Social Security Benefits Can Be Maximized Post Final Divorce Decree

Divorce Final? How To Maximize Your Social Security Retirement Benefit By Utilizing The Divorced Spouse Benefit

social security retirement benefit divorceYour divorce is finalized!  It is over and done, and you have moved on with your life.  The assets, monetary accounts, retirement accounts, and the like all have been divided per the divorce decree.  With that divorce decree in hand, you ex-spouse is no longer entitled to any future benefit you may receive, and that goes the same for you.  However, there is one benefit you want to keep in mind when you are approaching retirement age.  That benefit is the ability to collect Social Security Retirement on your ex-spouses record even if he or she has remarried!  Like all government benefits there are some requirements you must meet in order to collect under your ex-spouse’s work record.

This benefit, entitled divorced spouse benefit, requires the following:

  • Your marriage lasted 10 years or longer;
  • You are currently unmarried;
  • You are 62 years or older;
  • Your ex-spouse is entitled to Social Security retirement or disability benefits; and
  • The benefit you are entitled to receive based on your own work record is less than the benefit you would receive based on your ex-spouse’s work record.

If … Read More... “Social Security Benefits Can Be Maximized Post Final Divorce Decree”

Photos Tools To Protect And Personalize Your Digital Memories Online

Do You Take a Lot of Photos of Your Kids? Some Amazing Statistics for Mother’s Day!

photos mother's dayMiMedia Inc., just published the results of a recent survey that explored how parents snap, shoot, share and store photos and videos of their beloved children ages 0 – 3. This next-generation personal cloud platform posed questions to 1,000 parents nationwide about their digital habits and lifestyles, investigating how much storage space baby photos and videos take up on their devices.

I bet some of the results of the study will amaze even the most prolific photographers!

Here Are Some of the Key Findings.

  • 76% of parents admit to running out of storage on their phones from taking too many photos/videos of their kids
  • 71% think Moms take more photos of their kids than Dads
  • Nearly 3 out of 5 parents (58%) say their child (age 0-3) was able to operate a touchscreen digital device by swiping before they learned to speak
  • 57% think Moms share too many baby photos on social media (Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
  • Almost half (47%) of parents say their child (age 0-3) likes taking selfies
  • 47% of parents share at least 1 photo/video on average of their child (age
Read More... “Photos Tools To Protect And Personalize Your Digital Memories Online”

Happy Marriage Must Include Positive Emotions

Should Couples Use Positive Emotions to Avoid Relationship Dissatisfaction? Research Suggests That A Happy Marriage Involves How We Respond to Our Partner’s Good News

happy marriage emotionsA recent study claims that the key to a happy marriage may be simpler than we think.  According to Raluca Petrican, R. Shayna Rosenbaum and Cheryl Grady of the Rotman Research Institute, a happy marriage is comprised of partners who are especially sensitive to their spouse’s positive news and experiences.

It is well established that being there for our partner in their time of need is an important part of a healthy relationship. However, this research seems to indicate that overall relationship satisfaction depends just as much on how our partner reacts to good information that we share.

In their research, Petrican and her colleagues studied 14 women with an average age of 72, who had been married an average of 40 years.  To read their full report, click here. These women all completed a marriage questionnaire and then were asked to watch silent, 10 second videos while having their brains scanned.  These videos either depicted their spouse or a stranger displaying an emotion that did not “match” with the one sentence description of the … Read More... “Happy Marriage Must Include Positive Emotions”

Tax Deduction: Divorce Legal Fees

Are Your Legal Fees From your Divorce Tax Deductible? Tax Deduction Often Overlooked!

tax deduction divorceGenerally speaking, the IRS does not allow a write-off for court costs and legal fees stemming from a divorce.  It does, however, offer deductions for any portions of those fees related to tax advice and alimony.

What Fees Can Be Considered Tax Deductable During A Divorce?

According to the IRS, legal fees that are specifically spent to collect spousal support can be included under “other expenses” with the itemized deductions listed on Schedule A of tax form 1040.  This write-off is also available for any proceeding in which a spouse is attempting to collect taxable spousal support, increase the amount of support, or collect any past due amount. It is important to note, however, that the IRS does not allow a deduction for the cost of trying to collect non-taxable income during divorce, such as overdue child support or temporary spousal support.  In addition, it does not allow for the deduction of any of your spouse’s legal fees that you may be ordered to pay.  What it does allow for is a write-off for any research and time spent on tax-related subjects such as real … Read More... “Tax Deduction: Divorce Legal Fees”

Court Interpreters in Ohio Provide Accuracy In Legal Proceedings

The Use of Qualified Court Interpreters in Ohio And Their Interpreter Certification Requirements

court interpreters interpreter ohioOn November 14, 2015, an article entitled, “Ohio Domestic Relations and Juvenile Forms Translated in Five Languages” was posted to this blog.  In it, I discussed how recently the Ohio Supreme Court made key juvenile and domestic relations forms available in the most used languages in Ohio including: Spanish, Russian, French, Chinese and Arabic.  To read the full text of that article click here.

While these documents are a huge step toward litigants being able to engage in “meaningful participation” in the proceedings in which they are involved, the fact of the matter is, the understanding and filing of these forms is only one hurdle that must be overcome for deaf and non-English speaking parties. Despite the fact that the party was able to understand the paperwork leading up to the court proceeding or hearing, the litigant must still be fully involved and be aware of what is going on at the time of the actual proceeding.  As a result, the use of an interpreter is often necessary to ensure this occurs.

Ohio Rules of Superintendence, Sup.R. 88(A) requires a foreign language interpreter be appointed where … Read More... “Court Interpreters in Ohio Provide Accuracy In Legal Proceedings”

Credit Scores: Using to Evaluate Potential Mates In A Relationship?

Why Looking At Credit Scores Might Not Be a Bad Idea Before Making A Commitment In A Relationship

credit scores relationshipThe Federal Reserve Board has recently published a working paper entitled, “Credit Scores and Committed Relationships.”  In it, authors Jane Dokko, Geng Li and Jessica Hayes explore the potential correlation between one’s credit score and their likelihood of being a good partner or spouse.  The study’s results seem to suggest that people with higher credit scores are more likely to be in committed relationships.  In addition, the authors argue that how well a couple’s credit scores match initially, may also be a good indicator of whether the relationship has staying power.  To read the full study see, https://www.federalreserve.gov/econresdata/feds/2015/files/2015081pap.pdf.

The study conducted between 1999 and 2014, used 12 million randomly selected people from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax.  Within this sample, researchers used an algorithm to find people who lived at the same address as another consumer from the sample.  Certain restrictions were applied to ensure that the pair was in some type of committed relationship.  Their credit scores were then monitored only so long as they retained the same address.  Once the pair no … Read More... “Credit Scores: Using to Evaluate Potential Mates In A Relationship?”

Child Abuse Increases During Holiday Season – But You Can Help!

For Victims Of Child Abuse The Holidays Can Be The Worst

child abuse holidaysAround this time of year, it is impossible to go anywhere without hearing or seeing something reminding us to “give thanks” and to get into the “holiday” spirit.  However, as the joy and excitement of the season spreads, so does the stress and anxiety that goes along with it. While it may seem strange to those of us who believe this is the “most wonderful time of the year,” for the victims of child abuse, it can actually be the worst.

With the stress of putting aside money for holiday meals and gifts, the additional events and expenses looming, coupled with children being home from school for an extended period of time, parents are often susceptible to losing control in an attempt to deal with the situation. During the holidays, emotions run high and tempers flare.  As a result, these parents or caregivers often take their frustration out on their children rather than dealing with their anger in an appropriate manner.

Organizations nation-wide often report an increase in child abuse during the holiday season.  For example, the organization Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee states that every year during the … Read More... “Child Abuse Increases During Holiday Season – But You Can Help!”

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