Get a Smart Divorce Blog

A divorce client came into my Brentwood, TN office today and told me their friend is getting a divorce and her attorney recommended she hire a forensic accountant to review the business tax returns.  So, my client said she also wanted to hire a forensic accountant.  I explained to my client that...…

I participated in a typical divorce mediation this past week (to provide financial analysis) and was amazed at the tremendous cost.  By typical mediation, I am referring to each spouse having an attorney and then an attorney mediator communicating between the attorneys.  During this one day, the...…

I was in my Brentwood, TN office yesterday and a client asked me about alimony and how it was determined.  I told her it is all about the numbers and gave her my expense worksheet.  She looked at me puzzled and said, "I thought alimony was a formula".  I explained that child support is a formula...…

A client came into my Belle Meade office this week and told me his attorney said the best way to protect himself in his divorce was to  hire an aggressive attorney.  I disagreed with this client and suggested the best way to protect himself was to first educate himself about the financial...…

Today, a divorce client in my Nashville office told me she wants to keep the marital residence and asked me if she should have the mortgage refinanced into her name only.  My answer was... it depends on a few things: 1.  Is the mortgage currently jointly titled with your spouse? 2.  Do you...…

I received a phone call this morning from a man who has been thinking about divorce for about 6 months.  He and his wife have agreed their marriage is no longer working.  They have both reached out to divorce attorneys and were not pleased with the aggressive, take no prisoners approach from the...…

Divorcing parents are frequently concerned about how their child or children will spend time with each parent after the divorce is final.  The document that outlines the time spent with each parent is called a parenting plan.  This plan also covers which parent will pay for the children's health...…

A client came into my Brentwood, TN office today and stated, " My neighbor just got divorced and she got 3 years of alimony.  So is that the standard length of time for alimony?" Attorneys tell me there is no standard or typical duration for alimony or standard or typical amount for alimony. ...…

A new divorcing client came into my Brentwood, TN office today.  She has not yet given me any of the case financial inforamtion I requested.  Regardless, she asked for a list of divorce attorneys I recommend so she could start the interview process.  I explained if she asked her Dr. for a list...…

Clients in both my Brentwood and Nashville offices have recently told me they want a collaboratie divorce.  When I ask them what that means, they tell me they want to work together with their spouses and agree on a settlement.  Some professionals refer to this as a collaborative divorce while...…