Blast From The Past Archives - Page 8 of 9

Blast From The Past: Why One Should Not Postpone Post-Divorce Estate Planning

Post-Divorce Estate Planning Should Not Be Postponed

PUBLISHERS NOTE: Nine years ago we posted this article to the Ohio Family Law Blog. It has been a popular one and has stood the test of time. For more information, Attorney Joseph E. Balmer’s free Ebook “The Four Basics of Ohio Estate Planning” is available to download on our website here.

Many individuals first think about estate planning when they get married. They realize that, at a minimum, they should have a will, general power of attorney and power of attorney for health care. They may later amend these documents due to life changes or changes in their financial position. However, one might be surprised to know that a recent survey by PNC Wealth Management disclosed that 30% of adults with financial assets of $500,000 or more did not have a will! A recent Harris Interactive survey of the general population found that 58% of all adults had no will. One might be even more surprised that if he or she had a will and became divorced, he or she may be no better off than if he or she had no will.

Fortunately, under Ohio law, if one is divorced, … Read More... “Blast From The Past: Why One Should Not Postpone Post-Divorce Estate Planning”

Blast From The Past: Tips on How to Select a Divorce Lawyer!

Blast from the past 13 years Ohio Family Law Blog

PUBLISHER’S UPDATE: This is a blast FROM WAY BACK in time! It is a merger and update from a two part series on selecting a divorce lawyer, which we posted on December 20, 2007 and January 2, 2008! The information rings as true now as it did then. We have a ton of interesting articles in our archives of the Ohio Family Law Blog. Use our Search tool and enjoy a few oldie but goodies!

Key Considerations When Selecting The Right Divorce Or Family Law Lawyer

Selecting the right attorney for a divorce is an extremely important and personal decision. Take the time to properly pick your attorney. The outcome of your family law case will impact your future dramatically!

The following are some key considerations in selecting the “right” divorce lawyer:

Experience

Most attorneys these days have narrowed their practice to one or a few areas of the law. Divorce law is a very specialized field. It is important to find a lawyer that concentrates his or her practice in the particular area of law that you need – whether it’s divorce, child custody, domestic violence or another family law category. An experienced divorce lawyer will understand … Read More... “Blast From The Past: Tips on How to Select a Divorce Lawyer!”

Blast From The Past: Divorce: 6 Reasons Hiring A Therapist May Help Your Case!

PUBLISHER’S UPDATE: Here is one of my favorite divorce posts from back on December 19th, 2015! The advice rings as true now as it did then…We have a ton of interesting articles in our archives of the Ohio Family Law Blog. Use our Search tool and enjoy a few oldie but goodies!

Obviously going through an unexpected or difficult divorce can be one of the most stressful experiences in an individual’s life. While many clients can navigate the process unassisted without professional help, others really cannot. Some people think that they can talk with family members or friends to help pull them through. Typically, however, those who are deeply distressed really need professional help by a therapist to guide them through the entire process and transition to their life post-divorce. Many people view having a therapist or counselor as a sign of weakness. It certainly is not. My experience as a divorce attorney for over 35 years is that when the attorney and therapist work together, it can often eliminate years of paralysis for a client.

How Hiring a Therapist Can Have A Profound Effect On The Resolution Of Your Divorce Case

In thinking through this and in preparation of … Read More... “Blast From The Past: Divorce: 6 Reasons Hiring A Therapist May Help Your Case!”

Blast From The Past: Strategies to Make Your Christmas Less Stressful

Publisher’s Comment: This “Blast from the Past” comes from Psychotherapist Donna F. Ferber. She was kind enough to share this article with us 8 years ago. Excellent advice then and now from Donna!

If this is your first Christmas since the separation and divorce, the anticipation can fill you with sadness and trepidation. Here are some solid, easy tips to help make the holidays less painful and hopefully, maybe, even (surprisingly!) enjoyable!

Let go of traditions that no longer work for you. This is an opportunity to re-invent your holidays. Keep the traditions that you enjoy and get rid of the ones that you don’t. No one expects you to be on your best behavior during this time, so you can probably pull it off without anyone getting too upset.

Stick to your regular routine as closely as possible. Sleep, exercise, eat well and don’t skip those therapy appointments.

Don’t use money, alcohol, food, or sex to deal with pain and sadness. These indulgences will leave you poor, hung over, fat, and guilty on December 26th.

Don’t be afraid to do something different. Go away or stay home, but take a risk to use the holidays to try something … Read More... “Blast From The Past: Strategies to Make Your Christmas Less Stressful”

Divorce: 25 Details Often Overlooked in Negotiations…Plus 5 New Bonus Additions!

PUBLISHERS NOTE: This article on divorce was originally posted on January 19, 2013. I have now added the last 5 items. The list keeps evolving with the advances in technology and social media platforms and the advent of the legalization of same sex marriage. Thanks!

Attorney Mark Chinn of Jacksonville, Mississippi, caught my attention with a divorce post to his family law blog about some items that are frequently forgotten in many divorce agreements. Mark is the author of three American Bar Association books about family law issues and is a frequent writer and lecturer in the field of family law.

The first eleven in the divorce list were Mark’s, the rest were some that I have added.

Garage door openers
Gate remote controls
Extra keys to car and house
Security codes
Hotel credit card and airline points
Utility and other deposits
Tax and insurance escrows
Car tag credits
Overdrafts on joint checking accounts
Dates to carry through insurance coverages
Attorney’s fees paid with joint funds
Real estate escrow account refunds
Important days not addressed in the Court’s Parenting Time Order
Season ticket rights
Country club membership and club access
Storage unit details
Dividing and copying family photos
Copying documents,

Blast From The Past: I Want to Keep the House, But Should I?

PUBLISHER’S UPDATE: Here is one of my favorites posts from back on March 29th, 2008! The advice rings as true now as it did then…We have a ton of interesting articles in our archives of the Ohio Family Law Blog. Use our Search tool and enjoy a few oldie but goodies!

This is one of the questions I am asked all of the time. Of course, the correct answer is “It depends.” The home often accounts for a large percentage of the entire marital estate. Whether to retain the home after a divorce is often a very emotional issue, especially if there are children involved. It is natural that parents want to maintain as much stability for their kids as possible when going through a break up. One would assume that keeping the kids in the marital residence after the divorce is important. But interestingly, the psychological studies show that divorced children are not really affected by the retention of the marital home. The key factor is the stability of their parents, not what house they live in.

Is It Feasible To Pay The Mortgage, Taxes, And Utilities After Divorce?

It is important to realize that unlike spousal and child … Read More... “Blast From The Past: I Want to Keep the House, But Should I?”

Blast From The Past: Fathers are Indeed Important!

PUBLISHER’S UPDATE – Blog Originally Published on January 16, 2010: It is time for another “BLAST FROM THE PAST!” After Court recently, my client thanked me and reminded me about writing this Blog about his case seven and a half years ago. I was once again representing this father in the same rural Ohio Juvenile Court. The child is now 13+ and about to start the 8th grade but really wanted to move out of Ohio to live primarily with Dad and his family and attend school in North Carolina. Dad’s perseverance once again paid off! After a very strong guardians report, the parties agreed to a 1 year trial period for their child to move to the Tar Heel State. This child is indeed blessed to have 2 excellent, loving, and caring parents willing to try to do what is in the child’s best interest! Good parenting by Dad and all his love and his fortitude did once again pay off!

A large body of research overwhelmingly suggests children do best when they have both a mother and a father involved in their lives. Specifically, children whose fathers participate in raising them do better in school, are less likely … Read More... “Blast From The Past: Fathers are Indeed Important!”

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