Posts belonging to Category Do-It-Yourself Divorce

How to Get Divorced Without Going Broke or Going Crazy

How to Get Divorced: Mediation, Litigation, or a Combination? In a happier world, most marriages would be full of mutual love, respect, and competent communication – and they would last until death intervened. In the USA at this time, about half of marriages end in divorce.[1] Divorces happen.[2] When it comes to divorce, some people […]

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT PUTTING A DISABILITY INSURANCE PROVISION IN YOUR DIVORCE AGREEMENT?

It is quite common for parties to negotiate life insurance coverage for divorce agreements, but it seems quite uncommon to provide for disability insurance.  Of course, this insurance is not as common as life insurance and may prove too expensive for many couples, but insurance agents tell us disability is much more probable than we […]

HOW TO NEGOTIATE WITHOUT CAUSING TROUBLE, PARTICULARLY WITH A DOMINANT SPOUSE

A lot of my clients talk with their spouses directly about settlement of divorce disputes.  Many times my clients want to know what to say.  I have developed a simple script for them to follow.  The simplicity is important, because they need to be able to remember the script under pressure. Here it is: Give only […]

START THINKING ABOUT 2012 IN YOUR DOCUMENTS

I have already had several documents that I have either sent or received which mistakenly had 2011 instead of 2012.  Start thinking about the year change now.  When you draft proposed agreements or pleadings, or notary signatures, leave the year blank, such as “201_” instead of anticipating the year the document will actually be signed.   […]

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM HAVING LANGUAGE INTERPRETED AGAINST YOU WHEN YOU ARE THE DRAFTER

All attorneys know there are “rules of construction” in the interpretation of contracts and agreements.  These rules call for the Court to first see if the language is clear without further testimony.  If the language is not clear, the Court might hear testimony as to the intent of the parties.  If the intent is still […]

YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR NAME IN YOUR DIVORCE

All too often, a female client will think about changing her name after we have entered the divorce.  She wants to know how to do it.  This is a shame, because it is easy to incorporate the name change in the Order of the divorce with one sentence and it is done!  One consideration for […]