Continue reading »]]> The Wall Street Journal published an article showing how technology is impacting the ability to hide marital assets in divorce.  According to Ken Altshuler, president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, ”the trail left by files on a computer is etched onto a hard drive somewhere, just waiting to be discovered.”  Before trying to obtain evidence, you should always consult with your attorney as obtaining information illegally can impact you in court or lead to fines or jail time.

The article also summarizes some statistics on marital mischief from sources such as the National Endowment for Financial Education, Lawyers.com, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and American Express.

• 31% of adults who have combined assets with a spouse or partner say they’ve been deceptive about money.
• 58% of these adults say they hid cash
• 34% of them say they lied about finances, debt or money earned

Read the entire article here:  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304356604577337743171120240.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Continue reading »]]> Henry s. Gornbein provides a list of recommended questions you should ask prior to retaining a Divorce Lawyer.

• What percentage of your practice is devoted to family law?
• How long have you been practicing Family Law?
• How well do you know the judges?
• What is your retainer?
• If I reconcile, or if part of the retainer is not used, is the unused portion refundable?
• If I should change attorneys, will I received a portion of my retainer back?
• What is your hourly rate?
• How are the hours billed?
• Am I charged more for trial than out-of-court services?
• How many divorce cases have you tried?
• What is your attitude regarding negotiations and mediation?
• Do provide me with copies of all papers, documents and pleadings that you receive regarding my case?
• If I call and you are not available, or if I send you an email, how long should I have to wait for a response?
• How long will my divorce take?
• Will paralegals or staff work on my case?

Read the entire article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/henry-gornbein/the-initial-meeting-what-_b_1456752.html?ref=divorce

Continue reading »]]> Judith Wallerstein provides detailed advice about how to parent during and after divorce on Huff Post Divorce.  Some of the advice highlights include having a heart-to-heart talk with your kids and to tell them that “things are going to be pretty confused for a while but that you are trying your best to straighten them out and get the family running smoothly.”  Judith recommends engaging with your children to ask for their help and request they be brave to help each other out.  Detailed recommendations in the article include documenting what needs to be done by whom and hanging this list of tasks in the kitchen.  The list could include finding a new place to live, work schedules, and other household chores.  The list should also include fun activities and special prizes.

You can read more parenting after divorce books by Judith Wallerstein & Sandra Blakeslees including “What About the Kids? Raising Your Children Before, During and After Divorce” (2003) Hyperion. New York

Read the entire article here:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judith-wallerstein/parenting-after-divorce_b_1468608.html

Continue reading »]]> Honorée Corder, the author of “The Successful Single Mom” book series provides life insurance advice after divorce.  Mr. Corder discusses insurance as a wealth accumulation tool and discusses options when assets are divided up in divorce.  Also, for single parents, it’s important to consider your own insurance for disability and death.  Check out the video below.

Continue reading »]]> Psychologist and author Judith Wallerstein recommends top divorce Advice books for parents.  Judith is a founder of the Judith Wallerstein Center for the Family in Transition (center for research, education and counseling for families in separation, divorce and marriage).

• Janet R. Johnston, Vivienne Roseby and Kathryn Kuehnle. In the Name of the Child: A Developmental Approach to Understanding and Helping Children of Conflicted and Violent Divorce (2009, 2nd Edition) Springer Publishing Co.
• Isolina Ricci E . Mom’s House, Dad’s House For Kids: Feeling at Home in One Home or Two (2006) Fireside.
• E. Mavis Hetherington and John Kelly. For Better or For Worse: Divorce Reconsidered. (2002) W.W. Norton &Company.
• Robert E. Emery. The Truth About Children and Divorce. Dealing with the Emotions
• So you and Your Children can Thrive. (2004) Viking.
• Judith Wallerstein and Sandra Blakeslee. What About The Kids; Raising your children Before, During and After Divorce. (2003) Hyperion Press.
• Another helpful book on I co-authored on this subject is The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce: A 25 Year Landmark Study, which traces the childhood and young adulthood of children in five very different divorced families.
• Alicia F. Lieberman. The Emotional Life of the Toddler. (1995) Free Press
• Elizabeth Marquardt. Between Two Worlds: The Inner Lives of Children of Divorce. (2006) Random House.

Read Judith’s detailed recommendations here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judith-wallerstein/advice-books-for-divorcin_b_848878.html#s264230&title=In_the_Name

Continue reading »]]> The Four divorce Alternatives No two marriages are the same, and so it only follows that no two divorces will be the same, either. In fact, if you're a woman who's contemplating divorce, you have several options about how to proceed. In general terms, you need to consider four broad categories of divorce alternatives: Do-It-Yourself (DIY), Mediation, Collaborative and Litigation. Let's take a …

Continue reading »]]> CNBC Finance Correspondent Sharon Epperson provides tips on how to protect your retirement savings during divorce.  Divorce is difficult emotionally and can be devastating financially, especially for retirement savings.  Sharon recommends you get your own accounts, build your own credit history, and consider hiring a certified divorce financial analyst.   Check out the video below on how to protect your retirement savings in divorce.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Continue reading »]]> An article written by Alyssa Brown and Jeffrey M. Jones at Gallup.com highlights that those who are separated or divorced have the lowest levels of well being.  Americans who are single, widowed, or live with a domestic partner have average levels of well being.  Additional factors were examined for life evaluation, emotional health, physical health, healthy behavior, work environment, and basic access to necessities.

Well Being Breakdown:

• Married (68.8)
• Single (65)
• Widowed (63.5)
• Domestic Partner (63.3)
• Divorced (59.7)
• Separated (55.9)

Read the original study here:  http://www.gallup.com/poll/154001/Separation-Divorce-Linked-Sharply-Lower-Wellbeing.aspx?ref=image