If you ask any divorced individual what caused the breakdown of the marriage, there’s a good chance he or she will mention personal finances. Poor money management and different spending or saving styles are among the most common reasons why couples around Owings Mills might consult a family law attorney. And unfortunately, divorce itself usually contributes to a couple’s financial woes. After filing for a legal separation or divorce , exes must adjust to living on a single income, changing their housing arrangements, and perhaps replacing physical property that the other spouse received in the divorce settlement.

If you’re engaged and you would like to improve the longevity of your impending marriage, consider talking to your fiancé about money management long before you walk down the aisle. When you watch this video, you’ll hear how Jason and Courtney explored their individual and joint finances together before they were married. The financial planner featured here recommends opening “his” and “hers” accounts along with a joint account to reduce the possibility of divorce. Of course, it never hurts to find a good family lawyer—just in case.

Divorce has a reputation for being a costly endeavor. And indeed, certain problems are unavoidable, such as making the shift to living on a single income. But there are ways you can slash the cost of your divorce while still investing in the best family attorney you can find in Baltimore County. To learn how, watch this brief video by a financial reporter.

She explains the benefits of going into divorce mediation with an open mind. In fact, in many cases, the court may order you to attempt mediation with your spouse. By working toward compromises on child custody and other issues during mediation sessions, you can potentially reduce the time that you’ll spend in court with your family law attorney.

The most important step to take after being served with divorce papers is to contact a family law attorney with experience in Owings Mills family courts. Being served with divorce papers can be a very difficult—even traumatic—experience, but it’s crucial to act right away because you have a limited period of time in which to file your response. If you do not retain the services of a divorce lawyer promptly, he or she may not be able to file your written answer within this time period.

Review the Legal Documents Carefully

Your divorce lawyer will help you understand the documents you received. Generally, divorce papers include the complaint or petition for divorce, a summons, and a tracking assignment. The tracking assignment informs you which judge has been assigned to your case. The document package should also include a blank financial statement; your family law attorney can prepare your financial affidavit for you. You might receive a motion for temporary orders, which will indicate the hearing date during which the motions will be ruled on. Temporary orders can make provisions for child custody, visitation schedules, and support while the divorce is pending.

Organize Important Information

After you schedule your initial consultation with a family law attorney, you’ll need to organize relevant documents. These include documents pertaining to marital assets, such as retirement accounts, savings accounts, stocks and bonds, and checking accounts, as well as documents pertaining to your income, like income tax returns and paystubs. Make copies of these statements and make copies of tax returns, credit card statements, and loans. It’s also a good idea to make copies of your children’s birth certificates, health insurance cards, medical records, daycare invoices, and daycare records. These documents may be useful in determining support obligations and demonstrating your involvement in your children’s daily lives.

File an Answer

After you meet with the divorce lawyer, he or she will draft your written answer to the divorce petition and file it with the appropriate court. Then, your lawyer will guide you through the next steps in the divorce process, such as preparing for upcoming court appearances and divorce mediation.

If you’re going through a divorce, you may need to discuss alimony laws in Owings Mills , or anywhere in the Baltimore metro region, with your divorce lawyer. Alimony is typically awarded based upon the financial resources of each partner, including assets, income, expenses, benefits, and bonuses. Here is some advice for negotiating an alimony settlement during your divorce proceedings.

Evaluate Your Spouse’s Resources

The judge presiding over your divorce case will use financial records to determine how much alimony you should be awarded. Even in an uncontested divorce, you and your spouse will need to file financial affidavits with the court that detail your financial resources and expenses. These affidavits will determine both your spouse’s ability to pay, and your own financial needs. These affidavits should detail you and your spouse’s separate assets, your individual monthly income and expenses, and any regular bonuses, benefits, or overtime wages that either of you receive. They should also include an itemization of money that is in stock portfolios, IRA accounts, and any other savings or investment accounts that either of you hold.

Evaluate Your Needs and Expenses

You and your divorce lawyer will then need to evaluate your personal needs and anticipated expenses. You should look at the difference between your monthly income and your monthly expenses, and then compare it to the financial resources that you have, and your spouse’s financial resources. There is no standard formula used in alimony negotiations to determine the appropriate amount of alimony that should be awarded. Your divorce lawyer will just have to ask for the amount that you believe you will need in order to meet your expenses.

Consider Your Child Support Award

Child support orders are separate from alimony orders, but you should still consider your childcare expenses when negotiating alimony. You cannot include child support expenses in your alimony request. Instead, you should factor in the additional monetary support you will receive for child support in an effort to ensure your alimony request is fair. Your spouse cannot reduce the amount of child support that he pays in order to increase your alimony award, however.

If you aren’t sure if there has been a final decree issued in your divorce case or divorce mediation in Owings Mills , or anywhere in the Baltimore metro region, you should contact your divorce lawyer. Your divorce lawyer will be mailed an official copy of your divorce decree or divorce mediation agreement as soon as it is entered by the court. You can also call the court record’s department to check on the status of your case, or look up your court case online.

Watch this video for more tips on how to find out if a divorce has been finalized. Robert Todd, an experienced family law attorney, walks you through the steps of checking on the status of your divorce decree.

If you are considering legal separation or divorce in Owings Mills , or anywhere in the Baltimore metro region, you should consult with an experienced divorce lawyer in your area. Divorce laws are complicated, especially if there are child custody issues in consideration, and a divorce lawyer can make the process less stressful and emotional for you. Here are some helpful tips for preparing emotionally for divorce.

Don’t Obsess Over Winning Your Divorce Case

When couples begin divorce proceedings, they are often very concerned with “winning” their divorce case. In general, divorce cases involve issues of child custody, dividing assets and liabilities, and negotiating child support. It is rare that one party will get everything that he or she wants in a divorce order or child custody order. Instead of obsessing over trying to make every aspect of your divorce or child custody case go your way, you should make an attempt at divorce mediation, or discuss the possibility of an uncontested divorce with your partner.

Be Familiar with Child Custody Laws

One of the most stressful and emotional aspects of any divorce is navigating child custody issues. You can minimize your stress by consulting with a family law attorney who is experienced in child custody laws. Your divorce lawyer should carefully explain the state and federal child custody laws so that you know what to expect and won’t experience any surprises. Divorce mediation can be very helpful when dealing with complex child custody issues, and will make it easier for you and your spouse to agree upon child support and visitation. You can also seek support from a professional counselor to deal with stress you might experience.

Begin Preparing for Your Future

You will feel much more in control during your divorce proceedings if you immediately begin preparing for your future. It might be difficult, but you should avoid focusing on past mistakes, and instead construct a viable plan for your future. Make good faith attempts to work with your spouse on reaching mutually beneficial agreements regarding child custody issues and property division rather than contesting everything throughout the divorce proceedings.

Divorce can be just as financially problematic as it is emotionally exhausting. You may wish to visit a family attorney near Pikesville before informing your spouse that you intend on filing for divorce. Your family lawyer can offer invaluable advice on protecting your bottom line during and after your divorce.

Ignoring the Importance of Savings

When a spouse realizes that a legal separation or divorce is the only viable solution to the breakdown of a marriage, he or she may be eager to go through with the proceedings as quickly as possible. However, it’s essential to ensure that day-to-day living expenses will be met before the court issues rulings on financial matters. Once you’ve begun a legal separation or filed for divorce, you’ll need to pay legal fees and court filing fees. You may also need to make new housing arrangements and meet your other daily expenses on your income alone. Your divorce lawyer may advise you to open a savings account under only your name to allow you to support yourself while the case is pending.

Underestimating Your Expenses

You will need to submit to the court documents pertaining to your finances, including a list of your monthly expenses. Evaluating your income and expenses with the finances of your spouse aids the court in making decisions such as spousal support and child support. One common mistake divorcing spouses often make is to underestimate their monthly expenses. Keep track of exactly where your money goes during the month. Take into consideration your future needs and your child’s needs, including major expenses such as healthcare and minor costs such as school supplies.

Failing to Secure Support Payments

If you expect to receive spousal support and/or child support, you might consider asking the court to require your spouse to obtain disability and life insurance policies. This ensures that you’ll continue to receive payments in the event your ex-spouse becomes disabled or dies.

Neglecting to Consider Shared Liability for Debt

Talk to your divorce lawyer about your marital debts. He or she will help you determine which debts you may be held liable for after the divorce. Even if your spouse is responsible for paying off a credit card, the creditor may begin collection proceedings against you if your spouse fails to make payments.

In recent years, the percentage of individuals over the age of 50 who are going through a divorce has been on an upward trend. When you consult a divorce lawyer later in life, there are significant financial issues you should consider. Your family law attorney near Pikesville may recommend that you consult a financial planner regarding the tax consequences of any assets you might receive. Your family attorney may also recommend that you consider the possible effect of the divorce on your healthcare plan.

You can hear more factors to consider by watching this video or consulting your family lawyer. This video advises viewers to review their estate planning documents, since it’s likely that divorced spouses will need to change their beneficiaries, create separate wills, and establish separate trusts.

The issue of the fate of a family pet during a divorce is one example of divorce laws failing to keep up with modern times. When you have a divorce attorney serving Carroll County file a petition for divorce on your behalf, the court will view the family pet as property. Beloved animals are certainly much more than mere property; however, ownership of a pet may be determined much like any other asset. This is one reason why your family law attorney may recommend that you invite your spouse to try mediation.

Giving Mediation a Try

Mediation is often helpful for resolving disputes that arise during divorce. During mediation sessions, you might point out that you acquired the pet before getting married, if this is the case. Or, you might discuss how you are better suited to provide the care the animal needs. A successful outcome to mediation may be dependent upon compromise. Try to work out a visitation schedule with your spouse. For example, the pet could live with you for one month, followed by a month with your ex-spouse. If mediation does not result in a mutually agreeable arrangement, you may need to bring the matter before the judge.

Proving the Role of Primary Caregiver

Much like child custody during a divorce, you can support your claim to ownership of the pet by proving that you fulfilled the role of the primary caregiver for the animal. Begin assembling any evidence that can substantiate your claim. When you bring your animal to the veterinarian, you can ask him or her to sign a note stating that you were the one to bring the animal in, rather than your spouse. Purchase pet food and other supplies with a credit card. Save the receipts with your signature to prove that you provided for the animal. You could even ask your neighbors to write an affidavit stating that they have seen you walking your dog.

Determining the Most Suitable Caregiver

Another factor the judge may consider is which spouse is best able to care for the animal going forward. For example, if your spouse must travel frequently for work and you do not, you may be better suited to provide care. The same applies to spouses who work long hours away from home versus spouses who work out of a home office.

It’s wise to wait to discuss divorce with your children until you are positive that you will have divorce lawyers in Owings Mills file for divorce on your behalf. When you do discuss the matter, be prepared to be asked plenty of questions. Depending on the age of your children, they may be concerned about where they will live, whether they’ll still see both parents, and whether they can remain in the same school. If the child custody arrangement has not yet been determined, you can simply tell your children that they will still see mommy and daddy regularly.

For more advice on discussing divorce or legal separation, watch this interview with “Supernanny” Jo Frost. She cautions parents to avoid discussing the specific reasons for the divorce and to avoid disparaging the other parent in front of the kids.