What is a homestead exemption and why is it important in a divorce?
What is a homestead exemption? The homestead exemption is an aspect of the law in the United States that allows homeowners to preserve a portion of the value of their home if someone, for instance, attempts to remove you from your primary residence. The value of the...
Imagine your spouse tapping the home equity line to gain access to money
It’s hard to image that your spouse who you have known for years would tap the equity line in your home (often referred to as a HELOC) to simply gain access to money. Well, we’ve seen this and it does happen. I know you are saying wow that is kind of sneaky. Why would...
Evaluate your beneficiaries during your divorce process
During your divorce you have a lot to think about. You are planning for and managing all of the moving parts in real time. Your primary goal is to just get through the process so you can breath again. Reviewing the beneficiaries listed on your various accounts, and...
Tax dependency exemptions are no longer ‘currency’ in divorces
As you read this article, please note a critically important point that I would not want you to miss. The point is that certain clauses you design in your divorce decree may be deemed invalid over time. They could be deemed invalid even though you and your ex-spouse...
When cancer is the reason for a divorce
The last thing you would ever want to imagine is a married couple getting a divorce as a result of one person in the marriage being diagnosed with cancer. During this time, the person who is fighting the cancer needs a strong personal support system. When their...
Alimony rules change after 12/31/2018
President Trump signed a tax bill that wiped away a 75 year old law around how alimony payments are treated for tax purposes. These changes impact both legal separations and divorces that occur after December 31, 2018. Time is ticking… Under the old law, the provider...
Even the ‘simplest of divorces’ can create a lot of financial pain in your future
A simple marital estate looks like two people gainfully employed, who have a couple of children, own a home and have money in retirement accounts. On the surface this looks pretty straightforward. One might suggest all you need to do is figure out how to calculate...
What is a personal financial advocate in a divorce process?
In context to a divorce, your personal financial advocate helps you design and manage one of the most important aspects of your divorce — your financial outcomes. S/he acts as your guide throughout the process to help you navigate uncharted waters. The process you...
Communication can be a major challenge in a divorce
What you communicate and how you deliver your messages throughout your divorce is key to arriving at your desired financial outcomes. In a divorce process, communication can be complex, multi-faceted and if not properly managed can land you in an undesirable...
Complexity rises when private equity investments exist in a divorce
If private equity investments exist in your marital estate you will have some challenges to overcome. One of the challenges is to design a risk-managed settlement structure. Another is to demonstrate your logical progression of thought to your spouse or your spouse’s...