A Divorce Checklist…all things considered

This should clear up some confusion.

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By Robin Roshkind, Esquire – West Palm Beach, Florida

Divorce and taxes, divorce and health insurance, divorce and the marital home, divorce and credit, divorce and sex, divorce and children, divorce and child support, divorce and the computer, divorce and your cell phone, credit cards, bank accounts…the list can go on and on and on!  There is so much to think about when you decide to divorce that it is overwhelming for the lay person.  So here is my own check list to help you get through it:

  1. Tax ramifications.  Before signing any marital settlement, seek an independent tax advisor.  Most divorce attorneys, myself included, are not tax experts. 
  2. Attorneys fees and costs.  Who is going to pay?
  3. Children’s issues.  These include time sharing, where and with whom the child will live, child support, vacations, travel to and from the other parent, schooling, extracurricular activities, clothing and…

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Does It Matter Who Files For Divorce First?

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by Robin Roshkind, Esquire, West Palm Beach, Florida

Clients who come in to see me for a divorce consultation often ask if there is any advantage to filing for divorce first and before their spouses do.  As far as substantive facts and law, there is no advantage or disadvantage as to whether you are the petitioner, asking for the court to grant a divorce, or the respondent, the spouse who is served with the petition and has to respond.

However, strategically, there is an advantage to being the petitioner and filing for the divorce first.  In terms of going to trial, if you are the petitioner, you get to present your case to the judge first.  You make the first impressions on the judge.  You get to present the facts of the marriage from your perspective first.  You make opening statements and closing arguments first.

The disadvantage of filing for…

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