For many reasons, couples may initiate a divorce process and then put it on the back burner for months or years. What are the consequences of doing that? And what are some things you should consider if you're anticipating letting your divorce lapse, or are in the midst of a well-lapsed divorce?
Most people who hope to settle their divorce out of court envision working with reasonable attorneys in the process, on both sides. What happens when your spouse doesn't share your vision, at least insofar as his or her attorney is concerned? And what are the most constructive ways you can approach your divorce negotiation if your spouse has hired an aggressive attorney?
Divorce brings with it a lot of changes, a number of which can be unwelcome. At least, initially. How can you work productively with difficult change in the divorce process, and how can you support your spouse in doing so?
It's not uncommon for spouses to come to a divorce mediation process without feeling much trust for one another. Episode 61 looks at the ways that the mediation process can be structured to solve for an absence of trust, and what red flags, in particular around lack of transparency and integrity, may indicate that mediation is not an appropriate process for you.
Many people are in a relationship with a significant other while going through their divorce. How does that impact your divorce process? Episode 62 will explore this dynamic and its impact on divorce negotiation. We'll offer some tips on how to ensure, if you do have a significant other while divorcing, that your divorce process goes as well as possible.
People's incomes change over time, and divorce is no exception to that. What happens when your or your spouse's income changes - for better or for worse - in the divorce process? How should you consider and work with income changes in your divorce negotiation?
What can you do when your spouse has dug heels in on a particular point and won't negotiate further? Especially where their offer is far outside the realm of the reasonable on the subject being negotiated? Episode 64 looks at what your options are, and how can you weigh them and proceed productively, when you have a stubborn or intransigent spouse on the other side of the table.
Many people have the misconception that mediation is only for spouses who get along well. Not so. But, at a certain level of conflict, mediation ceases to be an effective or productive process for you. Episode 65 looks at how to determine where that tipping point is, and how can you work productively in a negotiation process even if you can't stand being in the same room as your spouse.
What's a term sheet? Do you need one? We'll take a look at the role a term sheet can play in your mediation or negotiation process in Episode 66.
When you've been in mediation, and you're ready to have outside attorneys review your draft agreement, what's the best way to go about coordinating that? Should their review be sequenced, or happen simultaneously? Answers to those questions in Episode 67!
If you own your home and want to complete a buy-out of one spouse's interest in the home, you will typically also need to refinance or assume the mortgage. In Episode 68, we look more closely at how that works.
Once you and your spouse have agreed to the amount and duration of child support and/or spousal support, there are two important questions you need to answer. One, do you want to speak to whether support may change in the future, in amount or duration? Two, if so, do you want to speak to exactly how support would change? Episode 69 will take you though how to think about support "modification" in the context of your divorce negotiation.
Episode 70 describes several of the more important but less obvious considerations for you to keep in mind as you think through the ideal division of your marital assets.
Many people wonder if they can update their will or other estate planning documents before their divorce is finalized. Sometimes yes, sometime no. Episode 71 provides an overview of the ways in which changes to estate planning are typically restricted during divorce, and common exceptions to those restrictions.
It's uncommon for someone to feel like their divorce process resolved too quickly. The opposite is more frequently the case. Why does divorce take as long as it does, and often so much longer than divorcing spouses would like? And what can you do to move your divorce along more quickly?
In the course of your divorce negotiation, you may face the question of whether, and to what degree, to take less (or provide more) than the law calls for. How can you determine, in your particular situation, whether that's the right thing to do? How can you ensure that a decision you make today is not one you regret down the road?
When figuring out the distribution of assets in your divorce, you may have a subset of assets, or a single asset, that you can neither sell to a third party, nor divide between you. What then? Episode 74 will lay out your options.
One the bigger tasks when you're divorcing is to organize and understand your financial situation. This provides the foundation for all subsequent negotiations around finances, but many spouses are at a loss for how to get started. Over the next four episodes, we'll cover the basics of how to begin organizing your finances, vis-a-vis your income, expenses, assets and debts. Episode 75 focuses on income.
In Episode 76, we continue a four-part series on organizing your finances, a task that provides the foundation for all financial negotiations in your divorce. Here, we focus on organizing your expenses.
In Episode 77, we continue a four-part series on organizing your finances, a task that provides the foundation for all financial negotiations in your divorce. Here, we focus on organizing your assets.
