Divorce & Money: Make the Best Financial Decisions During Divorce 13th Edition

Cover
Title Page
Table of Contents
Introduction: Your Financial Companion During Divorce
	If You Are Feeling Overwhelmed …
	Managing Your Divorce in Troubled Financial Times
	How to Use This Book
	A Note on Same-Sex Marriage and This Book
1: Legal vs. Financial Realities of Divorce
	Lessons in Legal Reality
	Your Best Strategy: Think Financially—Act Legally
	Legal vs. Financial Stages of Divorce
2: Financial Realities No One Talks About
	In Divorce, Everything Takes Longer and Costs More
	You’re at Risk When You’re Financially Connected to Another Person
	The IRS Is Watching Your Divorce
	Cash Is King
	You’re Playing for Keeps
3: Emotional Divorce: Managing the “Money Crazies”
	Reduce Stress Whenever You Can
	Safeguard Your Sanity
	Watch Out for Sore Spots
	Be Prepared for the Worst
	Develop a Financially Focused Mental Attitude
	Avoid the “All at Once” Syndrome
	Manage the Ebb and Flow of Emotions
	Don’t Let Financial Tasks Overwhelm You
4: The Hardest Part: Is My Marriage Really Over?
5: The Separation: What Happens When One Spouse Moves Out?
	The Separation Date
	Building a Better Credit Report and Credit Score
	Social Security Benefits After Divorce
	Questions to Ask an Attorney
6: Closing the Books: What Do We Do With Joint Property?
	Joint Account Checklist
	Questions to Ask an Attorney
7: Getting Help: Whom Can I Turn To?
	Questions to Consider When Seeking Outside Help
	Selecting Professionals to Assist You
8: Financial Fact-Finding: What Must I Know and When Must I Know It?
	Advice to the Terminally Disorganized
	If You Think Your Spouse May Be Hiding Assets
	Don’t Forget the “Easy-to-Forget” Assets
	The W-2 and the Tax Return
	What About the Gifts You Gave Me?
	Financial Facts Checklist
	Questions to Ask an Attorney
9: Facing the Future: What Must I Plan For?
	Major Upcoming Life Events
	Anticipated Financial Commitments
	Major Goals That Will Cost Money
	Where Does the Money Come From?
10: Protecting Against Risks to Life, Health, and Property
	Insurance
	Property and Estate Protection
	Questions to Ask an Attorney
11: Taxes: How Do I File and Pay?
	Get a Rough Estimate of Your Tax Bill
	Which Status Is Better to Use When Filing Tax Returns?
	When in Doubt, File Separately
	What to Know If You File Jointly
	Dividing the Joint Tax Liability—Or the Refund
	Tax Issues Involving Temporary Alimony or Child Support
	Get Your Tax Agreement in Writing
	Questions to Ask a Tax Adviser
12: Property and Expenses: Who Owns and Who Owes What?
	Who Owns What—Marital Property and the Laws of Your State
	Who Knows What—Using Legal Discovery
	Net Worth—What Do You Own and What Do You Owe?
	The Difference Between Assets and Income
	Cash Flow—Where Does the Money Go?
	Questions to Ask an Attorney
13: What Will Happen to the House?
	Financial vs. Legal Realities
	The House—Keep It, Transfer It, or Sell It? Now or Later?
	Steps Toward Settling the House
	Questions to Ask an Attorney or Financial Adviser
14: Retirement Benefits: Who Gets What?
	Understanding Retirement Plans
	Qualified Domestic Relations Orders
	The Legal Value of Your Retirement Plans
	The Financial Value of Your Retirement Plans
	Calculating the Financial Value of Plans
	Additional Financial Factors Affecting Retirement Plan Divisions
	The Division Decision: Now or in the Future
	Questions to Ask an Attorney
15: Financial Investments: How Do We Divide the Portfolio Pie?
	Concepts to Consider
	Steps to a Settlement
16: Evaluating Employee Benefits and Stock Options
	Employee Benefits
	Stock Options and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans
	Questions to Ask an Attorney or a Tax Specialist
17: How Will We Divide Debts?
	General Rules on Who’s Responsible for Debt
	If You Live in a Community Property State
	Listing Your Debts
	Marital Debts and Bankruptcy
	Dividing Debts at Divorce
	Dividing Debts When There’s Nothing to Fight Over
	Questions to Ask a Divorce Attorney
	Questions to Ask a Bankruptcy Attorney
18: Child Support and Alimony: What Might I Pay or Receive?
	Child Support—Legal, Financial, and Emotional Realities
	Steps to a Settlement
	Alimony—Legal, Financial, and Emotional Realities
	Steps to a Settlement
	Questions to Ask an Attorney
19: Negotiating and Finalizing the Best Possible Settlement
	Have You Done Your Financial Homework?
	Tallying Your Marital Balance Sheet
	How Are the Offers and Counteroffers Made?
	How Do You Finalize the Settlement?
	Divorce Ceremonies
20: After the Divorce: How Do I Get From “We” to “Me”?
	How Do I Finish the Business of Divorce?
	Can I—Or My Ex-Spouse—Change the Settlement?
	What Do I Want to Do With My Life?
	If You Find a New Love, Protect Your Old Assets … and Your Alimony
	How Can I Move Beyond the Divorce?
Appendix
	Law Libraries
	Lawyers and Typing Services
	Online Legal Resources
	Additional Resources
	Present Value Factors
	Future Value Factors
	List of Professional Advisers
Index
Book Registration
Additional Divorce and Family Law Resources at Nolo.com