Importance of Realistic Expectations

The reality of divorce is that no matter whether you choose to settle your divorce without the assistance of a Judge, or whether you take all of your issues before a Judge, you probably won't be 100% happy with the result. Whether you are in a no fault state like Florida, or whether you live in a state that takes adultery or other faults into account when determining alimony and equitable distribution, at the end of the day, everyone is going to be giving something up. Keeping that in mind, you must prepare yourself with realistic expectations when it comes to the financial side of divorce. If you do not have realistic expectations and your divorce attorney does not prepare you for the financial reality of divorce, you will be shocked and ill-prepared when you don't get what you "want" out of your divorce settlement or decree. Being prepared and planning accordingly can help you get you into the financial mindset that you will need once your divorce is finalized.

Web Site To Help Women Through Divorce Seeks Funding

Getting through a divorce and learning how to pick up the pieces emotionally and financially after your divorce is finalized can sometimes leave someone feeling desperate for direction and assistance in how to move on. This is especially true for some women. Dawn Haynes, a woman here in Florida, is trying to get a website up and running called ReDesigning Women that will be a site for women to look to when figuring out the piles of "to dos" which are involved with divorce. The site has not yet been launched, but they are seeking funding in order to make this website concept a reality. I cannot speak to the content of the site, or the credentials of the people who are trying to get the web site up in running. What I can speak to is that the more credible, helpful and accurate information that is out there concerning divorce, the better.

To read about this new website, see the following article:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/technology/orl-divorce2908jan29,0,5091170.story

Injunctions To Freeze Assets

There are very few issues when presented to a court in Florida that are considered an emergency when a couple is going through a divorce. Generally you have to go to mediation before a Judge will hear any of the issues in your divorce. However, if you have clear evidence that your soon to be ex-spouse is hiding marital assets or funneling off assets to another unknown place, you can file an emergency motion for temporary injunction to freeze assets or request that certain assets are not dissipated or moved. It appears that Hulk Hogan's wife has filed such a motion. To read about this news item, see the following:

http://suncoastpinellas.tbo.com/content/2008/jan/25/hulk-hogan-accused-legal-shenanigans-divorce/

Careful What You Sign

Many people decide to enter into a Marital Settlement Agreement to resolve all the issues that arise out of their marriage. Often times a settlement comes as a result of mediation or a settlement conference and you sign something quickly believing it to be your understanding of what you have verbally agreed to. It is important that both you and your attorney read the agreement thoroughly to insure that there is nothing in there that you haven't agreed to, or that there are no errors in the terms. Once a Marital Settlement Agreement is signed, its very hard to undo that agreement, therefore READ what you are signing. The following story is about a person who signed a settlement agreement thinking that he agreed to pay $14,000.00 per month for child support, when in fact he had agreed to pay $14,000.00 per child. The case is still in litigation.

http://www.ajc.com/holiday/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2008/01/14/Gary0115.html

Remaining Friends with an Ex's Family

Divorce is something that effects not only the husband, wife and children, but in-laws and extended family. People often times become close to their in-laws and although the legal ties are severed by divorce, people try to keep the emotional ties together. The following article talks about the benefits and pitfalls from remaining close with your in-laws.

http://www.silive.com/living/advance/index.ssf?/base/living/1201001426284670.xml&coll=1

Don't Ruin Your Credit In A Divorce

One of the main concerns that people have before deciding to file for divorce is how that divorce is going to affect them financially. In cases where you and your spouse have a tremendous amount of debt, it is doubly concerning when the issue of whether your credit will be ruined comes into play. The following article gives some helpful suggestions on how to insure that your credit isn't negatively affected in a divorce:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/industries/media/article/dont-let-divorce-ruin-credit-rating_444390_15.html

Failure to Sign Prenup Reason Not To Get Married

There are many reasons why someone may decide not to get married. When someone has a large estate or children from a previous marriage, it may be a good idea to discuss the possibility of entering into a prenuptial agreement to protect your assets and/or children. What happens when you don't want to sign a prenuptial agreement and your soon to be spouse will not marry you without one? This is something that many couples face especially as more and more people are waiting until later on in life to get married or have children from a previous relationship. The best idea is to make sure that you understand what you are signing and that the Agreement is fair and reasonable. Whether or not you are willing to sign a Prenup or are going to require someone to sign a Prenup before you get married is a decision that only you can make. For some people, it is a deal breaker, as it seems to be with actor, Eddie Murphy and his girlfriend Tracey Edmonds.

If you would like to read the article about Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds, please see the following:

http://www.showbizspy.com/2008/01/20/tracey-edmonds-refused-to-sign-a-prenuptial-agreement/