» Financial and Property Issues

Disinheriting Your Former Spouse

Many people think that disinheriting a former spouse means writing a new will. It can mean more than that. If you and your spouse have executed powers of attorney and medical durable powers of attorney that name each other, you may want to designate… Read More
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Being a Financially Savvy Single

In a recent article, I described the steps you should take to secure your financial future before your financial your divorce. Now it is time to implement the plan. Hopefully, your attorney has sent you an instruction letter with your final judgment… Read More
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Protecting Your Financial Future

It is important to know that the debt division that you agree upon in your settlement agreement or judgment of divorce is just between the parties. It does not bind your creditors. For example, if you owe $5,000 on a credit card that is in joint name… Read More
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Protecting Inheritances and Gifts that You Receive During Marriage or Bring into the Marriage

Gifts and Inheritances that you bring into the marriage or that you receive during the marriage are considered “separate property” in Michigan, provided that you can identify the assets and their source as being gifts or inheritance to yo… Read More
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Make Sure You Receive Retirement Benefits from Your Former Spouse

Incident to divorce or separate maintenance (legal separation in some states), it is possible to divide retirement benefits that one spouse earned as an employment benefit or saved in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA)or other retirement savings,… Read More
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Retirement Plans Thrown Into Disarray by a Divorce (New York Times)

FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES, June 27, 2014: AFTER enduring a divorce four years ago, Mike Miller’s vision for a golden retirement got an unexpected makeover. Mr. Miller had been married for more than 30 years, and now he was single. His longtime dream… Read More
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Buying a House During or After a Divorce

Not all mortgage companies are created equal. Some are more rigid in their lending requirements which favor having a couple purchase a home, rather than a single or soon-to-be single person. Rather than adding another frustration, consult with your a… Read More
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The Higher the Conflict; the Greater the Attorney Fees

It is common to feel a lot of anger towards your spouse/ex-spouse/partner as the relationship breaks up. It is hoped that as you can visualize your future without that person as a more positive situation, that the anger will dissipate. Many lawyers r… Read More
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Gray Divorce

When older people divorce, they often remember that there were good times in their past, which may include raising their children and watching them raise children. Older adults are often less angry. Based on their life experiences, they know that cha… Read More
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What Financial Professionals Add to Divorce Resolution

In a Collaborative Practice case, we often add a financial professional, usually a certified public accountant, to the team. Why? Because they add essential information to the agreement to help make it sustainable. Information that a FP can provide i… Read More
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