Central Ohio Family Legal Blog

Tips may help to make divorce process easier to manage

On behalf of The Suriano Law Firm LLC posted in divorce and dissolution on Thursday, October 17, 2019.

Getting divorced can be an emotional and a financial challenge. This is true whether the parties have kids or not, and whether they have just a few assets or a great deal of shared property. However, a couple of tips may help to make the divorce process easier to negotiate in Ohio.

First, it is a good idea for those going through divorce proceedings to focus only on what they can control. For example, they cannot dictate how their future exes will behave, but they can control their responses to this behavior. A good rule of thumb for parents in these circumstances is to do what is best for the children. This makes it easier to make the right decision when dealing with issues like child custody, parenting time and child support.

Finances important to evaluate during divorce

On behalf of The Suriano Law Firm LLC posted in divorce and dissolution on Wednesday, October 2, 2019.

Going through the marital dissolution process can no doubt be an emotional roller coaster. However, it can also be a financial one that has long-term consequences. This is why evaluating one's finances is an essential step when embarking on the process of divorce in Ohio.

After deciding to get divorced, individuals would be wise to develop budgets because this can provide them with a strong overview of their finances. A budget should ideally list a divorcing individual's expenses as well as his or her income. Although the income will not include the future ex-spouse's earnings, it may include any alimony or child support that he or she expects to receive following the marital breakup. In addition, it is important to include as part of the expenses any items that the divorcing individual will be fully responsible for after the divorce, like the mortgage or car loan.

Steps can make divorce transition smoother

On behalf of The Suriano Law Firm LLC posted in divorce and dissolution on Friday, September 20, 2019.

Dissolving a marriage is among the most challenging events that people in Ohio and elsewhere may experience. The reality, though, is that about 50% of first marriages end in divorce, with second or third marriages having even higher divorce rates. Fortunately, divorcing individuals can take certain steps to make the marital breakup process smoother for themselves.

For starters, those going through divorce might benefit from depending on their loved ones to help them through the marital dissolution process. Ideally, family members and friends should be willing to listen to them and offer them the emotional support and advice they need. When divorcing individuals do not reach out to loved ones for support, they tend to internalize their emotions, and unfortunately, this can take a toll on them both emotionally and physically.

Dividing debt in divorce: The choices you make matter

On behalf of The Suriano Law Firm LLC on Wednesday, September 11, 2019.

During a divorce, you already know that you'll have to divide your assets. However, one thing some people overlook is the fact that they may also need to divide certain debts.

Debts come in many forms, from mortgages to credit-card bills. How you split these debts may vary widely from how other couples choose to do so, since they are so specific to your situation. However, Ohio is an equitable distribution state, which is something you have to keep in mind.

Tips to help deal with emotions of divorce

On behalf of The Suriano Law Firm LLC posted in divorce and dissolution on Friday, September 6, 2019.

It's normal to have conflicting emotions when an Ohio marriage comes to an end. On the one hand, it's natural to feel excited at the thought of finally breaking away from a relationship that has run its course. On the other hand, it's also natural to be concerned about the marital breakup process. Some tips, however, might help to navigate divorce proceedings with confidence.

For starters, those going through divorce would be wise to take care of themselves both physically and mentally. Practicing healthy habits will enable a person to more effectively deal with the ups and downs that come with dealing with negotiation sessions or having emotional talks with a future ex. It's a good time to take up something like meditation or yoga, focus on eating nutritiously and get enough sleep.

Many women avoiding divorce due to financial fears

On behalf of The Suriano Law Firm LLC posted in divorce and dissolution on Wednesday, August 21, 2019.

According to research, many women in Ohio and elsewhere decide to stay in unfulfilling marriages due to the desire to remain financially stable. For this reason, many women stay in dysfunctional or unhealthy marriages rather than moving forward with marital dissolution. This is especially true for mothers, as the cost of rearing children continues to rise.

Researchers recently reported that 52% of males and 65% of females have admitted to being stressed about money. This shows that money remains a major stressor for most people in the United States in general. However, women appear to be more worried about their financial situations than men are.

Financial situation has impact on divorce

On behalf of The Suriano Law Firm LLC posted in divorce and dissolution on Tuesday, August 6, 2019.

Deciding to get divorced in Ohio can understandably be emotionally challenging. Still, the process can also be financially life-altering, particularly when minor children are at the center of the divorce. Here are a few important things to consider to protect one's financial best interests before going through divorce.

Before filing for divorce, individuals would be wise to look at their incomes versus their spouses' incomes, their current expenses and their future expenses. Incomes include not only wages but also financial bonuses received from employers. Money from trusts funds, or family money, also counts as income.

Monetary mistakes during divorce can have long-term consequences

On behalf of The Suriano Law Firm LLC posted in divorce and dissolution on Friday, July 26, 2019.

Experts say that the chance of getting divorced is 39%, which is a drop from the previously cited statistic of almost 50%. However, divorce is still relatively common, and when it does happen, it can be difficult to handle emotionally as well as financially. In Ohio or elsewhere, certain financial mistakes may make the divorce process even more challenging.

For starters, some individuals who are about to embark on divorce might contemplate selling their highly appreciated investments so that they can cover costs related to the family court proceedings. Unfortunately, selling these investments might spark hefty tax consequences. Furthermore, it may keep the seller from being able to accomplish his or her monetary goals long term.

2 options for your pension during divorce

On behalf of The Suriano Law Firm LLC on Monday, July 15, 2019.

Your retirement plan is simple: You're lucky enough to have a pension plan, and it's going to pay you enough money to live comfortably. As such, rather than saving for retirement, you have put your earnings into things like paying off the house, paying down your debt and buying the assets you need. Your goal is to have everything in order so that your budget works when you retire and your income changes.

One unexpected issue that you now face, though, is that your spouse asked for a divorce. They want to end the marriage before you even retire. You're close to retirement age -- it's a gray divorce, as the popular term puts it -- so you want to make sure the divorce does not derail your plans.

Divorce proceedings often the result of financial conflict

On behalf of The Suriano Law Firm LLC posted in divorce and dissolution on Thursday, July 11, 2019.

Money remains the top thing that married couples argue about. For this reason, it may not come as a surprise that conflicts related to money are often a reason why people decide to divorce. Here is a look at a couple of money-related issues in particular that are causing many couples in Ohio to break up.

First, some couples end up fighting over debt. For instance, perhaps one spouse had spent several years paying down debt on a credit card prior to getting married, while the other party racked up a large amount of debt in a short time during the marriage. The conflict that this causes can easily cause stress and v lead to divorce proceedings.