New Insurance Product to Guarantee Child and Spousal Support Payments During Unemployment

man with empty pockets

spousal support unemploy1:42 AM 1/13/2018ment benefitsOften times when a couple divorces, a court will order one party to pay spousal support in Ohio and/or child support if there are minor children involved.  And while it can seem that every, last detail from property division, to health insurance and retirement benefits is hammered out in the final decree, there may be an area that is too often overlooked.

What happens if the party obligated to pay child or spousal support suddenly becomes unemployed?  Then what?

The Great American Insurance Group now offers Marital Settlement Agreement Insurance (“MSAI”), to insure divorce obligations during periods of unemployment.  The program, which has been 40 years in the making, was developed by Richard S. Zizian, J.D., of the Zizian Agency in San Diego, California.  It is now available in all states except Hawaii and Alaska.

Insurance Group Offers Spousal Support And Child Support Payments During Times Of Unemployment

In order to qualify, a person must be a full-time, W-2 wage earner.  The holder can choose to pay the premiums annually, quarterly or monthly.  The policy pays up to 24 weeks of benefits per year for child and/or spousal support payments.  In addition, it covers obligations ranging from $450 to $9000 … Read More... “New Insurance Product to Guarantee Child and Spousal Support Payments During Unemployment”

Divorce: Study Finds That Women are Twice as Likely as Their Husbands to File for Divorce

couples talking to counselor

divorce marriage studyThe Early Years of Marriage Project is an ongoing marriage and divorce study that began in 1986. As part of this project, researchers from the University of Michigan conducted a study in which they interviewed 355 married couples throughout the course of sixteen years.

Divorce study says tension and stress have a negative impact on marriage

Results from this study concluded that women are twice as likely as men to file for a divorce. Women typically entered their marriage with higher levels of tension caused by fights and disagreements, whereas men started off with a lower level of tension that increased over the course of their marriage. Researcher Kira Birditt of the University of Michigan, states that, “the association with divorce was greater if men reported low levels of tension when women reported a higher accumulation of tension” (Macdonald, 2017).

Are men to blame?

Kira Birditt believes that women may be more likely to divorce because of “a lack of investment towards the relationship on the husband’s part” (Macdonald, 2017). Whether or not men are to blame, tension and stress have a negative impact on marriage. Differences of marriage expectations from men and women may be the reason for … Read More... “Divorce: Study Finds That Women are Twice as Likely as Their Husbands to File for Divorce”

Prenuptial Agreements Trending with Millennials in Ohio

couple on park bench arms around each other

Survey reveals increase in the number of millennials requesting prenuptial agreements in the last three years.

prenuptial agreements millennials divorceIn a previous blog entry, Joseph Balmer discussed the need for antenuptial agreements as an effective, estate planning tool.  In his article, he explained how the mention of the word “prenup” can send a newly-wed-to-be into a frenzy, as such agreements have historically carried a negative connotation and often served as a buzz kill for happily engaged couples.

However, the millennial generation, ages 18-35, seem to be shaking up this archaic way of thinking.

In a recent survey conducted by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 51% of the 1600 attorneys surveyed reported an increase in the number of millennials requesting prenups in the last three years. The “prenuptial agreement” is no longer a dirty phrase used by those couples expecting to fail, but rather it has become part of the norm and is viewed as a smart and efficient way to plan for a couple’s future.

Whether it’s because millennials are older when marrying and therefore have more to protect, or because they themselves are often children of divorce and are therefore predisposed to shielding their own interests, this new generation is … Read More... “Prenuptial Agreements Trending with Millennials in Ohio”

Divorce: 25 Details Often Overlooked in Negotiations…Plus 5 New Bonus Additions!

Blast from the past 13 years Ohio Family Law Blog

PUBLISHERS NOTE: This article on divorce was originally posted on January 19, 2013. I have now added the last 5 items. The list keeps evolving with the advances in technology and social media platforms and the advent of the legalization of same sex marriage. Thanks!

divorceAttorney Mark Chinn of Jacksonville, Mississippi, caught my attention with a divorce post to his family law blog about some items that are frequently forgotten in many divorce agreements. Mark is the author of three American Bar Association books about family law issues and is a frequent writer and lecturer in the field of family law.

The first eleven in the divorce list were Mark’s, the rest were some that I have added.

  1. Garage door openers
  2. Gate remote controls
  3. Extra keys to car and house
  4. Security codes
  5. Hotel credit card and airline points
  6. Utility and other deposits
  7. Tax and insurance escrows
  8. Car tag credits
  9. Overdrafts on joint checking accounts
  10. Dates to carry through insurance coverages
  11. Attorney’s fees paid with joint funds
  12. Real estate escrow account refunds
  13. Important days not addressed in the Court’s Parenting  Time Order
  14. Season ticket rights
  15. Country club membership and club access
  16. Storage unit details
  17. Dividing and copying family photos
  18. Copying documents,
… Read More... “Divorce: 25 Details Often Overlooked in Negotiations…Plus 5 New Bonus Additions!”

Technology on the Rise and Robot Divorce Lawyers

circuit board layered on image of people

mandated reporters child abuseWe live in a world that is dominated by cutting-edge technology. By the time that the latest and greatest technology is released, manufacturers are already beginning their search to find the next best thing. Nowadays, the easier we can make it to accomplish things, the better. For many, this means making things more accessible online and limiting the amount of human interaction that a person must have: whether it be ordering a pizza online, scheduling and cancelling doctor’s appointments, or even ordering groceries to be picked up at your local Kroger. By completing these tasks on the internet, we are cutting out the middlemen: the receptionist that answers the phone, the employees who take phone orders, and the assistants that schedule appointments.

Machines have taken over jobs in assembly lines, production lines, and coal mines. Robots and machines are more cost efficient because employers don’t have to pay several employees to do a job that a single robot or machine can do on its own. They are also more efficient and can get jobs done in bulk, allowing them to complete a task much quicker than a human employee.

What’s next…Robolawyers?

As technolgy continues to increase, and smartphones turn … Read More... “Technology on the Rise and Robot Divorce Lawyers”

LEGAL ALERT: New Tax Proposal Will Eliminate Spousal Support Deduction in 2018!

Alert! Key Legal Update

SPOUSAL SUPPORT LEGAL ALERT

The Implications Of The New Tax Proposal On Your Divorce. Provision In New Tax Would Eliminate Spousal Support Deduction.

spousal support divorce taxThis could be a BIG deal in your divorce case! Are you planning on continuing your divorce case into next year?  Are you perhaps in a position to complete it in 2017? The new tax proposal recently unveiled may make you think twice.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act contains a provision that would effectively eliminate the deduction that tax payers receive for making spousal support payments. Click here to read the full text of the proposed Act.

As the law currently reads (and has for around 75 years) , the person paying the support is allowed to deduct the amount, while the person being paid is required to claim it as income and thus, pay taxes.

When determining spousal support, courts take into account the fact that the paying spouse is able to deduct the amount of spousal support paid on his or her taxes.  Should the new legislation pass as presently written, the payor spouse will lose their deduction, thereby raising their tax burden which may reduce the amount of income available for spousal … Read More... “LEGAL ALERT: New Tax Proposal Will Eliminate Spousal Support Deduction in 2018!”

Blast From The Past: I Want to Keep the House, But Should I?

Blast from the past 13 years Ohio Family Law Blog

PUBLISHER’S UPDATE: Here is one of my favorites posts from back on March 29th, 2008! The advice rings as true now as it did then…We have a ton of interesting articles in our archives of the Ohio Family Law Blog. Use our Search tool and enjoy a few oldie but goodies!

divorce mortgageThis is one of the questions I am asked all of the time. Of course, the correct answer is “It depends.” The home often accounts for a large percentage of the entire marital estate. Whether to retain the home after a divorce is often a very emotional issue, especially if there are children involved. It is natural that parents want to maintain as much stability for their kids as possible when going through a break up. One would assume that keeping the kids in the marital residence after the divorce is important. But interestingly, the psychological studies show that divorced children are not really affected by the retention of the marital home. The key factor is the stability of their parents, not what house they live in.

Is It Feasible To Pay The Mortgage, Taxes, And Utilities After Divorce?

It is important to realize that unlike spousal and child … Read More... “Blast From The Past: I Want to Keep the House, But Should I?”

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