Archive for Intake Form
Divorce and Taxes
Tax season is coming soon, and spouses getting a divorce need to consider their options.
For those finalizing before April 15th, you may be filing separately, but do you have all of the information you need from your spouse to complete your tax returns? Be sure your Final Decree addresses this by adding deadlines.
For those finalizing [...]
Sex after Divorce: Does it get better?
A divorce is one of the most difficult periods in a person’s life. It is both emotionally and financially draining. Many people get frustrated and find it difficult to see any silver lining. However, check out this interesting article on CNN.com about some people’s experiences post-divorce. Sex after divorce – does it get better?
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/19/sex-after-divorce-does-it-get-better/
Who’s your Daddy? Paternity fraud, child support, and the new law in Texas.
Texas has instituted a new law that will affect fathers, their rights, and child support. What happens when a father finds out, years later, that the child he thought was his, really isn’t? What happens to the child support he was ordered to pay? Read more at http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/New-Texas-law-allows-fathers-to-contest-their-1447153.php.
Divorce affects adult kids, too…
I am seeing it happen more frequently in my practice now – couples who divorce after 30+ years of marriage. What is the effect of the divorce on their adult kids? http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment-headlines/ci_18362370?nclick_check=1
Is your spouse hiding assets?
What can you do to protect yourself?
When it comes to marital finances, often the best defense is a good offense. From the very beginning of your marriage, make sure that you are an active participant in all of your financial affairs. Have full knowledge of all marital assets, liabilities, income and [...]
Would a Schwarzenegger/Shriver separation work in Texas?
After 25 years of marriage, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver have separated. In Texas, the (statutory) law does not recognize “legal separation” as a marital status, but it is possible for couples to separate under common law. Under common law, spouses can enter into separation agreements to specify their rights and duties while living apart [...]
Social Security Benefits After Divorce
If you are divorced, but your marriage lasted 10 years or longer, you may be eligible to collect spousal benefits from Social Security based on your ex-spouse’s record (even if he or she has remarried). To qualify, you must be:
• unmarried;
• age 62 or older;
• your ex-spouse is entitled to Social Security retirement or disability benefits; and
• the [...]
What are the financial benefits of marriage?
I recently attended a lunch where we were discussing the decline of the institution marriage and whether it was better to be married or unmarried, and someone asked me about what financial benefits marriage offers. I found myself at a little bit of a loss, since my practice most often focuses on the financial consequences [...]
Can I get more than half of the marital estate if my spouse cheated on me?
With recent celebrity divorces alleging infidelity, such as those between Camille and Kelsey Grammer and Tony Parker and Eva Longoria, many clients ask, “How does a spouse’s (or my own) infidelity affect my divorce?”
In Texas, adultery is a legally recognized reason for the breakup of a marriage, and it can be a factor in determining [...]
Overview of Mediation
As part of my holistic approach to family law, I have developed a mediation practice and am a trained mediator. Lots of people have heard of mediation but are not always clear about what that really is. In a nutshell, mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) that is flexible and confidential. The [...]