The Divorce Organizer and Planner
This one-of-a-kind workbook\ streamlines the divorce\ process\ This completely unique guide helps anyone\ —even someone enduring a not-so-easy\ split—create a complete, accessible record of\ absolutely everything needed to confidently\ tackle, organize, and prepare for the legal,\ emotional, and financial aspects of divorce.\ Family attorney Brette McWhorter Sember’s\ The Divorce Planner & Organizer includes:\ \ Suggestions for selecting an attorney and\ getting the most legal help for...
Search in google:
Everything you need to take charge of your divorce and get what you deserveDivorce is overwhelming enough without having to deal with the financial, personal, and legal paperwork. When you are organized, you feel more confident, and you are more likely to get what you want. The Divorce Organizer and Planner is your guide to managing your divorce and getting what you want—while keeping your legal expenses to a minimum. Written by a family attorney with years of experience helping people navigate the divorce process, this book empowers you with the knowledge and tools you need to take control of your divorce.The Divorce Organizer and Planner arms you with dozens of worksheets, logs, checklists, and expert advice and explanations that will help you create a complete, accessible record of absolutely everything you'll need to confidently tackle the legal, emotional, and financial aspects of divorce.You'll discover how to: Find and work with an attorney who's right for you Learn how to choose and work with a mediator Gather and organize important information on property, investments, accounts, debts, insurance, and household expenses Keep clear records of alimony, child support, and children's expenses Develop a personal property inventory, a budget, and a wish list for property division Decide what you want and what you need from the marital assets Successfully negotiate with your spouse and keep stress to a minimum Get the biggest bang for your legal buck Providing everything you need to know to handle your divorce in a careful way, The Divorce Organizer and Planner will make a huge difference in the way you feel, the expenses you incur, and what you walk away with in the end.Brette McWhorter Sember is a former matrimonial attorney and an experienced divorce and family mediator. A prolific self-help author specializing in making the law accessible to everyone, she has written fourteen books as well as numerous articles appearing in more than 140 publications, including Divorce magazine, and at MyCounsel.com and Lawyers.com.Brette McWhorter Sember (Buffalo, NY)is a former matrimonial attorney, an author,and a trained and experienced divorce andfamily mediator.
AcknowledgmentsxiIntroductionxiii1Getting and Staying Organized1Dealing with Emotions1Deciding What You Want2Developing an Organizational System2Keeping a Calendar3Using To-Do Lists5Managing Documents7Other General Organizational Tips9To-Do List112Protecting Yourself13Dealing with Money13The Home17Wills20Powers of Attorney21Health Care Directives21Your Physical Safety21Safe-Deposit Box Inventory23Household Belongings Inventory24Self-Protection Checklist253Working with an Attorney and Other Professionals27Finding an Attorney27Questions to Ask an Attorney28Understanding What Your Attorney Needs from You30Working with Your Attorney31Organizing Paperwork from Your Attorney33Phone Calls with Professionals33Paying Your Attorney33Affording Your Attorney34Other Professionals Who May Be Involved with Your Case34Questions and Issues to Discuss with Your Attorney38Phone Call Log39Master List of Contact Information404Ways to End Your Marriage41Residency41Grounds41Annulment44Legal Separation44Remaining Married45Ending a Common-Law Marriage455Step-by-Step Through Your Divorce47The System and the Way It Works47Court Papers50Appearing in Court516Settlement Options57Mediation57Arbitration61Collaborative Law61Settlements627Gathering Household and Personal Documents63How to Gather Documents64Working with Your Spouse64When You Can't Get Certain Documents65Organizing Documents65Analyzing Documents66Checklist of Documents to Gather678Documenting Your Income and Living Expenses71How to Document Expenses71Creating a Budget73Income Log74Expense Log75Monthly Budget76Unresolved Joint Expenses799Large Assets81Separate Versus Marital Property81Understanding Nonconcrete Assets82How Large Assets Are Divided83Finding Large Assets83Finding Hidden Assets83Types of Large Assets84Contribution to Separate Asset86Large Asset Separate Property Log87List of Large Joint Assets8810Documenting Debts89Separate and Marital Debts89Organizing Your Debt89List of Spouse's Separate Debts91List of Joint Debts9211Reaching Settlements and Dividing Household Belongings93Negotiating Settlements93Dividing Household Items95Appraising Items97Disputed Items97Settlement List99Separate Property Items100Items Taken Without Agreement101Agreed-Upon Items to Divide102Disputed Items to Divide10312Child Support105Purpose of Child Support105Temporary Child Support106Calculating Child Support106Other Child Support Amounts107How Child Support Is Paid108Tracking Child Support Payments108Due Dates109Nonpayment109Adjusting Child Support109Children's Expenses110Children's Uninsured Health Expenses112Child Support Receipts113Child Support Payment Log11413Alimony115How Alimony Is Awarded115Seeking Alimony116Alimony Rules and Regulations117Tracking Alimony117Medical Insurance118Alimony Worksheet119Alimony Receipts121Alimony Payment Log12214Custody and Visitation123Tips for Avoiding a Custody Trial124Thinking About Custody and Visitation125Creating an Accurate Visitation Record126Documenting Shared Custody128Monitoring Your Children's Responses to Visitation128Children's Preferences129Grandparent Visitation130Children's Reactions Log131Grandparent Visitation Log13215Witnesses and Evidence133Why You Need Witnesses133Types of Witnesses to Find134Subject Matter for Witness Testimony135Preparing a Witness List137Being Your Own Witness138Preparing for Your Spouse's Witnesses139Physical Evidence139How to Find Evidence142List of Possible Witnesses143Witness Worksheet144Notes for Your Testimony145Cross-Examination Notes147Physical Evidence List14816Custody Trials149Documenting the Past149Documenting Your Own Parenting Abilities150Focusing on the Other Parent's Faults151Parenting Classes152Keeping Your Kids Out of It152Siblings and Half Siblings153Child Care Checklist154Spouse's Parenting Abilities157Parenting Journal15817It's All Over! Now What?159Changing Your Name159Updating Your Insurance160Protecting Your Credit161Dividing Assets161Leases162Your Will162Health Care Directives162Wedding and Relationship Mementos163Coping with Your Feelings163Continuing to Track Payments163Maintaining Your Household164Managing Finances165Important Documents for Your Child165Receipts for Property Distribution167Ongoing Child Support Log168Child Support Receipts169Ongoing Alimony Log170Alimony Receipts171AppendixResources173Index181
