Tips Archives - Page 9 of 9 - Ohio Family Law Blog

Planning Parenting Time for the Holidays – Tips to Follow

As we are now into the month of November, it is not too early for divorced and divorcing parents to look ahead to the upcoming Christmas Holiday. Here are some “tips” regarding the “nuts and bolts” of handling the Christmas holiday season.

Read and examine the Parenting Time Schedule for your particular County which should be attached as part of your Final Decree or Court Judgment. The Domestic Relations Court and Juvenile Court of each County have differing schedules. If your parenting time schedule has been lost or misplaced, you can obtain a replacement from your attorney’s office or the clerk where your order was filed.For example, Montgomery County, Ohio, has the following provision as to the Christmas Break:
In all even-numbered years, the Mother shall have the children from 9:00 a.m. the day after school recesses (or 9:00 a.m. on December 20 if the children are not in school), until 9:00 p.m. December 24, and the Father shall have the children from 9:00 p.m. December 24 through 6:00 p.m. January 1. In odd-numbered years, the reverse shall apply.

And, Greene County, Ohio, has the following provision as to Christmas Break:

In all even-numbered years, the Mother shall have the

Simple Year End Tax Tips

As the end of the year approaches, the following simple tax tips can keep taxes as low as possible.

1. Charitable gifting. Charitable donations may be used as deductions against your taxable income. However, all charitable donations must be supported with written receipts unless under $250 in which case a bank record is sufficient. Also, donations of services or your time are not tax deductible.
2. Gifting in general. Each individual may gift up to $13,000 per year to an unlimited number of individuals without filing a gift tax return. Any gifts over $13,000 per year reduce the lifetime gift tax exclusion of $1,000,000. Once the lifetime exclusion is exhausted, gift taxes must be paid.
3. Pay property taxes early. Real estate taxes are deductible. For taxes due early next year, if you pay them this year, you can use them as a deduction.
4. Sell poor performing securities. Losses can be offset against gains reducing any capital gains. Excess losses can be deducted, but only up to $3,000 per year.
5. Increase retirement plan contributions. Retirement plan contributions reduce taxable income.
6. Increase business expense purchases. Purchases of business equipment, supplies, etc., can be used as taxable deductions.
7. Maximize necessary medical expenses. The purchase of

10 Tips To Cut Your Attorney Fees

I would like to share some constructive fee-cutting suggestions for you to consider implementing after you have done your “due diligence” in selecting the right attorney for you and your issues. Many of the cases I have handled over the last 30 years are family law matters which are engagements typically based upon the number of hours spent in the representation. The amount of time to complete these cases varies based upon many factors, including the nature of the issues, contentiousness of the parties, and the cooperation level existing between both counsel. Recently, I have been asked by several clients what they can do to help reduce their attorney fees. Certainly, this is an excellent question especially with money being so tight and all of us having to deal with our poor economy. Each attorney would no doubt answer this question differently. So, be sure to ask your attorney about his or her own particular preferences. Here are some of my simple tips to reduce your attorney fees:

Use email instead of the phone. Email communications are an excellent way to keep your attorney advised as to ongoing developments. But, realize that many attorneys receive hundreds of emails in a

Moms, Stepmothers and Grandmothers, Please Take a Bow!

NOTE: Due to its timeless nature, this article from the Ohio Family Law Blog is being republished from May 10, 2008.

Naturally Mother’s Day is a special day for families and especially for mothers. In this day and age however, there are often multiple females who may play a key role in a child’s life. Stepmothers and grandmothers raising their grandchildren as their own are now quite the norm. These women need to be recognized on Mother’s Day.

Stepmothers are often portrayed in a negative light. It is important to look at all sides, as a step mom often has to walk the tight rope. She has to carefully navigate the road so that she is an integral part of her new child or children’s lives, while still respecting the child’s need to honor and love their own mother. Grandmothers raising grandchildren as their own child has been an increasing occurrence in our society. Across the United States, more than 6 million children are being raised in households headed by grandparents and other relatives. In my opinion they should be nominated as saints! In addition to a child’s natural mother, a stepmother or a primary care giving grandmother can play … Read More... “Moms, Stepmothers and Grandmothers, Please Take a Bow!”

Who Needs Cupid?

Valentine’s Day is the start of the busy season for Dayton divorce lawyers. Many couples wait until after the holidays and it gives them time to file their taxes “jointly” and receive a larger refund. It also can be a reckoning day when people decide that they deserve better.

While romance abounds with cupid’s magic for some, it also can be a difficult time for many divorced individuals who don’t have a valentine to share it with.

Here are some tips from Jennifer McCarron and Eugene Kayser, licensed family therapists from Abington, Pennsylvania:

Ignore the holiday

Think about Valentine’s Day like a holiday for a religion you do not celebrate. Simply decide you are not participating in the activities typically associated with the day.

Do something special for yourself.
Go to a spa, take a walk or try any other activity that nourishes you. Kayser said, “showing love and regard for yourself can make you feel stronger”. “You need to self nurture,” he said. “You’ve lost something so you need to take the time to grieve it and take care of yourself.”
Go out, but not where you typically find couples.
A trip to the bookstore or coffee shop

Mother’s Day – A Very Special Day!

Naturally Mother’s Day is a special day for families and especially for mothers. In this day and age however, there are often multiple females who may play a key role in a child’s life. Stepmothers and grandmothers raising their grandchildren as their own are now quite the norm. These women need to be recognized on Mother’s Day.

Kate Fogerty has written extensively about the challenges of blending families. In a piece … Read More... “Mother’s Day – A Very Special Day!”

Avoid Headache, Safeguard Your Assets

Jeffrey Lalloway, publisher of the California Divorce and Family Law Blog, wrote this excellent article. I couldn’t agree more with his suggestions!

Lessen impact of divorce on credit

Avoid Headache If you’re planning to file for divorce this year or are already splitting your assets with your soon-to-be ex-spouse, your credit is likely to take a hit.

Many people don’t realize that lenders do not honor court decrees that assign payment responsibilities for joint loans. The mistaken assumption that you’re off the hook for financial obligations can result in a series of missed payments that may trash your credit score for years.

This needn’t happen if you safeguard your credit before you file for divorce. Consider these tips from John Ulzheimer, author of “You’re Nothing but a Number” and an expert at Credit.com, a consumer personal finance site.

If you have joint accounts with your spouse, do your best to turn them into individual accounts so that it will be easier for the divorce court to split up your financial responsibilities. To do that you will need your spouse’s permission, which means you’re going to have to let the cat out of the bag. But taking these steps now can save … Read More... “Avoid Headache, Safeguard Your Assets”

Page 9 of 9

1 … 7 8 9