Should my divorce go through mediation?
Not so long ago, the divorce process in the U.S. always involved both parties standing before a judge and that judge rendering a ruling in re: asset division and – if applicable – child custody and child support. Nowadays, the vast majority of divorces are resolved without judicial intervention. Sometimes, spouses are able to draw
Am I the only one who hasn’t made an estate plan?
If you have not yet made an estate plan, you may worry when you hear your friends and family talk about theirs. You might feel like the odd one out. Unfortunately, you are not. Yet you are right to worry. All adults should have an estate plan, but most don’t You can make an estate
Know these 3 things about powers of attorney
Most people automatically think about the will and trusts when they’re discussing estate plans. There’s another important component that must be taken care of – power of attorney designations. The power of attorney designations help to ensure your affairs are taken care of if you become incapacitated. #1: Types of power of attorney There are two primary
Beware of scams when you set out to plan your estate
A recent news report out of Tucson contains dire warnings about an estate planning scam currently targeting Arizona citizens. Such scams offer the promise of huge savings on will and trust documents, but they drain away your assets instead. Scams that target the aging and elderly plague the nation, robbing citizens of thousands or more of their
How divorce may benefit you
Are you feeling trapped in an unhappy marriage? Then, it’s time to break free and rebuild your life. While some people consider divorce a taboo, you should understand that divorce can happen to anyone. The divorce process may be emotionally painful, but many advantages come with divorce. Depending on the specific circumstances of your divorce,
Pros and cons of irrevocable and revocable trusts
A trust is a legal document that ensures your assets are put to good use after your passing. Unlike a will, a trust bypasses the probate period and can avoid estate taxes. Likewise, a trust ensures your beneficiaries their allotment of your estate and privatizes any financial dealings. You’ll have to consider what kind of
Are you headed for a January divorce?
It may be hard to contemplate amid all the holiday excitement, but if you suspect that your marriage is headed for a New Year’s break-up, you’re not alone. January is one of the biggest months of the year (if not the biggest) for new divorce filings. A lot of times, a spouse who files for divorce in
Are pets included in your child custody schedule?
As you go through a divorce, you and your spouse have to decide how to divide custody of the children. At the same time, you have to split up all of the assets that you own. You’re essentially just dividing your lives together, and this can be somewhat complicated to get through. One question that
5 tips to encourage a peaceful divorce
People who are going through a divorce probably want to have a peaceful experience. This is sometimes possible, especially when both parties agree to keep things amicable. A peaceful divorce can help you start your new life with less stress. If you have children, they’ll likely be able to learn about how to cope with
Beware of dishonest financial tactics during property division
Ideally, a couple should fairly split the assets and property acquired during the marriage, otherwise known as marital assets, upon divorce. However, it is not always the case. Not everyone comes to the property division table with good intentions. Your spouse may be keen on shortchanging you now that the marriage is over and everyone