Between 1990 and 2010, the divorce rate for Americans over the age of 50 doubled. For many couples ending their marriages later in life, special considerations may factor into a settlement. If you are entering into a divorce as a senior, consider the following: Alimony issues: Unlike younger divorcees who may only be required to pay or receive alimony for…
A recent analysis of research from a sociologist at the University of Utah found that couples are less likely to divorce when they enter into a marriage in their late 20s rather than earlier in life. The researcher, Nicholas Wolfinger, stated that individuals’ risk of divorce gradually declines from when they are teenagers through their late 20s. However, once a…
A recent hack into leading infidelity website, AshleyMadison.com, raised questions for many about the role of infidelity in a relationship. Through the site’s security breach, the personal information of more than 37 million users was obtained. With the hack making national headlines, it is causing spouses nationwide to address the impact that adultery can have on divorce proceedings. In New…
While married, couples usually build financial stability and long-term savings goals together, but when your partner is no longer in the picture, you may need to reassess your finances entirely. If you are going through a divorce, consider the following strategies to help with post-settlement financial security: Maintain awareness of your financial situation. As your divorce proceedings take place,…
It has come to our attention that many people seeking maintenance or alimony (the less-moneied spouse, often the primary care giver, and customarily the mother) advise that their husbands have certain “unreported” income. This can be from illegal rental apartments; construction side jobs; or even a larger income than claimed for small business owners. It is very common for home-makers…
With marriage rates declining, there is an increase in children being born to unwed couples. There is no “apparent” stigma and society seems to have embraced this as a norm. Indeed, in the past a child born out of wedlock was called “illegitimate”. However, now our society recognizes that there is nothing illegitimate about any human being and all children…
When a couple cannot conceive naturally, they may elect to go through the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Although this process may provide a couple with the ability to have a child when they are together, treatment of the frozen embryos may become complicated when a couple divorces. This month, a divorcing couple made headlines for their legal battle…
Although mediation is not right for every divorcing couple, it does offer several advantages over traditional, adversarial divorces. The following are five benefits of settling your divorce through mediation: It’s less expensive. In mediation, you and your spouse typically sit down with one family law expert who guides and documents your discussion. This means that you are paying for the…
Mediation is an increasingly used method of divorce that allows couples to work together to arrive at a mutual agreement on how to settle issues related to their divorce. In mediation, you typically work with one legal professional, who guides your decisions and turns agreements into a binding settlement. When mediation may be beneficial Mediation can be a positive, constructive…
Depending on your situation, it could really matter whether you or your spouse file for divorce first. Sometimes, certain factors in your overall settlement may be influenced depending on who initiated the divorce proceedings. Often, the spouse that files for divorce may have more perceived control over the divorce process because they have had additional time to prepare. Because they…