Archive for June, 2009

Getting back on the Chain Gang

Monday, June 1st, 2009

If you have been thinking about re-entering the work force, you will want to do so as soon as possible. Brush up your resume, update your wardrobe, and research job prospects. If you have been thinking about changing careers, make those moves before you discuss a divorce with your spouse. A court is less likely to upset your plans if you have already started. For some fantastic post-divorce career resources, check out http://www.divorce360.com/college-and-career-after-divorce-360.aspx.

For example, assume that you have been thinking about getting divorced but need to finish your college degree. You enroll in school and finish two semesters, but have two semesters left to complete. The chances that a Judge will order your spouse to pay the remaining tuition are much better than your prospects of obtaining future tuition monies from your spouse for a college in which you have not yet enrolled. A clear plan can make all the difference

Some people, especially those who’ve been out of the job market for several years, experience a sense of panic and concern regarding the financial future when they realize that they will need to be responsible for their own household. If you have not worked for several years, you may think about going back to your previous field. On the other hand, this is your chance to change careers if you’re interested in doing something new, or if you find your old skills are hopelessly outdated. Be creative in your thoughts regarding your career future. Low paying jobs are going to be just as easy to obtain in six months or a year from now as they are today. Don’t rush into a decision you’ll regret later.  Rather than assuming you will need to go back to work in a bank, retail sales, or another career which you left many years ago, begin to think about some of the activities that you have developed over the course of the marriage.

Make sure you also understand what your cost of living will be after the divorce and that you look for a job that will allow you to make ends meet. For a great article on rebuilding you finances after divorce, see http://ezinearticles.com/?Rebuilding-Your-Finances-After-Divorce&id=77410.

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Flat Fee Divorces

Monday, June 1st, 2009

If you have hired the lawyer on a flat-fee basis, meaning that you pay one fee for the lawyer to handle the case from beginning to end, find out what will be covered by the flat fee, and what will not be covered. For example, if you pay a flat fee for an uncontested divorce, what happens if you and your spouse cannot agree on whether or not to sell the house, or how to set up a visitation schedule with the children? And, at what point will you be notified that you’re no longer being covered under the flat fee agreement?

 

 

Whether you pay by the hour or on a flat-fee basis, expect to pay a retainer fee, which is a fee paid in advance from which the lawyer’s hourly costs are billed. When the lawyer sets the retainer fee, he or she is trying to guess in advance how long your case will take in billable hours to complete. Most matrimonial lawyers bill cases on an hourly basis, and you are charged for all of the time that the lawyer spends on your case, including telephone calls, travel to and from court, and preparation time. Other lawyers may bill on a flat fee basis, setting one fee for the entire case. All lawyers should provide you with a written retainer agreement that explains in detail how their fees are billed. Read this agreement carefully before signing it.

 

 

Be careful if you price shop for a lawyer. Your divorce is one of the most important events of your life. If you can find a lawyer you think is qualified at a reasonable price, great. But remember, if the lawyer you consulted asks for the lowest retainer fee in town, there’s probably a reason for that. The most experienced lawyers are usually the most expensive and that is no coincidence.

 

If you are concerned about your finances, see http://www.peace-talks.com/finformation.php. For a cost comparison of mediation and litigation which may help you save a great deal of money, see http://www.peace-talks.com/compare.php.

 

 

Excerpted from Your Divorce Advisor: A Lawyer and a Psychologist Guide You Through the Legal and Emotional Landscape of Divorce (Simon & Schuster/Fireside 2001). For more information: http://www.yourdivorceadvisor.com/.

 

For more information contact Peace Talks www.peace-talks.com 

(C) 2008  Peace Talks Mediation Services, Inc.

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