Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs) enable distributions to be made from retirement plans such as defined benefit or pension plans, defined contribution plans, individual retirement plans (IRAs), annuity plans, etc. to the spouse or former spouses of the plan...
The issue of paternity is an important one. Not only does it matter emotionally, but it is also an incredibly important legal (and financial) issue that impacts significant rights and obligations. In cases where paternity is not definitively known, determining who the...
The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Act became effective October 17, 2005. The Act makes several very important changes in the Bankruptcy Statutes as they apply to divorce litigation. Significant changes are made in the new law which affect property...
Personal credit reports can provide a wealth of information. Too many times, this information proves to be surprising. In today's "quick credit here" world, it is far too easy for a spouse to obtain credit that is tied to his/her spouse. For instance, who among us has...
One of the complaints we hear most often is "the other parent doesn't spend my child support payments on the child." We certainly understand that it can be very frustrating for non-custodial parents to pay child support each and every month. This is particularly true...
You can save money for Col Smith in several ways in negotiations over his pension. The first one to use a set dollar amount in specifying the pension share for his wife upon divorce. This means that the spousal entitlement is calculated (usually with 50% of the...
One overlooked source of money has to do with insurance. Many military members, including Guard and Reserve, choose USAA for their insurance needs. A little known fact about USAA is that members have a Subscriber's Account (formerly called a "Subscriber Savings...
If you're a Massachusetts woman and thinking about moving forward with a divorce, one of the most important decisions you can make is to become more involved in your family's finances. Too many women are not involved in financial decision-making, which can seriously...
If you're finally ready to make the decision and move forward with divorce, it is important to make sure that you are as prepared as possible before taking the plunge. After all, things will change rapidly once the decision is made, so it is best to get your ducks in...
A recent article explored some specific tips for dads going through divorce. Certainly the desire to be a good parent is universal, but the author of the piece felt that some fathers were inadvertently failing to fulfill their family obligations, often not...