It seems like every time we come across one of these celebrity divorce stories, it's filled with extreme circumstances and unrealistic drama. Certainly, the paparazzi and our national obsession with celebrity news only adds fuel to the drama fire -- but it also highlights the tumultuous nature of traditional divorce filings. The dollar figures in celebrity divorce may not be the same as the financial situations of many divorcing Pennsylvania couples; but the disputes and issues, at their basest level, are often relatable and only stress the benefits of getting a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce.
]]> For Suvari, the newest drama in her divorce comes from her ex-husband Simone Sestito, who has filed a motion to get $17,000 per month from Suvari in the form of spousal support. Suvari is working to have the request denied, and she may be spared, considering the grounds on which Sestito is requesting the incredible monthly maintenance: he says he has developed a $3,000 per month habit of eating at fancy restaurants, a habit developed during his 18-month marriage to Suvari.Whether the reason is legitimate or not, the fact that Suvari and Sestito are going to spend many hours -- if not days -- in court fighting over Sestito's apparent addiction to expensive restaurants is all you need to know about traditional and tumultuous divorce filings. A simple, uncontested no-fault divorce can be a more amicable, time-saving way for you and your significant other to separate.
Source: Huffington Post, "Mena Suvari Divorce: Ex Requests $17,000 A Month In Spousal Support," May 14, 2012
]]>Now, this is an extreme example of a marital asset -- the value of the ring reaches a level that few Pennsylvania residents can relate to. This dispute merely shows that material items can become divisive topics during a divorce; so divisive that hours upon hours have to be spent in court to determine the rightful owner. Isn't it more efficient, effective and inexpensive to seek a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce, allowing you to determine the ownership of these assets on your own and out of court?
]]> Legally, the ring is a gift of marriage that Humphries gave to Kardashian. The gift becomes "completed" when the marriage takes place, so it would seem Humphries has a large evidentiary threshold to cross before he can prove the engagement ring belongs to him. It could take a lot of time for his legal team to put together the necessary evidence to present in court -- and all those hours mean dollar signs for his attorneys.Thankfully, Pennsylvania residents can go about their separations in a more sensible and cost-effective manner. A simple, uncontested no-fault divorce is a solution to a couple's marital problems, affording them the chance to amicably settle on the matters in their divorce on their own terms. Remember this when you and your spouse discuss dividing up the items accumulated during your time together: Who paid for what virtually never matters, and those items are valued at what they are worth now, not what it would cost to buy new ones. Keeping these two facts in mind will make dividing up your personal property much easier...and the legal fees to fight for them would likely greatly exceed their value. Source: Huffington Post, "Kim Kardashian Divorce: Kris Humphries Wants Engagement Ring Back," May 8, 2012
]]>As his very bitter divorce from his ex-wife, Pilar Sanders, becomes increasingly public, Deion is probably wishing there was another -- and less litigious -- way to get through his split.
]]> Sometimes it isn't possible for both parties in a divorce to act in a civil manner toward each other. The emotional aspects involved in divorce can often turn into anger and resentment of an ex-spouse, especially when going about a traditional filing that can drag both spouses through the quagmire that is a courtroom visit.But, when a married couple is amicable during their split, they can seek a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce to help reduce the financial and emotional toll of divorce. Solving their issues on their own terms and in a collaborative way, those who get such a no-fault divorce can lead a happier post-divorce life free of the stresses often attributed to divorce.
For Deion, it would mean fewer arguments with his wife and less public embarrassment. He posted a photo on Twitter last month that showed him and his sons filing a police report against his ex-wife for an alleged assault. Around the same time, Pilar Sanders sued Deion for defamation to the tune of $200 million because Deion's daughter described her using an expletive on the same social media platform.
Not only are their kids being dragged into a contentious divorce, Deion and Pilar are seemingly abusing each other (either physically or emotionally) and suing each other, causing an untold amount of stress and worry on everyone involved. And it's all happening in the public's eye.
There's another way to go through divorce, one that the man known as "Prime Time" would surely prefer at this point: a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce.
Source: Yahoo! Sports, "Deion Sanders posted a picture of his sons filing out a police report against their mother," Chris Chase, April 23, 2012
]]>In many respects, though, divorce is not a problem at all. In fact, for many married couples whose relationship has deteriorated, divorce is a solution. Divorce allows them to close a chapter of their lives that likely caused them pain and stress, ultimately empowering them to move on to greener pastures. And one effective solution to any Pennsylvania resident's marital problems is a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce.
]]> Not only can this type of divorce save you time and energy -- while sparing you some of the stress associated with divorce -- but a no-fault divorce can be drastically cheaper than other forms of separating.When a couple is more civil toward each other as they end their marriage, which is the perfect situation for a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce, high legal fees, court apperances, anger and endless delays will not be issues.
Instead of bringing a variety of expensive professionals on board to solve their problems, though, couples seeking an uncontested no-fault divorce resolve their issues on their own before completing the filing. Such agreement helps both parties in the divorce adapt to their new lives more readily -- and it provides them with a tailored solution to their relationship problems.
]]>Other Pennsylvania residents who are ready to split from their spouses seek a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce and rarely have to worry about stepping foot in a courtroom.
]]> Since the amicable and collaborative process that leads up to a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce allows the splitting couple to figure out the specific issues of their divorce on their own, they can obtain a divorce without the often cumbersome and one-size-fits-all judgments that are handed down in court.There are a number of positive side effects from working things out with your spouse in advance on your terms -- not a judge's. Obviously, it saves you money on often-overpriced lawyers; and it also saves you time and energy spent in court.
But coming to a personalized agreement with your spouse can give you a sense of closure, leaving with you divorce terms you can live with and bolstering the amicable post-divorce relationship you hope to enjoy with your former spouse. This happiness can trickle down to your children -- without the fights between exes that can typically result after a traditional divorce, your children are spared such a divisive atmosphere and can be happier after a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce.
Source: Huffington Post, "How To Divorce: How Can I Win In Divorce Court?," April 30, 2012
]]>But even with the legal fees and disputes in court weighing down your wallet in a contentious divorce, some Pennsylvania residents wouldn't expect their spouse's debt -- over the course of their marriage, or even after it is over -- to be their responsibility. This can be avoided by going through a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce, which allows a splitting couple to work out their financial issues on their own and to resolve their debt in a collaborative way.
]]> There are still hidden ways in which a former spouse's debt may become your financial nightmare. For example, if you and your spouse had opened a joint bank account together, your ex could overdraw the account or increase the limit on it without communicating with you. Now, if the two of you were friendly, this might not be an issue -- but it is not unheard of when angry couples split.Joint debt agreements can be signed by a couple expecting to clear their outstanding debt in a timely and collaborative way. However, say your former spouse gets laid off or is injured and cannot work. Would you be able to deal with the debt on your own? In a traditional divorce, you alone could be saddled with the joint debt when you were expecting two people to be doing the financial lifting. That said, whether your agreement to split up your debts is on a handshake, is something the two of you write down or an agreement prepared by an attorney, if one of you fails to pay a debt you agreed to pay, no agreement can prevent the creditor from seeking payment from either or both of you for a debt which is in both of your names. The agreement simply gives one party the right to sue the other for failure to pay as agreed, an expensive, time-consuming and usually futile process. Interestingly, when a debt from the marriage shows only one party's name on the application for credit, such as a credit card in only one name, even though it is likely both parties used and/or benefited from that card and the law allows the creditor to sue both, very few will do so.
After a divorce, debt from your marriage can bite back -- but what's worse is having your divorce put you in debt. The best preventative measure you can take to keep your pockets safe through the split is by seeking a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce.
Source: AOL, "You could end up with debt that isn't even yours!," April 26, 2012
]]>Keeping your legal expenditures low is one of the easiest ways to financially survive your divorce, and one of the best ways to do that is to seek a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce. No two divorces are the same, but if you and your soon-to-be-former spouse approach the situation amicably, you can come to an agreement on the unique matters in your divorce without messy legal fees complicating the process.
]]> There are some other ways to financially help yourself through divorce, no matter what type of filing you seek. Maintaining your bill schedule and paying on time is a simple step divorcing couples can take to protect their credit scores. Along the same line, resist the urge to charge everything to your credit card. Your maxed-out balance (and impending debt from purchases and interest) could impact your credit history.Ultimately, settling the process through a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce is a great way to save some cash and alleviate stress. You and your spouse can move on knowing that the financial situation of your post-marriage lives has been settled on your own terms.
Source: Huffington Post, "Top 5 Ways to Ensure Financial Security During your Divorce," Brendan Lyle, April 23, 2012
]]>These extended bouts in court cost parents thousands of dollars and sometimes their actions can be less than mature -- actions that not only stray from the lessons a parent would want to teach a child -- but are also a rare occurrence for amicable divorced couples who went through a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce.
]]> In Texas, a woman -- whose apparent occupation is as a private investigator -- attached a miniature recording device to her son's pants so that she could spy on her ex-husband. The once-married couple is going through a child custody dispute over their 9-year-old son, and this woman may have thought that getting a little dirt on her ex-husband would help her case.The ex-husband filed suit, seeking $10,000 in damages because the woman broke federal wiretapping laws, invaded his privacy and caused him emotional distress. There will be more days in court for the exes, all because their contentious and bitter divorce drove one of them to act in an extreme and illegal manner.
It is no secret that divorce may be a painful and emotional experience, no matter how you go about your filing. But, a simple uncontested no-fault divorce allows a splitting couple to establish their own personalized agreement, typically not even in writing, on some of the other issues (such as property, assets and, yes, child custody), minimizing the emotional toll that can result from traditional (and often bitter) divorce filings.
Source: Houston Chronicle, "Pasadena man's lawsuit claims ex-wife planted recorder on son," Mike Tolson, April 18, 2012
]]>Pennsylvania does not have "virtual visitation" laws, and they are rare -- only six states currently have "virtual" or "electronic" visitation laws. While the intentions of the laws are good, "virtual visitation" is established in divorces where the courts rather than the spouses determine custody rights and guidelines -- in other words, the spouse are unable to establish a parental agreement similar to those arrived at by who seek a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce, which allows the parents to reach their own personalized guidelines.
]]> In many cases, "virtual visitation" is a necessary part of a divorce settlement. It allows a parent to move away to pursue a new career; it gives the child the ability to move as well, given the right circumstances. Should either situation arise, having the ability to electronically communicate with and actually to see your son or daughter, even though they may be thousands of miles away, is nice.A simple, uncontested no-fault divorce does not necessarily prevent a former spouse or child from moving away; but the amicable nature of such a divorce promotes collaboration between former spouses and can allow a mother or father to enjoy more time with children (in person) than a traditional divorce (with or without "virtual visitation").
Source: Washington Times, "Virtual visitation: a sensible child custody option," Myra Fleischer, April 15, 2012
]]>A Pennsylvania judge recently granted a plaintiff access to the defendant's Facebook account for one week. The defendant allegedly punched the plaintiff, and the latter filed a civil suit over the incident. In an effort to improve his case, the plaintiff made a motion for Facebook access. So what does this have to do with divorce?
]]> It is the precedent set by rulings such as these and the increasing presence of social media evidence (which we touched on earlier this year) that matters to divorcing couples. A jilted spouse may vent on Facebook his or her feelings about the split or complain in it about their lengthy proceedings in divorce court.The ruling in this punching incident establishes that anybody who uses social media to publically broadcast feelings about impending litigation can have those feelings used against him or her in court.
Though it is always a good idea to change your password for your computer and for any other electronic device after a divorce, many Pennsylvania couples are free of that worry. By amicably approaching the split and settling on the issues of divorce beforehand, a couple can obtain a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce. Those who go that route have no reason to comb through old Facebook posts in an effort to pursue more painful and drawn-out litigation against a spouse.
Source: Above The Law, "Pennsylvania Judge Allows Facebook Fishing in Sucker Punch Lawsuit," Christopher Danzig, April 9, 2012
]]>The tone of their statement seemed to indicate they were seeking an uncontested divorce, as they had the best intentions of their children in mind. An uncontested divorce can be a simple way for couples to split, a process that spares the ex-spouses extended periods in court. In addition, an uncontested divorce can help a couple avoid much of the heartache sometimes attributed to divorce, such as disputes over child custody, property and assets.
]]> Despite their collaborative and seemingly cordial statement, things appear to be turning south in the Klum-Seal divorce. The split was made official on Friday, when Klum filed divorce paperwork in a Los Angeles court, citing "irreconcilable differences" with Seal. But the issues between them seem to be more divisive than they let on. Klum wants primary physical custody over their children (which would grant Seal only visitation rights) and has requested that the judge deny any appeal for spousal support by Seal.Those are serious issues that this divorcing couple has to deal with -- issues that can cause a lot of controversy and require many hours in court and thousands of dollars in legal fees when they cannot agree to terms in an uncontested divorce.
Source: Huffington Post, "Heidi Klum Divorce: Model Files To Divorce Seal," April 6, 2012
]]>In 1980, Pennsylvania adopted new divorce laws that allowed state residents to seek the split in a more agreeable and less stressful manner. The law affords people the chance to file for a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce that can spare them the anxious and acrimonious feelings that could otherwise occur during a drawn-out court battle, while also lightening the financial burden of the divorce process.
]]> Many states have adopted such no-fault divorce laws since. New York was the last of the fifty states, enacting no-fault divorce in 2010 -- but that was only one part of a massive change to their family law system. New York also enacted a mathematical formula to determine alimony payments, the idea being that rulings on that issue would become more streamlined and consistent.That certainly didn't happen in March 2011, when a judge ruled that a man had to give his ex-wife $17,000 a month in alimony, which is considered one of the first cases to use the formula. There was just one problem with that ruling: the man only made $12,775 a month. The judge had to revisit his ruling and dramatically cut the alimony installments.
The couple involved in this flawed verdict has since been embroiled in other divorce disputes and appeals involving property and their three children. Speaking about these new divorce laws, one New York attorney was critical of the application. "All of the courts are struggling with it," he said. The ex-wife also bemoaned the added litigation she has to deal with in her ongoing divorce.
"They never should have put it into effect until they knew what they were doing," she said.
Source: Wall Street Journal, "Divorce Ruling Revised," Sophia Hollander, Apr. 1, 2012
]]>This leads to anger and resentment -- part toward the former partner, part toward the circumstances of the divorce -- and can create more litigation in the future. Some Pennsylvania couples still go with this conventional route; others choose a more stress-free approach, mutually agreeing to a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce.
]]> One of the great benefits of such a divorce is the financial savings. Conventional divorces can lead to long, drawn-out battles in court, which almost always result in sky-high legal fees. In a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce, the spouses agree on the issues involved in the divorce before hand -- such as how to deal with child custody arrangements, property and assets -- saving them time and money.Another way to process a divorce is through mediation. In mediation, the spouses meet and discuss the issues involved in their divorce until they reach a middle ground. A new study finds that mediation, combined with parent and support counseling, can reduce the amount of litigation involved in a divorce. But mediation is not free. Indeed, it can cost more than the divorce itself. However, if the couple comes to issues they cannot agree upon, mediation, used together with the simple, uncontested no-fault divorce, would still be far less costly than a conventional divorce. Obviously, resolving the issues themselves is the least expensive and quickest road to their new lives.
Source: Huffington Post, "How To Prevent Litigation In Divorce Disputes," Robert Hughes Jr., Mar. 27, 2012
]]>But you and your spouse have no ill-will toward each other. In fact, the two of you approach the split in an amicable fashion. You both realize that no one person or reason caused the divorce -- it was simply a case of your lives going in different directions. This is the reality for many Pennsylvania couples: an amicable split is possible for them because they decided to obtain a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce.
]]> If you and your spouse are considering a divorce, it can be your reality too. Not only does such a simple and amicable divorce eliminate a lot of the stress frequently involved in the process, but it is also a financially-savvy move, saving you time and money on court visits and legal fees. More importantly, a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce can be easier on your child."There's always been a lot of research saying that arguing, conflict, isn't good for the children -- in the last few years it has exploded," said one family law professional. When a couple agrees to split amicably, it affords them a platform to communicate openly and to collaborate on issues pertaining to their child after the divorce. That helps their son or daughter to adjust more easily to post-divorce life, while still preserving some of their family's dynamic.
Source: News.com.au, "You can have a friendly divorce," Callie Watson, Mar. 26, 2012
]]>Other Pennsylvania residents, though, are seeking an amicable split. Instead of the expensive and often drawn-out nature of traditional filings, many splitting couples choose a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce to spare themselves (and their children) the stress usually associated with a contentious and disputed divorce.
]]> Joint custody following a divorce is a great thing for everyone involved; it allows the child to build a relationship with both of his or her parents, and while affording the same to the parents, it also spares them a divisive issue that can ruin their post-divorce relationship.Still, there are things that should be addressed by both parents to assure their child stays on course academically following a divorce. One tendency a divorced parent may have is to use time with their son or daughter to play. While this certainly is an important part of parenting, it is equally important that schoolwork is emphasized as well. Attempting to be the "fun parent" in a divorce and allowing your child to play all the time does not help with their studies. Such parenting is clearly selfish and not at all helpful to the child's future.
Another post-divorce way to help your child with academics is to organize a homework plan with your ex-spouse. This will give the child structure, a needed element following a divorce, and the collaborative efforts between you and your ex-spouse can foster a good environment for your child to thrive in.
These are family issues that many divorcing couples have to go through -- but the fact is that a simple, uncontested no-fault divorce saves time, money and worry. That time and money can be spent with and on your child, improving his or her adjustment to a new life.
Source: East Haddam Patch, "The Impact of Divorce on Academics," Susan Schaefer, Mar. 24, 2012
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