Divorced or Suddenly Single? How to Embrace Valentine’s Day!

Valentine's Day after divorce

How to Make Valentine’s Day After Divorce a Day of Renewal

Valentine’s Day can be complicated after a divorce – or even while you’re quietly considering one.

Valentine’s Day after divorce can feel complicated and emotional. While others celebrate romance, you may be navigating uncertainty, grief, or a brand-new beginning. Family law attorneys consistently report an increase in divorce inquiries after the holidays. The stress of November and December, the pressure to “hold it together” for family gatherings, and the natural reflection that comes with the New Year often lead couples to reassess their relationships. Some spouses also choose to wait until after the first of the year for financial reasons – including the ability to file taxes jointly if they were still legally married on December 31, depending on what makes sense for their specific financial situation.

By the time February arrives, emotions can still be raw. While the world celebrates roses and romance, you may be navigating uncertainty, grief, relief – or a complicated mix of all three.… View Full Article → “Divorced or Suddenly Single? How to Embrace Valentine’s Day!”

Tips for Stress Free Holidays After Divorce

stress free holidays after divorce

Publisher’s Note – The holidays are upon us! Having focused my practice the last 40 years on family law and divorces, I know how difficult this time of year can be for families trying to create stress free holidays after divorce. Often there are lots of crazy pressures coming from all directions!

That is one reason that every year a write or repost a blog with some tips on dealing with these holiday pressures. (If you are interested in reading more of them, enter “holiday” in the search bar above). This is a repost of one I wrote and posted on December 9, 2023.

I am a HUGE proponent of peaceful divorce uncoupling and helping parties’ work together to solve their differences – especially when there are children involved. The overriding goal should be to try to do everything that you can to focus on the kids and try to block out all concepts of “fairness” or on other adult issues.… View Full Article → “Tips for Stress Free Holidays After Divorce”

Tips For Financially Preparing for a Divorce

financial preparation for divorce

Why Financial Preparation for Divorce Matters

It goes without saying, divorce is an extremely difficult and emotional journey. It can be overwhelming, and it will most likely affect and change many aspects of life including finances. Financial preparation for divorce is crucial in order to move forward in your divorce. Separating finances with two spouses can be messy. Preparing to do so in advance is smart! Each partner should do this to ensure security and stability both during the divorce proceedings and after the divorce is finalized.

There are certainly things both parties can do to financially prepare for divorce. Here are some tips for those going through this sticky situation.

Gathering Financial Documents for Financial Preparation for Divorce

One of the first steps to do is to gather all financial documents, including tax returns, all accounts including savings, checking and investment accounts, pay stubs, property records (home, land, vehicles) credit card statements, debts, and any retirement account statements such as 401K plans, IRAs, or pensions.… View Full Article → “Tips For Financially Preparing for a Divorce”

Why Do Some Friends Disappear After a Divorce?

A divorced person reconnecting with a friend over coffee

“True friends after divorce are the ones who accept the changes and still stand by you as you rebuild.”

Tips to Maintain Friends After Divorce

It goes without saying that traveling down the road of divorce, even in the most amicable situations, is an emotional journey filled with changes to a couple’s lifestyle. One change that is often overlooked is how one’s friendships are affected.

Adjusting to life without the same social connections can be one of the toughest aspects of rebuilding your life. Navigating friendships after divorce is rarely discussed, but it plays a critical role in your emotional recovery.

During a marriage a couple often shares a circle of friends. When they decide to go their separate ways, the dynamics of those friendships inevitably change. Friends within that circle often feel an unspoken pressure to side with one of the parties. They might feel torn between who they should support, and struggle with the idea of maintaining a relationship with both soon to be exes.… View Full Article → “Why Do Some Friends Disappear After a Divorce?”