fair divorce settlement or financial fraud; Lady Justice with wedding bands in scalesWhether negotiating a divorce settlement in your lawyer’s office or going through divorce proceedings in court, arriving at a fair financial arrangement can be difficult. That’s largely because there are so many variables to consider when putting a value on what each spouse contributed to the marriage, which can lead to conflicting opinions as to what each spouse is entitled to.

Still there is a difference between feeling you were treated unfairly in your divorce and being a victim of financial fraud. How can you tell? A recent article in Forbes, “Red Flags of Financial Fraud in Divorce – And What To Do About Them,” highlights signs to watch for and what you can do to protect your interests.

Child's blue eye with tear showing affects of domestic violence on childrenSociety dictates that the ideal family is one where children are raised by two parents all living under the same roof. Yet, there are circumstances when staying together for the sake of the children is far from the best choice.

Parents involved in a domestic violence relationship may think they are hiding the abuse from their children, but often that is a false assumption. A recent study confirms that children of domestic violence—whether they are targets or witnesses—are two times more likely to develop long-term issues than their peers. To learn more about the impact domestic violence can have on the child who repeatedly witnesses this type of abuse read, “NJ Advocate: Children Being Damaged in Homes with Domestic Violence.”

Property distribution; pair of woman's hands and man's hands tugging on a house keyIn a divorce, the answer to the question of who gets the house may not be a simple one. Essentially there are two ways to approach this question: let the court decide or negotiate an amicable agreement with your ex.

If you and your ex cannot come to a mutually acceptable agreement, the court will rule on the division of property and other marital assets under the Equitable Division Law. This ruling considers several factors and is meant to result in a fair, although not necessarily equal, distribution of property. Couples who would prefer to avoid the court process and negotiate an agreement between themselves have several options to consider. To learn more, read “How Divorce Impacts Property Ownership.”

How divorce affects credit score; picture of laptop computer showing credit score scaleA good credit rating can open many doors – loan approvals, lower interest rates, increased spending limits, security deposit waivers, better insurance rates, to name a few. That’s why, once you build a good credit score, it’s important to keep close tabs on it and avoid actions that can have a negative impact. While divorce itself doesn’t directly affect your credit score, it does change your financial situation which, in turn, can have negative implications.

After divorce, you could end up carrying debt that previously you shared with another person, or find yourself responsible for debts incurred by your ex. Situations like these could work to lower your credit rating. If you find your credit score slipping, don’t despair. There are steps to take to correct that. Read this CNBC article on rebuilding your credit score after divorce to learn how.

Divorce-Red-Flags-300x200No relationship is smooth sailing one hundred percent of the time, especially marriage. When two people decide to build a life together, they are sure to face some obstacles along the way. Luckily, couples often learn to overcome their differences, largely through understanding and compromise, and their marriages endure. Some obstacles, however, are too big to overlook and the marriages end in divorce.

Deciding which problems are minor bumps in the road and which are deal breakers can be one of the hardest parts of marriage. Read “5 Divorcees Reveal the Red Flags That Their Marriage Was Doomed” to learn some signs that your marriage may be headed for divorce.

Divorce-First-Steps-300x200There is a lot more involved to a divorce than two people simply going their own ways. Couples have an overwhelming number of decisions to make—how to divide their assets, where to live and, for parents, how to continue caring for their children, to name a few.

As difficult as it may be, cutting through the emotions and focusing on the logistics involved in the process one step at a time can help you better prepare for your post-divorce life. For a look at a step-by-step plan for your divorce, read “What To Do Before Filing For a Divorce.”

Shared-Custody-and-Taxes-FL-Blog-pic-300x200January is typically the month when we start to collect year-end tax documentation in preparation for the April tax season. While filing income taxes can be complicated for many of us, it can be especially confusing for divorced parents with children.

Shared custody arrangements can raise questions regarding which parent is eligible to claim dependents and, therefore, receive tax credits. For some guidelines on claiming dependents and tax credits when sharing custody of your children with your ex read, “How to Do Your Taxes if You Share Custody of Your Kids.”

Common-Financial-Mistakes-FL-blog-2-300x200When going through a divorce, couples can let emotions drive their decision-making process, especially when it comes to such issues as divvying up their assets. The more contentious the divorce, the more likely the scenario of a spouse fighting for assets simply to keep them out of the hands of their soon-to-be-ex.

Cutting through the emotions associated with divorce and looking ahead at the realities of their financial situation can help couples avoid long-term mistakes. To learn about some of the more common financial mistakes divorcing couples make read, “5 Money Mistakes to Avoid When Going Through a Divorce.”

Property-Division-2-FL-blog-300x200When building a life together as husband and wife you will, no doubt, accumulate a lot of stuff. Normally, this isn’t a problem unless your marriage ends in divorce. At that point, you will be faced with the difficult, and sometimes contentious, task of dividing up your assets.

Some couples are lucky enough to reach settlement agreements on their own terms; others require the court to intercede. That is when property distribution becomes more complicated than simply deciding who wants a particular asset more. Understanding the legal definition of separate and community or martial property, as well as knowing which property ownership system your state observes, can help you better understand what to expect should you need to go to court. To learn more read, “How to Split Marital Assets During Divorce.”

Post-Divorce-Checklist-FL-blog-300x200For most couples, the divorce process starts the moment they realize their marriage is beyond repair, long before they get attorneys involved and start the legal process. It can be months, and in some cases years, between the time a couple decides to dissolve their marriage and the time the divorce is finalized by the court. So, it’s no wonder that once they do have their divorce decree in hand, they want nothing more than to sit back and heave a sigh of relief. But there’s still work to be done.

Once a divorce is finalized, there are loose ends to tie up, some of which are time sensitive. To make sure you don’t miss important deadlines or forget to update important documents, it’s a good idea to create a post-divorce to-do list. For help on what such a list should include, read “Post-Divorce Checklist: Exactly What You Must Do After Divorce.”

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