Lifetime Planning

Patricia Barrett CPA

832-858-0099

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You are here: Home / Archives for Blog

What is an equitable divorce settlement?

January 28, 2019 By Patricia Barrett

What is an equitable divorce settlement?

I am often asked to help divorcing individuals and couples determine how to equitably divide their marital estate. This may seem to be cut-and-dry, but it rarely is. For one, many people believe that the court will automatically divide a couple's assets 50/50 in a divorce. This a myth. The Texas Family Code (the laws on divorce) uses the words “just and right” when dividing community assets … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Blog, Divorce Planning, Divorce Planning, Financial Planning, Financial Planning Articles

Is your spouse hiding assets, income or debt?

January 7, 2019 By Patricia Barrett

Is your spouse hiding assets, income or debt?

I If you are currently in a dysfunctional marriage, or considering divorce, you may be wondering if your spouse could be hiding assets, income or debts from you. Sadly, your fears are not that unusual. In fact, financial mischief is fairly widespread among couples today, even if they are not in the process of divorce.  According to a study conducted by The National Endowment for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Divorce Planning, Divorce Planning, Financial Planning, Women's Issues for Divorce Tagged With: divorce finances, divorce financial planning, divorce in Texas, hidden assets in a divorce

Hiring the right financial expert to help with your divorce

December 14, 2018 By Patricia Barrett

Hiring the right financial expert to help with your divorce

Most couples seeking divorce are aware that they will likely require help from a divorce attorney. Fewer couples realize that as they enter the nuts-and-bolts of the divorce process, they will have many questions about the financial side of divorce. Questions such as: Who will pay for their children’s education and medical treatment?How do we calculate the value our assets?How should we divide … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Blog, Divorce Planning, Financial Planning Tagged With: certified divorce financial analyst, divorce finances, divorce financial planning, divorce in Texas

Five proven benefits of gratitude — even if you are going through divorce

November 21, 2018 By Patricia Barrett

Five proven benefits of gratitude — even if you are going through divorce

Facing difficult life challenges, such as going through a divorce, may not seem like a logical time to be thankful. Yet studies have shown that cultivating gratitude, even when the chips are down, can have profound impact on our health -- for the better. Gratitude improves physical health. A 2012 study published in Personality and Individual Differences found that grateful people exercise … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Divorce Planning, Divorce Planning, Women's Issues for Divorce Tagged With: dealing with divorce, divorce in Texas, Divorce Planning, handling stress of divorce, preparing for divorce

Dividing pensions in a divorce may require special financial assistance

November 9, 2018 By Patricia Barrett

Dividing pensions in a divorce may require special financial assistance

If you and your spouse are considering, or are in the process of divorce, and one or both of you has a corporate or civil service pension, know that all pensions are not created equal. This fact is extremely important to understand as you proceed toward an equitable division of your marital estate. In dividing pension benefits in a divorce, your attorney will be required to create a QDRO … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Divorce Planning, Divorce Planning, Financial Planning, Financial Planning Articles Tagged With: certified divorce financial analyst, dividing pensions in divorce, divorce finances, divorce financial planning, divorce in Texas, preparing for divorce

Inside a non-litigation divorce process

October 5, 2018 By Patricia Barrett

Inside a non-litigation divorce process

In the past, divorce processes have been primarily adversarial in nature. In a typical divorce scenario, spouses each hire an attorney, and then a variety of expert consultants who advise them on finances and custody plans. This type of divorce can go on for many months or even years, driving up fees and increasing a couple's stress levels, anxiety and animosity. Children can get caught in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Blog, children and divorce, Collaborative Divorce in Texas, Divorce Mediation, Divorce Planning, Divorce Planning, Financial Planning Tagged With: certified divorce financial analyst, early intervention mediation, mediation, non-litigated divorce, Texas divorce

Don’t forget these marital assets in your divorce

September 11, 2018 By Patricia Barrett

Don’t forget these marital assets in your divorce

Often, many of the women I work with on their divorce finances know very little, sometimes nothing, about their marital assets (or liabilities for that matter). This is gradually changing, but surprisingly, still exists. Maybe the husband has simply kept the information largely to himself, or the wife doesn't feel she understands finances like she should, so leaves it up to her spouse, or she … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Blog, Divorce Planning, Divorce Planning, Financial Planning, Financial Planning Articles, Women's Issues for Divorce Tagged With: certified divorce financial analyst, dividing pensions in divorce, divorce finances, divorce financial planning, Divorce Planning, preparing for divorce, Texas divorce

Divorce and employer bonuses

August 20, 2018 By Patricia Barrett

Divorce and employer bonuses

An often overlooked asset that should be legally divided in a divorce settlement is the company or employer bonus. Many attorneys forget to address the community nature of such bonuses. Even if they are paid in the year following divorce, company bonuses are partially community property. Bonuses are paid for the preceding year’s services or performance. The settlement agreement or divorce … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Blog, Divorce Planning, Divorce Planning, Estate Planning, Financial Planning, Financial Planning Articles, Women's Issues for Divorce Tagged With: certified divorce financial analyst, divorce finances, divorce financial planning, divorce in Texas, Divorce Planning, employer bonuses and divorce

Preparing financially for divorce will help avoid costly pitfalls

August 8, 2018 By Patricia Barrett

Preparing financially for divorce will help avoid costly pitfalls

Doing your financial homework before you file for divorce can help you avoid a host of potentially costly pitfalls. Learn all you can about the divorce laws in your state and consider engaging a team of experts to get you through. The timing your divorce may also play a role in the financial outcome of your divorce. Meeting with a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, such as myself, also can … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Blog, Divorce Planning, Divorce Planning, Financial Planning, Financial Planning Articles, Uncategorized Tagged With: dividing pensions in divorce, divorce and insurance, divorce and retirement, divorce and tax laws, divorce finances, divorce financial planning, divorce in Texas

The special needs child and divorce

July 18, 2018 By Patricia Barrett

The special needs child and divorce

While all children need the continued support and care of parents, children with special needs require unique consideration during and after a divorce. The financial support allotted to a child post-divorce is usually determined according to  the family code of each state. Such support for a special needs child can be adjusted based on the unique needs of the child in question. Adjustments … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Blog, children and divorce, Divorce Planning, Divorce Planning, Financial Planning Articles Tagged With: certified divorce financial analyst, children and divorce, children and divorce in Texas, divorce financial planning, Texas divorce, Texas divorce law

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From Our Blog

Looking for clues of bad behavior during divorce (part two)

In part one of our blog post with this headline, we discussed a variety of red flags to look for during the divorce process that may indicate a spouse is behaving badly. We also offered tips to better … [Read More...]

Lifetime Planning, LLC

10777 Westheimer, Suite 1100
Houston, Texas 77042
Phone: 832-858-0099

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Disclaimer

Information provided in this website is not meant to be construed as legal advice and does not necessarily predict decisions that will eventually be made by a court of law. It is strongly recommended that you consult competent legal advice if your divorce includes children or property issues.

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