Although $1 billion might seem like a lot of money to hand over in a divorce, it still pales in comparison to some of the most lucrative (or expensive, depending on your point of view) divorces in American history. For example, Melinda Gates receives 76 times that amount after splitting from Bill Gates. Nevertheless, the…
DetailsJoint assets are usually frozen until the financial aspects of divorce have been resolved, and this prevents spouses from accessing – and potentially wasting – marital funds. However, a spouse can still ask a judge to unfreeze joint accounts. This occurred when a former college football coach asked a judge to vacate a mutual restraining order preventing him from accessing joint funds. He…
DetailsAlthough divorce lawyers are often highly professional, mistakes are somewhat inevitable. Every divorce lawyer is human, and every human being is capable of making serious errors. A divorce lawyer might accidentally make all kinds of mistakes, but most of these errors only cause slight inconveniences. What happens when a law firm makes a more costly mistake? What if an error…
DetailsMany divorce lawyers talk about “leverage” during divorce negotiations. Generally speaking, this information can help one spouse gain an advantage over the other. When used effectively, leverage can force the other party to make concessions or settle. But what exactly is the difference between “leverage” and “extortion” in a divorce negotiation? Are these two concepts really so different?…
DetailsMany spouses across the United States earn approximately equal incomes. While there are still legitimate discussions worth having about so-called “glass ceilings,” the trend is clear: An increasing number of women earn about the same as their husbands. While this evolution may surprise some, it shouldn’t have a significant effect on our society. For many…
DetailsAccording to the Chicago Tribune, about 10% of all US families own a vacation home, a campsite, or a plot of vacant land. Many spouses love getting away for a weekend at the cottage or cabin, but what happens in the event of a divorce? Dealing with these second homes may be more complex than many…
DetailsSome celebrities seem to settle their divorces with much greater ease than others. Are these celebs simply more willing to collaborate, compromise, and negotiate with their exes? Or is this higher success rate caused by high-profile (and high-cost) divorce lawyers working tirelessly behind the scenes? Every divorce is slightly different, and perhaps it is not…
DetailsAccording to Federal Reserve data, 60% of Americans hold equities. The same Federal Reserve data indicates that approximately 60% of Americans hold real estate. During a divorce, spouses are likely to fight over at least one of these asset types. In many divorces, however, both assets are “on the chopping block.” Assuming that real estate assets are…
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