Taxes And Divorce

If you divorced in 2015, there are a few important things to be aware of in order to avoid potential hassles.

Robert Bordet offers this quick cheat sheet:

1. Know your filing status.
2. Review your settlement agreement in order to determine who can claim the children as exemptions.
3. Ensure you have an IRS form 8332 signed, if required.
4. Determine the amount of your withholdings on your form W4.
5. Ensure you’ve done estimated payments if your withholding is not enough, or if you’re receiving alimony.

Five Keys to Successfully Mediate a Divorce Settlement

Couples facing divorce typically experience a great deal of anxiety, stress and emotional pain during the process. In fact, many get caught up in their anger and frustration to the point that they end up sabotaging or killing their divorce settlement. This is an outcome couples should strive to avoid, especially since decisions made now can significantly impact them financially and emotionally for many years to come.

In this excellent article Patricia Barrett offers five keys to ensuring you and your soon-to-be-ex-spouse don't sabotage the mediation process with negative comments or bad behavior.

• Avoid knee jerk reactions to proposed offers
• Don't shoot yourself in the foot
• Know what you want and expect to compromise
• Do not breach the trust you are building
• Own your decisions

Five Tips To Get Ready For Divorce Mediation

The holidays are hectic, happy, stressful and busy all at once— especially for families going through or approaching a divorce. According to FindLaw.com, U.S. divorce rates are highest from January to March each year. This could be due to stress caused by the holidays, financial issues with tax season approaching, or New Years resolutions that don’t involve staying in an unhappy relationship.

Whether a legal separation is recent or on the horizon, preparation can be key in making the process as smooth as possible. In this excellent article Debra Synovec offers five tips to get ready for divorce mediation in the New Year:

• Know what you want.
• Get your finances in order.
• Think of the kids.
• Leave your ego behind.
• Find the right mediator for you.

If you or someone you know could benefit from assistance in decision making during a divorce, contact Falmouth Mediation at 508-566-4159 for a free, no-obligation, private, confidential consultation. We will be happy to discuss the key details of your situation, address any concerns, and help you decide if divorce mediation would be beneficial.

Divorce? Look before you leap

Considering a divorce?

As with any break-up, whatever the reasons, it is vital that you give it very careful thought and communicate honestly with your partner. Divorce is a seismic life change that rarely comes without trauma, upset and downside at any age so do not rush into it.

In this excellent article, Peter Jones shares some consequences you may not have thought of, and offers salutary advice on staying together – or at least parting well.

5 Myths That Stop Couples from Starting Mediation

Some people anticipating a separation or divorce think, because of frequently heard myths, they are not ready to start the mediation process.

In this article Jennifer Safian debunks five of these myths.

• We have not yet filed for our divorce in court.
• We have not yet worked out the terms of our divorce together.
• We have not decided what to do about the marital home.
• We don’t get along.
• We have not yet retained lawyers.

Many people put off beginning their mediation because of these 5 myths, but that is exactly what they are, myths. Don’t prolong what may be a very unhappy situation.

If you or someone you know could benefit from assistance in decision making during a divorce, contact Falmouth Mediation at 508-566-4159 for a free, no-obligation, private, confidential consultation. We will be happy to discuss the key details of your situation, address any concerns, and help you decide if divorce mediation would be beneficial.