In the process of divorce, the issue of money is not only important in the current situation, but can lend to opportunities to put yourself on a productive path subsequent to the process. How does a neutral financial professional (NFP) help in the Collaborative process? Let’s explore. First, the NFP works for the process, and not either party. Neither spouse is created equal, but they are treated equally. Most likely, there is inequality in the handling of the family finances, even in the … [Read more...]
Assessing Digital and Virtual Assets in Divorce
When we help divorcing couples through a case in Collaborative Divorce, we rely on what’s called a “Roadmap to Resolution” to assist us in the process. One of the first steps in the Roadmap is to gather information. Thanks to the digital age, the kind of information we’re gathering is expanding. I was first made of two new asset categories by one of the leaders in the Collaborative community, and someone who I work with on Collaborative cases regularly, San Antonio attorney Kim … [Read more...]
Separate Property Claims and Tracing in Divorce
I worked my first separate property tracing case in 1988 and have been participating in them ever since. Separate property claims can be and often are hotly contested and emotional matters in a Texas divorce no matter if the divorce is done in regular litigation or a collaborative process. The general presumption is that all property owned at divorce is community property and therefore is to be divided between the spouses. An exception is made for claims for separate property. Separate property … [Read more...]
Protecting Your Separate Property Before Divorce
When dividing assets in a Texas divorce, it's helpful to know what's community property and what's separate property. There are steps you can take before a divorce to designate your separate property as yours. As anyone who has spent any time in Texas knows, Texas is a community property state. In the event of a divorce, the presumption is that all property owned at the time of divorce is community property. If one spouse wants to claim property as separate property, they must establish it as … [Read more...]
How a Good Idea Became a Movement
Collaborative divorce started as a good idea; now, as more people learn about its benefits, it's becoming a movement. For previous blog articles I have authored, I’ve kept to a financial theme, giving advice geared toward people’s finances. Helping people protect their assets and take care of their money is a big part of why I’m a financial planner, but I wanted to take the opportunity here to think back to my introduction to collaborative divorce in Texas, and why I’ve since become a … [Read more...]
Can You Get a Divorce AND Have Joyous Holidays?
This article was written by Tracy Stewart, a College-Station based financial planner, a Brazos Valley Collaborative Divorce Alliance founding member, and a former Collaborative Law Institute of Texas board member specializing in collaborative divorce. Yes. Get a collaborative divorce. Steer clear of a court-system divorce. Avoid draining your savings. Side step family squabbles. Enjoy your holidays. How Does Collaborative Divorce Get You Happy Holidays? In a Collaborative Divorce, you learn … [Read more...]
Why Choose Collaborative Divorce? Here Are Six Good Reasons
We thought this recent blog article from the Brazos Valley Collaborative Law Alliance was worth a share -- written by former Collaborative Law Institute of Texas board member and BVCLA founding member Tracy Stewart, it looks at six benefits of choosing collaborative law for settling a divorce. She's able to boil the six benefits down to single words -- control, support, focus, money, future, and deal. The ideas behind the single words are cornerstones of why collaborative law was launched as an … [Read more...]
How Attachment Theory Applies to Divorce
The following article is from Steve Walker, a Frisco-based financial planner and board member of the Collaborative Law Institute of Texas. I had the pleasure of attending a Collaborative Law Institute of Texas-sponsored training in Houston last week, which featured presentations by therapist Yuval Berger and attorney Lisa Alexander -- both of them experienced collaborative professionals from Vancouver, British Columbia. They presented on attachment theory, and how knowing different attachment … [Read more...]
How to Get Your Finances in Order Before a Divorce
This article is from Richard D. Soat, a San Antonio-based financial professional with BDO (a professional services firm providing assurance, tax, financial advisory and consulting services) and a board member of the Collaborative Law Institute of Texas. The opinions expressed on this site are Rick Soat’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of BDO USA, LLP. The initiation of divorce can be an incredibly emotional experience, to say the least. Whether you’re coming to that … [Read more...]
How to Handle Sudden Wealth from a Divorce
This article is from Richard D. Soat, a San Antonio-based financial professional with BDO (a professional services firm providing assurance, tax, financial advisory and consulting services) and a board member of the Collaborative Law Institute of Texas. The opinions expressed on this site are Rick Soat’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of BDO USA, LLP. A few months ago, I came across this article discussing sudden wealth arising from a divorce decree. While the article provides a … [Read more...]
