Attorney Leigh Daniel shares insights and anecdotes from her 30-year career as a divorce lawyer to help people seek positive change Leigh Daniel Family Law is pleased to announce the publication of Leigh Daniel’s latest book, This Is NOT Legal Advice, Practical Advice for Before, During and After Divorce The book is a must-read for anyone considering divorce. Drawing upon her 30 years of experience as a family law attorney, Leigh Daniel offers practical advice and anecdotes that will be helpful to people at all stages of the separation and divorce process. The book can be used as a roadmap of ..read more

Divorce can be an emotional process. However, when emotions run high, many people forget to focus on their financial survival pre- and post-divorce. Not preparing yourself financially for divorce can be a massive mistake and leave you and your family struggling. At Leigh Daniel, Attorney at Law, our compassionate family law attorneys can help guide you through the divorce process. Our experienced legal team can formulate a strategic financial plan for you and your family so that divorce leaves you in the best financial position possible. Divorce financial planning should be a significant compo ..read more

Alabama couples who have separated may take advantage of mediation services to resolve disputed issues pertaining to their divorce. Mediation can reduce your divorce costs and time in court and potentially reduce marital strife and its negative impact on your children. In divorce mediation and child custody mediation, the mediator is a neutral third party who is trained to help the divorcing couple negotiate with one another to resolve issues related to custody, division of property, responsibility for debts, alimony, and other issues that arise during a divorce. Leigh Daniel Family Law offers ..read more

I’ve just finished listening to almost six hours of Continuing Legal Education.  The name of this training is, “Complex Divorce Settlement Strategies”.  What I learned from watching throughout the six hours could be summed up in about half a page.   But far from being disappointed with the waste of my hours, first off, I must do it to remain licensed, I’ve been gratified to know I have practiced so long that I can consider myself well educated when it comes to divorce issues. Navigating the Nuances of Divorce: Understanding the Complexity of Settlement Agreements Why is tha ..read more

A question I hear often is, “How do I know they have disclosed all the assets?” If the opposing party is a wage earner, we can usually trace their income from their paycheck to an account. If they are self-employed, it can be much more difficult.   These are some of the ways I have seen: Giving money to a family member, by setting up an account with them or asking them to keep money, or even transferring or saying you “sold” them something. Unless you are in the habit of giving your family members money then suddenly sending them thousands of dollars is going to trigger a question. Just ..read more

Most divorcing couples go through a process of figuring out how to split their property, such as the home they share, retirement accounts, and other assets. However, high-net-worth couples often face significant obstacles during a divorce because they have substantial wealth and frequently own complex assets that are challenging to assess and divide among parties. If you and your spouse have significant assets and want to get divorced, you need practical legal advice to protect your financial interests, the value of your assets, and your future. Understanding the Legal Landscape of High-Net-Wo ..read more

All divorces have their challenges. However, when a divorcing couple has high-dollar assets, dissolving a marriage has the potential for high drama. Divorces involving the division of large amounts of money may incentivize both sides to dig in their heels. The decisions about the division of high-dollar assets may have long-term tax implications. You have every right to fight for the assets you deserve. You don’t have to face this difficult time alone. While there is no way to guarantee an outcome, educating yourself with some divorce financial planning and working with an experienced Huntsvil ..read more

I recently was listening to a recording of a call between a client who is getting divorced. The pure rage emanating from the voice caused me to have a visceral reaction. I can only imagine what it felt like to the recipient of the call. Even if you feel your spouse has betrayed you, lied to you, and generally made you feel like hell, it’s not an excuse to heap verbal and emotional abuse on them. From a legal perspective, it’s not going to play out as, “they deserved it”. The person who is going to look bad is the one who is being abusive. Signs of Verbal and Emotional Abuse 1. Cursing and usin ..read more

Both parents. Time and again studies have shown the importance of children having access and meaningful relationships with both of their parents. Yet, in the midst of a divorce, often one parent decides it’s best for the kids to be insulated from the other. If there is abuse, or substance abuse issues, or mental health challenges, perhaps safeguards are necessary. But even then, if the parent with the issues is willing to deal with appropriate treatment and supervision, they should have access to their children. Safeguard Your Children but Give Them Access The worst situation is when both par ..read more

It may come as no surprise that many people who come to see me are in deeply dysfunctional marriages. I’m not talking about people who have grown apart over the years or those who just “can’t get along”. Instead, they are in marriages with a partner who has a substance abuse problem, who has some other addiction like gambling or spending, with a partner who is mentally ill, or part of a cycle of emotional or physical abuse. When I meet with these clients, I’m always surprised at how much they have endured before they have sought legal advice. Many times, what drives them to act is when they se ..read more