Navigating the complexities of a divorce can be a challenging journey. It affects just about every aspect of your life. Taking the time to plan for what’s coming is critical in these cases. It’s crucial to approach this process strategically, especially regarding legal and financial matters. Consider these five areas to get started. 1: Use caution on social media Social media platforms are a part of daily life, but they can become a double-edged sword during a divorce. Remember anything posted online can potentially be used in court proceedings. Emotional outbursts, photos or comments can be m ..read more

It’s no secret that some divorces are expensive, time-consuming and contentious. While divorces are rarely pain-free, there is an option that makes the process relatively smooth. Many couples are opting for a collaborative divorce, but is it the right choice for you? The benefits of a collaborative divorce In a traditional divorce, a divorcing couple each has their attorney representing their best interest. It takes place in court, where the judge makes the final decisions. The proceedings become part of the public record. In contrast, in a collaborative divorce, both parties commit to working ..read more

One crucial aspect often overlooked when navigating through a divorce is how retirement plans are divided. This is where a qualified domestic relations order becomes a key element.  A QDRO is a legal order used in a divorce to separate specific types of retirement plans. It requires careful attention to detail and consideration about how it affects overall property division. The purpose and function of a QDRO A QDRO is a legal document that allows for dividing certain types of retirement benefits in a divorce. It assigns a portion of a retirement plan participant’s benefits to an alternat ..read more

If you don’t know, cryptocurrency is a digital currency based on cryptographic principles that typically operates on a decentralized computer network. Owners can use it like money to buy goods and services or as an investment vehicle since crypto can increase in value over time. Unfortunately, it can pose some marital property challenges during divorce, as some spouses may try to conceal these assets from their partners. Cryptocurrency remains difficult to track and access due to its decentralized nature. If you suspect your spouse has concealed crypto from your divorce, here are some tips for ..read more

For those who celebrate Christmas, this time of year can be particularly stressful for separated and divorced parents. One of the biggest stressors is gifts. Many parents go over the top on lavish gifts for their children because they feel guilty about the divorce or not being there for them as much as they used to be. Others are more interested in outdoing their co-parent in their quest to be the favorite parent or simply to “one-up” and annoy their ex. How can you rein in the outlandish gift-giving? Maybe your co-parent has done this in the past. or perhaps this is your first holiday season ..read more

When parents divorce, they often worry about how the situation will affect their children’s school performance. When former spouses are committed to co-parenting, they can set goals to help keep their kids’ grades up, encourage them to continue to excel or help them if they’re struggling academically. As you’re working out your parenting plan and other divorce agreements, it’s wise to think beyond their grade school and high school years. Whether you have a little one who’s still mastering the alphabet or a teen who is starting to look at college websites, you can commit to saving for college ..read more

Gray divorces involving people in their 50s or beyond have become much more common in recent years. Older adults are more likely than ever before to decide that their marriage affects their quality of life in their golden years and that they want to do something about that fact. Many people who have remained married for decades feel anxious about what the future could hold after divorce. Dependent spouses who only worked part-time or who did not work at all might feel as though divorce is not an option because they depend on benefits related to their spouse’s employment history. Those contempl ..read more

High-asset marriages tend to result in some of the most challenging divorce-related litigation, as people are often eager to sidestep community property division rules in Texas. When those with diverse portfolios and sizable personal holdings divorce, there is plenty of both incentive and opportunity for financial misconduct in addition to general complexity that needs to be sorted out during negotiations, mediation and/or litigation. One of the most common misconduct risks relates to one spouse deciding to hide assets from the other and also from the family courts. They seek to diminish the m ..read more

Property division in a Texas divorce requires either a judge’s careful review or an agreement between spouses. Oftentimes, those pursuing a divorce or the judge presiding over a litigated divorce case will make the proper management of the largest marital assets a top focus. For example, both spouses may have invested a lot of personal effort in the maintenance and improvement of a home, and they may both have worked hard to save the down payment to buy it and to fund major projects for the property. There’s also often a very strong emotional attachment to a family’s home. The community proper ..read more

A contentious divorce complicates so many matters among separating couples. The fight over assets multiplies. Disagreements about alimony turn prickly. And issues related to children – child support and especially child custody – can turn excessively combative. Sometimes, an unnecessary and harmful tug-of-war pits one parent against the other in child custody situations. As reluctant participants, the children get pulled in directions that may lead to permanent scars. They watch in disbelief in a no-holds-barred battle between two people whom they love. How can certain couples avoid this scena ..read more