Traditional vs Roth IRA
Although December 31st has passed, you still have until April 17, 2012 to make a contribution to an IRA for the 2011 tax year. But should you contribute to a Traditional IRA or a Roth [...]
Looking for “Fair”?
It’s not always found in the law! During a recent mediation Craig said it did not seem “fair” that he had to pay child support when the children were going to be with him half [...]
Equitable Does Not Mean “Equal”
During a recent mediation session Ellie was very clear that she did not believe it would be fair to divide everything equally. “You have not been working to your full potential” she told her husband, [...]
The Upside Down Mortgage
What to do if you can’t sell your house I attended a divorce mediation conference recently where someone said that 24% of American homeowners were “upside down” on their mortgage, meaning that they owed as [...]
Living Single?
Why You Might Need Long-Term Care Insurance A friend of mine, who is single, just turned sixty. When we were talking about this milestone event he said something that I found very interesting. He said: [...]
Your Legal Rights!
I often hear people express concern about knowing their “legal rights” when getting a divorce and realize that they are using a phrase they often hear in television ads for legal services. Even assuming that [...]
Should Granny “Live in Sin?”
I have heard of a number of “elderly” couples holding “weddings” for appearances only and not signing the documents to make it legal. Why? They don’t want to set a bad example for their children [...]
Win-Win with Mortgage Modification
For many people considering a divorce or separation, the biggest challenge is finding a way to support two separate households on the same income that was previously supporting only one. Even those who have already [...]
It’s that Taxing Time of Year, Part II
“Are You the Head of Your Household?” If you were unmarried at the end of a tax year and maintained a household for your child, parent or other qualifying relative you can file as “head [...]
It’s that Taxing Time of Year, Part I
“Who should claim a child?” According to the IRS, the parent who can claim the dependency exemption for a child on his or her tax return is the one designated the custodial parent by court [...]