Get a Smart Divorce Blog

Divorce and Business Valuations

Posted on December 24, 2018

Getting a family business valued is common in divorces in Nashville. There are three methodologies to value a business - The asset approach (What assets does the business own and what are the values of those assets?), the income approach (How much annual income does the business generate?) and the...…

Nashville Divorce Mediation Process Explained

Posted on November 21, 2018

Nashville divorce mediation typically includes both spouses hiring an attorney. With two attorneys charging $300+ per hour and having two retainers of $3,000+ each, the case starts off expensive and fees increase quickly. Most divorcing spouses do not understand their case will likley not be...…

Divorce Mediation and Alimony

Posted on October 4, 2018

Divorce mediation and alimony are topics I review daily with clients in my Brentwood, TN office. It is not a mysterious topic... Attorneys tell me alimony is determined by 16 factors (length of marriage, education of spouses, earning potential, contribution to the marriage etc.) but the two key...…

Divorce and Dividing Stock Options

Posted on July 15, 2018

Divorce and dividing stock options are topics I frequently review with clients in my Nashville and Brentwood, TN offices.  It is important to understand the stock options are tied to the spouse who is emplyed by the company issuing the options and typically cannot be transferred to the other...…

Divorce and Children's Expenses

Posted on May 31, 2018

Divorce and children's expense are a topic that many divorcing couples fail to adequatley address.  Why?  Because they are so distraught and distracted that they are not thinking clearly.  Because they likely have not been divorced before, they don't know what they dont know.   For example, I...…

Divorce and Liquidating Retirement Funds

Posted on April 5, 2018

Divorce and liquidating retirement funds are frequent topics in my Brentwood and Nashville offices.  If you withdraw money from your individual retirement account before age 59 1/2, you will generally have to pay a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty in addition to income tax on the amount...…

Divorce and Retirement Funds

Posted on March 6, 2018

My Nashville divorcing clients frequently ask questions about dividing retirement funds.  Attorneys tell me marital property including retirement funds are typically divided 50 / 50.  If part of the retirment funds were earned prior to the marriage then, part of the funds are premarital funds...…

Divorce and Taxes in 2018

Posted on February 11, 2018

Divorce and taxes is a topic I discuss with clients on a daily basis. The recent tax changes have significant impacts on divorce settlements. While understanding all of the changes can be overwhelming, below are common tax issues I've been explaining to and discussing with clients and their divorce...…

Divorce and How to Spend Your Money on Professional Fees

Posted on January 7, 2018

If you are considering divorce, you will have to decide how to spend your money on professional fees.  For example, a client called my Brentwood office about a month ago and said she needed help understanding her expenses so she asked her CPA to help her.  I asked her what experience her CPA had...…

Divorce Financial Fears in Nashville

Posted on December 17, 2017

Divorce financial fears in Nashville / Davidson County and Brenwood / Williamson county are common.  Having some finacial fears during this time is to be expected because intelligent people understand the stakes are high.  Considering the short and long-term impacts as well as tax consequences of...…