Movies and soap operas to the contrary, divorce doesn’t have to be explosive or messy. Here’s who decides how easy a divorce can be: the two people in the marriage. That’s you! Yes, your spouse will have a lot to say about how smooth or rough your divorce will be, but you can set the…
If you have children, then you are likely already skilled at picking your battles. However, even the most honed skills can go out the window when you are choosing what to fight for and what to let go of when you are going through a divorce. Divorce can be chaotic and emotional, and it can…
While you may have hoped for a civilized ending to your marriage, the divorce process can bring out a number of toxic feelings that can quickly hijack your hopes for an amicable parting. If your spouse has a penchant for drama or thrives on conflict, chances are that you will need to take some necessary…
While dealing with the emotional side of divorce is probably your top concern when you’re in the middle of it, you must focus on the money side as well to safeguard your financial future. The income that used to support just one household must now support two households, so you need to have a firm…
A divorce doesn’t have to wreck your life or your finances if you go into it prepared and focused on the outcome you want to achieve. No doubt one of those outcomes is to keep a lid on the cost of your divorce as much as possible. Here are five tips to help you achieve…
One of the things parents dread most about divorce is breaking the news to their children. You are naturally concerned about managing the emotional impact this will have on them, and the best way to do this is to come to the conversation fully prepared. The following tips can help you prepare for this difficult…
When a divorce looms, it is not uncommon for one spouse to suspect the other is hiding assets in an effort to fatten their share of the marital assets. If you don’t know what to look for, it is easy to be taken advantage of during this fragile emotional time in your life. The best…
New Jersey has both no-fault divorce and fault divorce, although fault grounds are rarely used anymore. The causes of action for a no-fault divorce are either irreconcilable differences or separation (living apart for at least 18 months). The grounds for fault divorce include addiction, adultery, extreme cruelty, mental illness, imprisonment, or deviant sexual conduct. As…
The teen years are difficult enough without having a divorce thrown into the mix as well. Teens typically react to divorce in two ways: (1) being stoic and keeping their feelings in so as not to upset their parents, or (2) being angry at the world. To help your teen navigate the difficulties of divorce…
Is it possible to “succeed” at divorce? It is if you have the right people behind you, supporting you in three critical areas: legal, financial and emotional. Assembling your divorce “dream team” is something you should focus on as soon as possible, as these will be the most important people in your life during this…
Probably one of the most contentious parts of a divorce is dividing a couple’s assets. No matter how amicable a divorce may start out, when it comes time to decide who gets what, things can take a turn for the worse. In New Jersey, inheritances are protected by law — but only if you take…
Many Americans carry a lot of debt — credit cards, car loans, mortgage loans, student loans, etc. Even with a healthy income, debt can be difficult to manage. When those debts become entangled with other emotional issues during a divorce, things can turn ugly fast. When you decide to divorce, you not only need to…
Because divorce is so prevalent in the U.S., there is no shortage of research studies that have been done on the effects of divorce on children. Many experts agree that helping children to cope well begins with how they are told about the divorce. Unless domestic violence is an issue, it is usually recommended that…
Life insurance plays an important role in the divorce process, but is often overlooked amid other concerns like custody, alimony, splitting up assets, and acclimating to a new life. Life insurance is particularly important if there are minor children, and to protect the financial interests of both spouses. Here are four things you should do…
The divorce rate in the U.S. is declining for every age group except one: those over 50. This wave of “gray divorce” can be particularly harmful to divorcing couples that have to split retirement accounts and other assets with not too many years left before retirement to make up the shortfall. Don’t compound the problem…