Portage County Ohio Law Blog

Family lawyers often see a rise in business by about one-third at the beginning of the year. Many unhappy couples in Ohio and across the nation want a fresh start on their lives, especially after going through a stressful holiday season.

Divorce proceedings often involve a lot of emotional wreckage and nasty legal fights. However, some relatively modern laws are making divorce easier and bringing financial benefits. In states that allow no-fault divorces, more women are finding ways to bring income that they have control over into the home. This means that they have the ability to increase their economic clout in their partnership. One statistic revealed that couples are 8% more likely to have both individuals working full time outside of the home in no-fault divorce states.

Women in Ohio and across the country often experience stress that comes from finances after a divorce. While men definitely face challenges after a divorce, it is more likely that women will experience serious financial problems. Reports have shown that a woman's income is likely to decrease and that women are more likely to live below the poverty line than men after a divorce. Additionally, women are more likely to be awarded child custody than men.

There are practical steps that women can take in order to deal with the challenges that are related to finances after a divorce. In the time that a woman is contemplating divorce, she needs to get a realistic idea of where her finances sit. She should have access to and be familiar with bank accounts, property titles, retirement savings and other assets. She should also educate herself on taxes and insurance in order to see how she will be affected after a divorce. Some women have also found that putting away some money to be used for the divorce is helpful, even though this will need to be disclosed during the divorce proceedings.

Most Ohio parents want what is best for their children. This means that after a couple has gone through a divorce, they will need to work closely with each other to take care of their children's needs despite living in different households and having personal disagreements. Unfortunately, some individuals are dealing with a toxic ex-spouse. The following tips can help these individuals maintain their sanity despite all of the drama.

When working with a toxic or difficult ex-spouse, it is necessary to recognize an unhealthy dynamic. There may be certain topics that can cause an ex-spouse to go from zero to 90 in just a moment, or there may be fears that get triggered when certain subjects are brought up. In order to avoid arguments or manipulation, parents should steer clear of these subjects. This is much more empowering and helps a person focus on actually parenting their children as opposed to just making it through a conversation with a difficult person.

Some Ohio couples are talking about using a strategic divorce in order to help them save money on taxes. This is something that could be helpful to couples who are high earners, considering the way the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that went into effect in 2018 subjects them to higher taxes when they file together.

This is not the only way that a strategic divorce can be used to help some couples save money. Another way a strategic divorce can help couples is to help one qualify for Medicaid if they need nursing home care. The other option would possibly be to exhaust their savings and other assets in order to pay for the care on their own.