specific plan to maintain one's credit status, anyone can ensure that "starting over" doesn't have to mean rebuilding credit...
To read the remainder of this article, click here
For more information, contact the Law Offices of Renee M. Marcelle at (415) 456-4444, or online at www.familylawmarin.com
Depending upon how finances are structured, it can sometimes have a negative impact on both parties.The good news is it doesn't have to be this way.
By taking a proactive approach and creating a specific plan to maintain one's credit status, anyone can ensure that "starting over" doesn't have to mean rebuilding credit...
To read the remainder of this article, click here
For more information, contact the Law Offices of Renee M. Marcelle at (415) 456-4444, or online at www.familylawmarin.com
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