General
Looking Up From the Screen
Look up from your phone…. I’m right over here! Don’t worry. This is not another article about cell phone dependence. It’s about this author and my observations and decision-making process. This New Year’s eve I found myself in a beautiful restaurant surrounded by beautiful people. I looked over to the bar packed with men in…
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The Myth of Being Fair
Sometimes “even” isn’t really fair. I have a lovely client who came to me when her husband left the family home. After much delay, he finally served her with his self-prepared divorce documents. In learning about his personality and history, I believe he factored into his projection his wife’s innate sense of fairness and wanted…
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How Can You Sleep Well at Night?
Last Saturday, I took a workshop on sleep and well-being. I’ve always been nocturnal and have long considered those hours between 11 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. as bonus hours of “me time” to read for pleasure or watch TV that could not be fit in during the day because of work. I’ve also worked New…
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Take Control of Your Case. Take Control of Your Future.
Female clients who are the higher earning spouse are trending in my practice. These women are successful professionals who fear they have more to lose in a divorce than their spouses. They’re not only responsible for most of the financial obligations, they often retain the majority of household responsibilities including child rearing. They naturally trust their…
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That Son of a B*#!h Took My Dependent! What Do I Do?
I clicked the e-File button to submit a last-minute client’s tax return. Within minutes, the IRS pinged me in their cryptic code: “Another taxpayer has claimed this dependent in a tax return already filed.” When that happens, there can only be two scenarios: either somebody has stolen their child’s identity or their ex-spouse has beat…
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Financial Dangers of Living Separately (But Not Divorced)
It’s just a short hop from the holidays to what is known as “divorce season.” For the past 2 months, many people have been in holiday “limbo,” not making waves during this time of “goodwill.” I’ve counseled many women, often the lesser earners, who have remained in a separated-but-not-divorced “limbo” state for longer than a…
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The Importance of Estate Planning During Divorce
At least once a year, I invite clients in to conduct portfolio and beneficiary reviews on all important documents. It’s a rare year where I don’t find at least one policy or investment where an ex-spouse is still named as the beneficiary of the policy proceeds. Since IRAs, retirement plans, life insurance, and annuities are…
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How Much Do You Know About Your Marital Finances?
What if your spouse came home and announced he/she wanted a divorce? What would you do? Where would you start? The good news is, statistics show that the number of marriages that last to at least 15 years has been growing since the 1980s. That means the rate of divorce has actually been dropping. Despite…
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5 Simple Rules to Avoid Disaster When You Lose Your Cell Phone
It’s customary at our local Pilates studio to race in and place our keys, phones and shoes into tiny open cubbies. It’s a safe haven where we can separate ourselves from distractions, like the phone, for an hour. This time, when I finished my class and prepared to re-enter the world, I discovered my phone…
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How Will the “Bright Line” Ruling on California’s Date of Separation Affect You?
One of the most commonly litigated issues in divorce proceedings is California’s “date of separation.” This occurs because the date of Separation is so impactful to the most critical financial aspects of divorce, such as asset division and support issues. In the past, to establish the date of separation, couples could lead separate lives under…
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