Once a divorce is on the table, it’s not uncommon for emotions to run high and to the left. Marriage is a legally binding contract, but it’s also about love and emotion. It’s difficult for many couples to get through the rational and cerebral part of the divorce because the emotional part becomes all-consuming. No one gets married planning for their divorce, and yet, divorce happens often. When a ...
Prenuptial agreements are not always enforceable, but that doesn’t mean you should enter into an agreement assuming you can break it. While a prenup can be strong and well-drafted, it doesn’t mean that it can’t be challenged in court. The law is straightforward regarding prenuptial agreements. The law is written to protect both spouses, and if a prenuptial agreement is determined by a judge to be ...
Each state treats prenuptial agreements differently, so before you start, find a legal representative who can help you determine what would be best in your situation. If you live in Iowa, your prenuptial agreement will be viewed by a judge in the state who will review the laws of the state as a guide. Conversations of prenuptial agreements and discussions about what happens in a divorce were once ...
Alimony, also referred to as spousal support or maintenance, provides individual financial support during separation and divorce. The support comes from the higher-earning spouse in the relationship. The court orders alimony to be paid using a court order, which makes the debt a legal obligation. When a party fails to comply with a court-ordered support award, they face garnishment, tax refund ...
If you’ve filed for divorce and your partner feels caught off guard, you could find your divorce is taking longer than you expect as they drag their feet. It’s easy for emotions to take over, and before you know it, your divorce has gotten out of control. Because divorce is an emotional process, human feelings have to be taken into account when filing orders, negotiating, and creating agreements ...
When your marriage ends, it can be devastating. If you are financially dependent on your spouse and you’ve never had a job outside the home, it can financially devastating and frightening. You don’t have to be a stay-at-home spouse; you can also be the spouse who makes significantly less money. Regardless of the circumstance that make you financially dependent on your spouse, it can be scary when ...
Second and any subsequent marriages can sometimes bring special issues that aren’t relevant to first marriages. Merging two independent families with children or with family assets, it can make a prenup non-negotiable. Children from a previous marriage, regardless of age, demand legal protections if any assets are planned to be passed to them upon the death of their biological parent. It should be ...
The Covid vaccine is not as new as it was, but it’s reintroduced an old argument for many co-parents. Vaccinations aren’t yet mandatory for children, but many parents are hoping these medical therapies will be the solution to get their children’s school lives back to normal. Vaccination decisions have been a hot topic in our national conversation, but for many parents, it’s becoming an explosive ...
An annulment sounds more confusing than it is. If you were married and found that your union was somehow invalid or fraudulent, children born from the union would not disqualify you from seeking an annulment. An annulment isn’t like a divorce, which keeps the record of the marriage on file. An annulment erases the marriage from the legal system. Because of the difference between an annulment and a ...
Once a party files for divorce, the entire process can get out of control if emotions run high and the estranged couple cannot get together to get the process complete. Divorce is emotional, and for those unable to come to terms with how they feel about the process, it’s easy to let things get out of control. An estranged spouse can drag a divorce out for a long time, whether intentionally or not. ...
With the Britney Spears case top of mind because of the media coverage of her situation, a larger conversation about conservatorships and guardianships has been opened. How much autonomy is appropriate to relinquish to another human being, and for how long? How does one become free from this relinquishing of autonomy? These are the questions being asked after the #FreeBritney movement. Changes in ...
Divorce is a difficult time for many couples and their families. The process is made more stressful when it drags on for many months with countless court dates. High net worth divorces tend to stretch on for a while because of the complexities and difficulty dividing property and assets. There are many ways for people to amass a high net worth, but it’s usually the result of years of hard work and ...
Once you are legally separated in Iowa, you may be ready to move on with your life. It’s normal to wonder how soon you can start dating once you’ve planned and filed the initial first step towards a divorce. There are no hard and fast rules about dating during your separation, but while some professionals say you should spend the time contemplating the fate of your current relationship, others ...
As we head into the first full month of summer break, it’s important to know how to plan that time with kids when you’re coparenting and sharing them with an ex. You want to be able to make the most of your time together, so there are certain steps you can take to ensure your summer break doesn’t fly by without any significant time spent bonding with your kids. When kids have breaks during the ...
Is it Difficult to Get an Annulment in Iowa? Annulments are not as commonplace as you’d think, but that’s not because they are difficult to obtain as much as because they are specific in their usage. For those who qualify for an annulment, the process is not complicated. Once you’ve completed the petition and it’s verified that it meets the requirements and grounds for an annulment, a judge can ...