Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14th and we all know it’s evolved into a commercial holiday filled with presents and heartfelt gestures. Its history is deeply rooted in both love and marriage, and interestingly, it also intersects with the realities of divorce and creating a complex relationship that reflects the changing dynamics of love and commitment in modern society.…
Even in divorces that seem to run smoothly, spouses must attend to countless details. When dealing with custody arrangements, disposition of the marital home and other vital matters, it’s natural that life insurance might not be a pressing concern. Even so, ending your marriage might lead you to revise an existing policy and obtain new coverage. In a divorce, courts…
Many people hesitate to make important life decisions because they are unsure about what comes next. Husbands and wives sometimes stay in unhappy marriages for years out of fear that they might be alone for the rest of their lives if they walk away. A review of what happens to spouses following a divorce shows that for the majority of…
Even in amicable divorces, property division negotiations can stall over certain assets with high monetary or sentimental value. Couples who are not able to reach a compromise through settlement negotiations or mediation sometimes search for a method of resolution that avoids the cost and uncertainty of litigation. If the parties are willing, there are a few nontraditional ways to finalize…
With widespread layoffs again in the news, many Americans are realizing how many negative consequences are associated with losing a job. Of course, the most immediate effect is the income loss that can inflict immense financial strain on a household even when a fired worker receives severance pay and unemployment benefits. A termination can also be emotionally devastating as people…
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the massive disruption to everyday life caused many people to re-evaluate how they approached their job. This led to a phenomenon frequently referred to as “quiet quitting.” Employees who take this path don’t immediately send their resignations to their bosses, but check out mentally and stop making the effort to excel at their job. This might…
Fifteen years after New York became the last state to legalize no-fault divorce, there are additional efforts to revise the state’s Domestic Relations Law so that spouses can move on more easily from a marriage that is not working. If a bill currently in the State...
All types of financial assets accumulated during the course of a marriage are subject to division between the parties in a divorce. For certain holdings, such as cash in a joint bank account, distributing the proceeds among spouses is a fairly simple task. Likewise, the value of stocks and bonds can be assessed using current rates. When marital property includes…
When a couple decides to divorce and their marital estate must be divided between them, a threshold issue is determining which assets qualify as separate property and which must be allocated among the parties. Often, this is a fairly simple analysis. Property owned by an individual prior to the marriage usually stays with that person once the divorce is finalized.…
There’s no end to the potential reasons that might lead someone to seek a divorce. Infidelity, financial woes and plain old boredom are linked to many marital breakups. A recent survey, combined with analysis from experts, indicates that even natural physical changes can influence someone to end their marriage. Increased attention on the rise in divorce rates among spouses 50…