Robert L. Mues, Author at Ohio Family Law Blog

The Importance of Establishing a Budget When Your Marriage Ends!

Post-divorce budgeting guide - financial planning after separation

💰 Take Control: Master Post-Divorce Budgeting for a Stress-Free Future

The end of marriage is extremely difficult and for most people it creates anxiety about their financial future. Post-divorce budgeting is essential to ensure stability and reduce stress. It is important to plan for your future and have realistic financial expectations. Creating a budget is one of the most important things to do post-separation. The word budget can be a daunting word but there are so many resources that are available to you.

How to Create Your Post-Divorce Budget

Creating a budget can seem like an impossible task but it can be easier than you think. The best way to start creating your budget is to use this formula:

Monthly Income – Monthly Expenses = Monthly Surplus

Your monthly income includes things like salary, tips, and any other earned income. It also includes alimony and child support, along with any unearned income like interest from dividends and stocks or any other unearned income like social security payments. This should be the easiest thing to place on the budget. You should readily be able to see past paychecks and other payments to enter into the budget.

Your monthly expenses include everything … Read More... “The Importance of Establishing a Budget When Your Marriage Ends!”

If You are Ending Your Marriage and have Children, why a Collaborative Divorce Might Be the Best Route to Go!

Parents discussing a collaborative divorce with children in mind

If you are ending your marriage and have children, a collaborative divorce with children may be the best way to minimize stress and conflict

Terminating a marriage is always difficult from many perspectives. The typical notion of “winning” the battle deserves reflection. What is the real end goal? Is it to end up with more of the assets? Is it, paying less spousal support or child support? Or is it to arrive at a “fair” result while trying your best to maintain healthy relationships on your family members while reducing emotional stress all around? “Uncoupling” is never easy. Research shows that it can be especially difficult for children. This is why many parents are turning to a collaborative divorce with children, as it prioritizes their well-being while minimizing conflict.

As a result of my 40+ years of practicing divorce litigation, I would submit that utilizing a more collaborative approach to unwinding a marriage can greatly improve the emotional health of the parties, especially when kids are involved.

Strips Away Control

A more traditional divorce proceeding, involving litigation and the ensuing battles inherent in that process, strips control away from both parties. In the adversarial nature of Court divorces, you lose … Read More... “If You are Ending Your Marriage and have Children, why a Collaborative Divorce Might Be the Best Route to Go!”

Name Change Restoration Process after a Divorce in Ohio

Reclaim Your Identity: The Ultimate Guide to Name Change After Divorce in Ohio!

If you are a woman going through a name change after divorce in Ohio,, you may be thinking about reverting to your birth name, also referred to as your maiden name. Or perhaps you want to assume another former name such as from a previous marriage. Once you are divorced, it is not an automatic change. Also for men going through a divorce, even if you would like your ex-spouse or soon to be ex, to forgo your surname, this is not a change you can request the Court to do. It is the wife’s decision.

If a woman wishes to revert to a different surname, then it should ideally be done at the time of the final hearing. Under the Ohio Revised Code, Section 3105.16 the Court has the authority to restore a former name if that is your request. It is simple to complete by filing a Restoration of Former Name Entry then (or some Court’s allow a 30 day window to file this entry).

Once the divorce is final, and if you then decide that you want to change your name, you can still … Read More... “Name Change Restoration Process after a Divorce in Ohio”

Better Understanding Collaborative Divorce and the Role Certified Divorce Financial Analysts® Can Play

collaborative divorce certified divorce financial analyst

How Collaborative Divorce and Certified Divorce Financial Analysts Can Simplify Your Divorce Process

Ending a marriage is never easy. The emotional weight, the shared history, and the life that was once built together can make the process seem like an insurmountable challenge. While divorce is commonly associated with conflict and court battles, many couples are turning to collaborative divorce and Certified Divorce Financial Analysts to navigate the process more amicably. In fact, there are more amicable ways to end a marriage – ways that can protect both parties, especially when children are involved. One such approach is called “collaborative divorce”. This is a process where both spouses work together, along with their respective attorneys and other professionals, to resolve divorce-related issues outside of court.

The goal is to reach a mutually agreeable settlement through open communication, cooperation, and negotiation, rather than through litigation. In collaborative divorce, each party agrees to act in good faith and share information transparently, with a focus on finding solutions that meet everyone’s needs, finances, and future planning. This approach can help preserve relationships and reduce the emotional and financial costs typically associated with a traditional courtroom divorce.

How Certified Divorce Financial Analysts Support Collaborative Divorce

What is the Ohio “Parents’ Bill of Rights,” and How Should Divorcing Parents Prepare for It?

Ohio Parents’ Bill of Rights and Divorce: What Separating Parents Need to Know

Governor Mike DeWine signed Ohio House Bill 8 into law, also known as the Ohio Parents’ Bill of Rights, which has implications for divorce and co-parenting. Bill 8 requires public schools to establish policies on parental notification on student health and well-being, Instructional materials with sexuality content, and policies for released time courses in religious instruction. The law goes into effect on April 9, 2025, but the school districts will have until July1, 2025, to implement these policies. Click hereto read the new law.

The schools will have to defer to parents in decisions concerning their child’s upbringing. Access to educational and health records shall be available to parents, and the school will notify parents of any change in health aspects of the child’s life including the student’s gender identity, school officials are not allowed to encourage a child to withhold this information from parents. Parents will also be provided the opportunity to review any “sexuality content” before instruction and given the ability to withdraw student from that lesson, Kindergarten through 3rd grade shall prohibit any sexuality content. Finally, the schools will adopt a religious release … Read More... “What is the Ohio “Parents’ Bill of Rights,” and How Should Divorcing Parents Prepare for It?”

Did You Know: Your Credit Score Could Drop During Divorce?

How to Protect Your Credit Score and Divorce-Proof Your Finances

If you are going through a divorce, most likely there are lots of things on your to do list, and lots of details to attend to. One of which is to protect your credit score during divorce. Understanding the link between your credit score and divorce can help prevent financial pitfalls. According to a survey conducted by Debt.com, 48% of respondents saw their credit score drop after separating from their partner, often linked to financial strain and changing household incomes. Going from a two-income household to a single-income household can cause a significant change in your financial situation, and this effect may be seen in many unexpected ways.

Especially in recent years, where we have seen inflation and rising interest rates result in significant economic pressures, it is increasingly difficult to manage debt and credit during a divorce. In 2023, credit card interest rates rose to record highs, which might make it harder to keep up with debt payments and maintain a high credit score.

Run Your Credit Report

The first thing you want to do is to run your credit report. You may not like what you see, … Read More... “Did You Know: Your Credit Score Could Drop During Divorce?”

Is a Dissolution or Divorce Proceeding a Better Approach?

Marriages In Ohio Can Be Ended In One Of Two Ways, Dissolution Or By Divorce

Dissolution vs Divorce in Ohio is different from most states. In most states, those terms can be used synonymously, but they are alternate proceedings with different statutory regulations in Ohio. Marriages in Ohio can be ended in one of two ways – through Dissolution vs Divorce in Ohio, which have distinct legal processes.

Dissolution in Ohio – Key Aspects of Dissolution vs Divorce in Ohio

A dissolution proceeding is the quickest and easiest of the two methods to terminate your marriage, but in order to proceed with a dissolution there are certain considerations that must be met. Primarily, there must be a total and full agreement signed by both parties as to ALL terms of the dissolution. This means that both parties have to have a full agreement on all issues, including alimony, custody, child support, division of assets, debt allocation, division of household goods and furnishings, etc. There is no subpoena power available, which means both parties must exchange all financial information voluntarily.

If such an agreement cannot be reached on ANY issue, then a dissolution proceeding is not appropriate. In addition, restraining orders … Read More... “Is a Dissolution or Divorce Proceeding a Better Approach?”

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