Some of the provisions in the 2001 and 2003 Tax Relief Acts were extended for 2010 and have again avoided sunset:
2011
Sunset Provision
Capital Gains Rate
15%
2013 to 20%
Qualified Dividend Rate
15%
2013 to ordinary Tax Rate
Income Tax Rates
10% to 35%
In 2013
To 15% to 39.6%
PERSONAL EXEMPTION PHASEOUT:
The phaseout of personal exemptions has been eliminated for a second year in 2011.
ITEMIZED DEDUCTION PHASEOUT:
The phaseout of itemized deductions has been eliminated for a second year in 2011.
Phaseouts for Itemized deductions and personal exemptions are scheduled to return in 2013without further legislation.
AMT EXEMPTION
The AMT exemption increased to $72,450 for marrieds and $47,450 for singles. Very large itemized deductions or exercise of ISOs can trigger AMT. This can be avoided with proper tax planning.
ROTH IRA ELIGIBILITY
Maximum contribution $5,000 (non-deductible); if 50 or older, maximum is $6,000. An individual is eligible to contribute to a ROTH if AGI is within or below the following:
Married, filing joint
$169,000 to $179,000
Single
$107,000 to $122,000
2011 SOCIAL SECURITY TAX WAGE LIMIT
Social Security Tax (6.2%)
Up to $106,800
Medicare (1.45%)
No Limit
Note: No cost-of-living adjustment was applied to Social Security benefits for 2011.
NEW or EXTENDED for 2011
The American Opportunity Tax Credit for tuition expenses was extended for 2011 with a credit of up to $2,500.
Employees will pay only 4.2% payroll taxes for 2011, while self-employed individuals will pay only 10.4% on income up to $106,800.
The Child Tax Credit of $1,000 per child has been extended for 2011 for married individuals earning less than $110,000 and for head-of-household filers earning less
With over 20 years of experience in the field of finance, Patricia Barrett is well trained in the intricacies of personal financial and divorce planning. She is a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst. In addition, she is a credentialed Mediator, having completed mediation training at the University of Houston School of Law. She has assisted hundreds of individuals and couples work through the difficult issues involved in the divorce process. Patricia condenses the information to primary issues, concentrating on the areas that matter most and illustrating the benefits and costs of choices. She has the expertise needed to bring about a peaceful divorce settlement when possible, or guide you skillfully when it isn’t.
Simplify the divorce process and cut your legal costs.
Divorce is often a complicated financial problem, requiring special skills, as well as knowlege of divorce issues. Attorneys are not trained in financial planning. With a plan by Patricia, your legal fees can be greatly reduced.
If your divorce is amicable instead of contentious, a mediated settlement may be possible prior to retaining an attorney. For early intervention mediation, Patricia acts as a neutral to calculate an equitable division of assets based on your individual circumstances and her knowlege of divorce rules and financial planning. She can defuse an otherwise volitile situation and guide you to a peaceful divorce settlement.
Whether for just yourself or as a couple, you can gain a clear understanding of your own finances and see how certain decisions made during divorce will effect the rest of your life. Patricia clarifies financial issues and creates a plan for your future, detailing income, expenses and assets over a 20-year period.
Counties served:
Harris
Montgomery
Liberty
Chambers
Galveston
Brazoria
Fort Bend
Waller
Also serving all Texas cities working by email, phone, and fax.
We offer Financial Panning, Divorce Mediation in Houston TX & the surrounding area:
Collaborative divorce works through a series of meetings between the two attorneys and divorcing parties. Each meeting has a specific agenda, along with rules for behavior. Attorneys are trained to negotiate a divorce settlement without the use of litigation. They usually utilize mediation skills to smooth the process. Collaborative attorneys are required to resign if an amicable agreement between the parties cannot be reached and the couple chooses to go to court to settle. Frequently, a divorce financial analyst is included as a neutral financial professional in order to work out the nitty-gritty of the monetary settlement. Patricia is trained in the methods of Collaborative divorce, wherein she acts as a neutral financial professional to work with both spouses to divide assets and clarify the long-term effects of the division. With her training in mediation, she possesses effective communication skills to work in this delicate situation.
We offer Divorce Financial Panning in Houston TX & the surrounding area:
Q: When am I responsible for my spouse's debts when I had nothing to do with the charges?A: Debts from before marriage are a person's separate debt and you wouldn't be liable; however, if the debt was incurred during the marriage in order to provide necessities like clothing, food, etc. then you too are liable. See the article written by Ron Lipman (Houston attorney), link follows: “Til Debts Do Them Part”.
Q: Is my IRA community property since it is in my name only?A: Everything purchased during the marriage, even in another state, no matter whose name it’s in, is typically considered marital property. In Texas, the income from separate property is also considered a marital asset. It is important to evaluate the disadvantages to having your IRA included in the list of assets you retain following your divorce. The funds are not accessible before age 59-1/2 unless a 10% penalty plus ordinary income tax is paid. The tax liability should be considered in the long-range analysis.
Q: What is "Separate Property" in Texas?A: Separate property is what is brought into the marriage, what is inherited during the marriage, or received during the marriage. So long as it is not mingled with the community property, it maintains its separate property status during divorce.
Q: What is "Community Property" in Texas? A: Community property is all the property acquired during marriage, no matter whose name it is in and in which state it was purchased. In Texas, the income from separate property is also considered community property although the appreciation in value of the underlying asset remains separate. For IRAs and qualified plans the rules are different. The appreciation on IRAs and qualified plans remains community property.
Q: Will I be able to receive maintenance payments? A: Court-ordered support is limited in Texas; however you may be able to negotiate contractual alimony exceeding Texas guidelines. You will have to illustrate a projected post-divorce budget that demonstrates your monetary needs. The divorce financial analyst can assist in the preparation of this budget. Often the higher earning spouse receives more assets as an offset in exchange for providing alimony.
Q: Do I have to split my pension? A: The portion of your pension which was earned before your marriage is not subject to division; however, the portion accrued during your marriage is community property in the state of Texas. It may be possible to keep the pension undivided by having its value offset with other assets. Division of the pension can be accomplished with a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (see further explanation below). Your Certified Divorce Financial Analyst can value the pension, if no value is provided by the company.
Q: If I have custody of the children, should I keep the house? A: While this question cannot be answered affirmatively in every case, we realize that there is an emotional attachment to the home. It's important to analyze what it will cost to maintain the home, including maintenance, utilities and mortgage payments. The next step is to ensure that there that there are funds to pay the necessary bills each month. Retaining the home must be compared to the advisability of giving up other assets that may provide income or future appreciation such as investments. Additionally, the cost of alternative housing must be considered, whether renting or acquiring a less expensive home. A Certified Divorce Financial Analyst can help to answer this question before committing to a settlement that cannot be changed.
Q: What is a Qualified Domestic Relations order and is it necessary? A: A Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO - (Pronounced quad ' ro)) is the legal document that divides a pension or 401K in a divorce. The divorce decree does not serve to divide these accounts. There are many factors that go into QDROs which can require qualified advice from a specialist in this area.
Q: Do we have to go to court? A: If you are unable to reach a settlement, you will both be required to attend court with your attorneys. If a settlement is reached, only the spouse who files for the divorce must attend the hearing.
Q: Should you buy a house before the divorce is final? A: Some of us don’t have an option of buying a home during the process of divorce. Financial constraints prevent them from doing so. But, for the fortunate few who have the resources and can afford the down payment, the payments, property taxes and upkeep, careful thought should be given to the decision.
Texas considers all property purchased during the marriage (even during the pendency of the divorce) to be community property. It doesn’t matter whose name is on the title or account. The other spouse still has an interest in the home and the title may not be a clear one. Title companies require the other spouse to attend the closing and basically give permission for the home to be purchased.
During the divorce process, “temporary orders” are normally in place to prevent the spouses from spending down assets or incurring new debts. They are typically required to spend only what is absolutely necessary to sustain their individual households. Often, a limit of $500 is placed on discretionary spending. Above that amount requires approval of the other spouse.
If the husband is approved for a loan on a new home based on his previous income and current expenses, this wouldn’t include his future child support or alimony obligations. Would he still qualify if the lender was aware of these pending obligations? In Texas, he is usually obligated to pay 20% of his after tax income for one child, 25% for two, and 30% for three children (limited to $90,000 of income).
Many attorneys require the non-purchasing spouse to sign a special agreement to permit the purchase of the home. However, this agreement still doesn’t clear the title. This agreement still doesn’t address his ability to make the mortgage payments once the divorce is finalized and his support obligations are known.
Yes, it is possible to purchase a home while going through the divorce process, but it is ill-advised and problematic. Before doing so, we recommend consulting your attorney in order to address the situation in a legal and logical manner.
Q: Should we divide everything 50/50. A: The State of Texas requires a "just and equitable" division of property. This can take into account the need for one spouse to receive sufficient assets to provide support considering the much higher earnings of the other party. A 50/50 settlement is rarely appropriate and should never be implemented without the advice of an attorney, and ideally, using an analysis of the situation by a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst.
Q: Do I need an attorney? A: An attorney may be used as a consultant by the hour, allowing the divorcing individuals to gather financial data, enlist the services of a divorce financial analyst and arrive at a settlement through a mediator. There is not a requirement for an attorney to totally handle the case. For an attorney to handle all issues of the divorce is very, very expensive. And frequently, the attorney actually instigates a battle in order to keep fees coming in. See the article entitled "When to Keep Attorneys Out of Divorce & When You Need One".
Q: What is a collaborative divorce attorney and when should I use their services? A: Collaborative attorneys are trained to negotiate a divorce settlement without the use of litigation. The divorce proceeds through a series of meetings between both attorneys, both parties, and sometimes a financial expert and a mental health professional. The first four-hour meeting may only concern the collaborative agreement and its rules. Arranging the meetings can be extremely difficult with two attorneys involved. Communications by email and phone among all parties is also part of collaborative method. No “discovery” is used, depending on both parties to be open and honest about assets to be divided. No “orders” are permitted, causing some to worry about squandering of assets when a restraining order isn’t in place. Both attorneys and the financial planner are required to resign if an amicable agreement between the parties cannot be reached. New attorneys must be retained.
Q: How do I know which assets are the best to keep? A: Not all assets are created equal. Some assets may have a more positive effect on your financial future. Retirement accounts and other financial assets usually continue to appreciate in value and provide income for retirement. Certain assets require more financial outlay for maintenance, such as a home and automobile. Capital gains should be calculated on invested assets and real estate, with an adjustment made to the division of assets.
Q: I have never worked. Can I still get Social Security? A: If you have been married for 10 years or more, then you are entitled to one-half of your spouse's Social Security, even if you are divorced. Your spouse still retains his full Social Security benefit. This is determined by federal law and is not a negotiation issue in divorce.
Q: When should I employ the services of a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA)? A: The Certified Divorce Financial Analyst should be contacted when you first consider a divorce. However, the CDFA can provide a valuable service any time prior to a finalized settlement by assuring that a proposed settlement will work for you. Waiting too long may limit your options and result in a less desirable outcome, although the CDFA’s services will still provide value in providing a presentation for the court or attorney.
Q: Are there different ways to get divorced in Texas? A: All methods of divorcing result in the divorce agreement and the court decree. However, the methods of getting to these documents can vary drastically. There is no rule that an attorney must control every facet of a divorce. The following chart will best answer this question: Ways to get Divorced
We offer Financial Panning, Divorce Settlements in Houston TX & the surrounding area:
Mediation is the process of communicating back and forth in order to reach an agreement. In divorce resolution, a mediator can serve to separate the people from the problems, to prevent personal attacks, suggest objective standard and help to draft the final agreement based on discussions.
Communication is the key to successful mediations, and a skilled mediator can assist in creating an atmosphere for more effective communication between parties involved in a very emotional issue.
Resolving the issues that arise in the divorce process is a very difficult problem under the best of circumstances. The most effective method of decision-making involves examining numerous options. Lifetime Planning provides professional assistance in explaining the issues to be resolved and laying out reasonable alternatives for their resolution.
Mediation and the Financial Side of Divorce
By Patricia Barrett, CFP CDFA Mediator
All divorcing couples must come up with a financial plan for their futures when facing Divorce in Texas or elsewhere. Everyone has bills. In the simplest form, they can do it themselves if little or no assets are involved. If complex, like calculating child support, division of property, tax ramifications, or cash flow for the coming 20 years, using a mediator with financial planning expertise can create a superior outcome.
Generally, the more work a couple has done on the emotional divorce, the easier the remaining work will be. However, even the most intelligent and well-prepared couples can hit a snag. Do you hire lawyers and become involved in the court system? If so, you can expect many thousands of dollars in attorney fees and will have little control over the outcome.
You can choose to mediate instead. The two of you choose a neutral third party to help you make important decisions about the house, bank accounts, pensions and children. The mediator’s job is to enable you to make informed decisions. A mediator has skills in helping you to express your goals and needs. Achieving an agreement through mediation will be honored much more willingly than if a court is handing down orders.
Once you have made your decisions, the mediator will create a Mediated Settlement Agreement. This can be either binding or non-binding, meaning irrevocable or revocable. Some folks want an attorney to review the agreement before moving forward. Others fear the attorneys will stir things up.
To summarize the advantages of Mediation:
a) Mediation is voluntary. You can stop the process at any time.
b) You remain in control of the decisions, not a lawyer or judge. You decide on the issues and how to resolve them. You decide when to meet and for how long.
c) Mediation is totally confidential. Court rooms are open to the public.
d) You can be more creative in mediation, rather than making your situation fit into the laws. This applies to parenting plans, division of financial assets and calculating support payments (if any).
e) Mediation is cost-effective. A typical legal bill is between $40,000 and $80,000. A mediated divorce will cost between $1,000 and $10,000, depending on complexity.
f) You only sign the mediated agreement if you feel it is a fair and equitable outcome. Lawyers are not orchestrating the terms of your agreement.
Even a litigated divorce may require mediation if no settlement is reached before the trial date. The big difference is the months or years of dueling attorneys and battles beforehand. Mediate early and save money, time and pain.
We offer Divorce Financial Panning in Houston TX & the surrounding area:
Divorce planning involves consideration of a wide range of issues including parenting and child custody (when children are involved), and often very complex financial matters. We provide expertise in identifying all the issues that need to be discussed and resolved between the parties in such a way that communication is enhanced and better decisions for all can be reached in the process.
We have created a number of articles addressing many of these topics and offer them for your consideration to assist you in preparing for the sometimes lengthy process of preparing for the divorce.
Early intervention in the case of a divorce means, essentially, getting advice about the process prior to involving an attorney or lawyer. Approaching the process this way gives you an opportunity to consider many of the issues that you will need to address in an atmosphere free of the pressure to take a position. Our services are directed toward providing you support in thinking through the situation you are entering, and assisting you in determining what is important to you and what your options might be. This early support puts you in a better position to make the often difficult decisions that you might have to face during the process of resolving your divorce.
We offer Financial Panning, Divorce Settlements in Houston TX & the surrounding area:
Financial planning can be complex and difficult under the best of circumstances. Financial planning in the context of a divorce represents a different level of complexity. These are the times when having the support and guidance of an experienced financial planner can be invaluable.
The list of things that you might have to consider is extensive. Consider whether any of these items are pertinent to your case:
Limited Liability Companies
Family Limited Partnership
Generation-Skipping Tax Planning and Gift Exclusion
Medicare and Estate Planning
Social Security
Asset Protection Strategies
Auto Insurance
Corporate Care Insurance
Mortgage Life Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance
Limited Partnerships
Real Estate Investments
Individual Real Estate Tactics
Consumer Debt
Charitable Contributions
Cash Flow Management
Are you prepared to address this list of issues without professional help?
We offer some ideas in our extensive list of articles prepared for your review. When you are prepared to begin work and want to talk about your situation, give us a call and let us help you through this time!
We offer Financial Panning for Divorce Mediation in Houston TX & the surrounding area:
The following links will provide you an array of resources for legal information specific to Texas about divorce.
Legal links for a Texas divorce: Texas Statutes - Select Family Code, then select the chapter from a list that you want to read about. http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/
Can you work through the issues analytically, while still addressing the underlying emotional issues?
Sometimes a marriage is faltering due to lack of communication. And sometimes the family finances are the biggest problem for the two spouses. Do both parties have equal knowledge and access to the financial documents and accounts? Is there a large disparity in the earnings that has created a chasm? Could complete disclosure and sharing of financial information open up communications and help to solve other problems, too?
Lack of familiarity with the family finances can cause one party to feel helpless and excluded. They can exhibit bitterness and fear, leading to battles and blaming. Frequently, the spouse who handles the family finances is willing but not able to clearly explain and illustrate the complicated money issues. Sometimes, impatience and frustration ends up foiling any attempt to share the knowledge.
In such a case, while divorce may seem to be looming as a surety, perhaps a thorough compilation of finances by a financial planner who is able to clearly explain and illustrate the math will help. This shouldn’t be your money manager or insurance professional or CPA. This should be a Certified Financial Planner who works by the hour to produce clearly illustrated tables and narrative explanation. Ideally, that CFP would also have training in mediation, thereby giving her the ability to work with sometimes touchy, difficult marital problems.
One of my clients was delighted to learn about the existence of a Post-marital Partition of assets. She had attended my financial planning, divorce preparation class, assuming that she would have to go that route. However, it turns out that she simply wanted to have some control over her own money. After 30 years of marriage, she thought that divorce was the only way to give her a share of the assets and the freedom to act as a financial grownup. I was able to illustrate a logical, mutually agreeable partition, also working with them on budgeting. While they didn’t choose to partition the assets, we worked out a way for the wife to have control over a portion of the assets and be able to make decisions herself.
Often, there is a strict division of duties. One spouse cooks and shops. One spouse makes the money (or most of it) and handles the investments. Over time, however, there becomes an imbalance of power. One spouse has continued to learn more and more about financial issues, while the other has neglected that education. I’m able to provide a crash course in Financial Planning 101 for the uneducated spouse, with the course of study specifically tied to his or her own financial picture. This serves to even the playing field and provide a needed boost to their financial IQ.
What if one spouse is the stay-at-home caretaker, while the other has achieved tremendous success professionally? Can the two still communicate on equal footing? Is bitterness going to seep into their relationship from insecurity or lack of planning? I believe that planning, comprehensive style planning, can bring them closer and give the stay-at-home caretaker added responsibilities in the area of finance. This can give them a pride in their contribution both in caretaking and in their newly-found ability to work on the family’s future financial security. Yes, it takes careful one-on-one training of the caretaker to achieve this new skill, but the rewards are huge.
Naturally, numbers alone aren’t going to change attitudes. That is why I work very closely with a PhD. Family therapist named Dr. Mary Anne Knolle. We co-mediate together, with my skill in the comprehensive financial planning being complimented by Mary Anne’s ability to smooth the communications and work on personality differences. She sometimes gives the spouses personality tests to help them understand their own strengths and weaknesses and how to make them work together. With understanding of the other spouse’s strengths and weaknesses comes cooperation and understanding.
If you believe that this method of comprehensive financial planning coupled with communications coaching could bring your marriage back from the brink, give me a call and we’ll discuss your individual situation.
Remember KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.
Patricia Barrett CFP CDFA Mediator
February, 2011
We offer Financial Panning for Divorce Mediation in Houston TX & the surrounding area:
Understand Texas rules for separate property, valuation, and division of stock options, restricted stock, bonuses, supplemental executive retirement plans, deferred compensation and other incentive compensation. Will the “constructive trustee” controlling the options be a bitter ex-husband? Will he let her forget to exercise the options and let them expire worthless? It happened to my client. Will she quit her job just to render the options worthless after a bitter battle costing $100,000 to get them divided? It happened to my client. Come learn how family drama enters into the world of executive compensation.
Lifetime's classes about the divorce process in Texas in a seminar or workshop setting provide valuable insight for persons about to undertake a separation. Lack of knowledge can lead to mistakes costing many thousands of dollars. The following subjects will be covered in these LLU classes:
dividing retirement plans
keeping the home
alimony
child support
tax ramifications
budgeting
separate versus community property
stock options
Social Security
the family business
choosing an attorney
ways to get a divorce, and more.
Real-life cases will be described. These classes are very practical and are designed to assist you through a difficult and complex process.
Patricia Barrett is an independent Certified Financial Planner, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and credentialed Mediator who has worked in this field since 1988. She frequently attends Family Law symposiums and is a highly sought speaker on this subject. Classes are from 1:30 to 4:00 PM on these dates.
Divorce in Texas - Money and More Instructor: Patricia Barrett CFP CDFA Mediator
March 10, 2012- Class# V9213B
May 19, 2012 - Class# (To Be Announced) Location: Leisure Learning Unlimited (LLU)
2990 Richmond, 6th Floor
Cost: $46.00 Payable to LLU
Register Online:Lifetime LLU ClassesThen click on "Legal Matters" then "Divorce" and select the date you wish to attend.
We offer Divorce Financial Panning in the following areas:
What My Clients Say About My Financial Planning Services
(Patricia Barrett CFP, CDFA)
I am so not a numbers person. It is like magic to me that you can make this nebulous morass come into focus and organized in a way that is clear to me and even makes sense. I was at sea, with only my attorney as a resource before you jumped in, knew what to do and did it. JW 2011
I just wanted to say thank you again for all your hard work in helping me through the mediation process. You were so very thorough and detailed in your financial analysis, and I really feel that you made a big difference in helping me get a better settlement. Best wishes to you always! J.W. 2010
Thank you SO much. Words cannot express my gratitude for your wisdom, shared with me. It is empowering. Knowledge is power. I believe God works in mysterious ways, even in times that are tough. You have been an answer to my prayers. D.G. 2006
Thanks so much for coming to mediation and especially for your preparation. Your organization is impressive. I am so grateful that I found you! Everyone should have someone you when going through this process. E.C. 2008
Thank you for your expertise that supported my determination for equity. Thank you for your support and advice that kept me focused on my path. Thank you for your advice, encouragement and affirmation that gives me courage. Patricia, you are a Wise Woman. Much Love, R.S. 2007
Mrs Patricia Barrett is quite professional and thorough in her services; I highly recommend her from personal experience. Her fees are quite fair for the amount of time required to produce the appropriate documents. She is pleasant to work with and finished her work in a very timely manner. John 2006
After 36 years of marriage, I was faced with divorce and needed to work out a financial settlement and plan for my future. I felt overwhelmed. Patricia compiled for me a comprehensive plan for both the division of assets and the handling of those assets for the future. She is an able mediator and negotiator, and is compassionate as well as extremely capable. After working with Patricia, I felt confident that I had a lifetime plan that would work well for me. I don't know what I would have done without her help. C.M. 2005
We offer Financial Panning for Divorce Mediation in Houston TX & the surrounding area:
Take agreement to attorney to draft documents and file.
2. Litigation
Prepare for and attend hearings as necessary for protective orders, Restraining Orders, Temporary Orders on child-related issues, use of house and car, spousal support, and payment of bills.
Prepare and complete discovery (exchange of information) as per Texas Rules of Civil Procedures.
Request for documents, written interrogatories, depositions, subpoena records, request for disclosure, requests for admission and sanctions.
Exchange and file inventories with court.
Negotiate issues and come to agreement or go to mediation.
If no agreement: trial starts 9-12 months after filing.
3. Collaborative Divorce
Sign Participation Agreement
File Notice with court to avoid scheduling order
Set agenda for meetings
Attend joint meetings (with spouses, attorneys, financial and mental health Professionals)
Exchange information cooperatively
Prepare joint inventory
Negotiate issues and agreement
Sometimes go to mediation
4-6 meetings over 5-6 months on average.
If unsuccessful, must retain new attorneys.
4. Early Mediation
Employ Divorce Financial Analyst
Submit financial data
DFA creates settlement scenarios
Mediate with team (can include attorney, DFA, and/or psychologist)
Mental Health Professional helps with communication during mediation, or with career planning and/or parenting plan
Mediated Settlement Agreement provides info for drafting of decree by second attorney who files documents with court after they are signed by parties.
Estimated Time: 60 to 90 days
Attorneys Prepare Documents
Qualified Domestic Relations Order
Warranty Deed and Deed of Trust
Withholding Order for Child Support
Medical Child Support Order
Agreement Incident to Divorce
Other Transfer Documents
Final Decree/Order is signed by Judge and divorcing parties.
There are many issues that women need to be especially attentive to during a divorce. Many women are not familiar with their familiy’s finances and may not be well positioned to deal with financial matters on their own. Credit may be in the name of the husband, so a wife can be in a position where she has no credit rating oin her own name. Bank accounts and the money in them may suddenly become inaccessible. Family income may have been provided solely by the husband and the wife may have been out of the job market for years, or never in it, and may not have curent skills or the ability to provide family support on her own.
If children are involved, it is more common that primary responsibility for their care will reside with the wife. This raises many issues of financial responsibility as well as requirements for sharing decision-naking authority about important health, education, and social issues.
All these are very important matters, and professional assistance in addressing them can be critical to a suitable outcome. Read about the steps to take to prepare for divorce before going any futher. Patricia is qualified and experienced in helping with these things.
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