Blogs from November, 2024

Divorce is life-changing — and the emotional toll it takes on you can be significant. You may be feeling a variety of emotions, including anger, sadness, grief, guilt, and confusion. While your divorce attorney can help to guide you through the legal proceedings associated with parting ways with your spouse, you may find it helpful to have a safe place to process your emotions. Therapy for divorce can provide the emotional support you need as you work to rebuild your life.

How Can Therapy Help with Divorce?

Therapy for divorce can make the entire process go much more smoothly. Whether you are uncertain whether you want to file for divorce or you are having difficulty dealing with the emotional impact, working with a therapist can help you understand your emotions. A divorce therapist can also provide you with the tools you need to move forward in a healthy manner.

Although divorce is a legal process, emotions may cloud a spouse’s judgment. In many instances, therapy for divorce can help you make better decisions regarding your legal case. By processing your emotions and managing your stress, you will be better able to compartmentalize your emotional reactions.

Significantly, divorce therapy may also save you time and money that might otherwise be spent on your case. While any divorce attorney should be concerned about the emotional toll your divorce may take, the cost of venting to a divorce attorney is often more than what a licensed therapist or social worker may charge. Moreover, therapy for divorce might even be covered by your health insurance. It’s important to keep in mind that attorneys are licensed to provide legal advice, protect your rights, and ensure a fair division of property. Although your attorney might be an empathetic and compassionate listener, attorneys are not professionally trained to help you address the psychological aspects of divorce.

Benefits of Therapy During and After Divorce

Going through a divorce is always emotionally difficult. However, there can be a variety of benefits when it comes to therapy for divorce, and the benefits may extend beyond the divorce process. Therapy during and after divorce can improve your mental health, strengthen your emotional well-being, and enhance self-growth.

What happens in divorce therapy will depend upon your specific situation and the approach your therapist takes. Specifically, a divorce therapist can help you with:

• Keeping your emotions in check — Divorce can be emotionally overwhelming. Therapy for divorce can allow you to feel heard and identify triggers so that you are better able to keep your emotions in check during your case and after the legal proceedings have concluded.
• Learning coping mechanisms — In divorce therapy, you can explore your feelings and learn coping mechanisms to manage them, such as mindfulness practices and relaxation techniques.
• Developing techniques for effective co-parenting — Communicating with a co-parent can be difficult, even if you are amicable. A therapist can teach you effective strategies to communicate in a healthy manner, maintain open lines of communication, focus on the issue at hand, and compromise when necessary.
• Prioritizing your child’s needs — Divorce therapy can help you prioritize your child’s needs and reduce the emotional impact of your divorce on them. A therapist can assist you with establishing consistency for your children.
• Healing from the emotional wounds of your divorce — The emotions you feel after divorce are complex. With therapy for divorce, you can gain the tools you need to heal from the trauma and emotional scars you have experienced. Therapy can empower you, rebuild your self-esteem, and provide you with a clear sense of identity.

The tools you acquire in therapy for divorce can be utilized for years to come. In addition, by understanding the dynamics and patterns in your partnership with your spouse, you will gain self-awareness and be able to make healthier decisions in new relationships.

Types of Therapy for Divorce

Going through a divorce is always emotionally challenging. However, therapy during and after divorce can offer significant benefits, often extending well beyond the divorce process. If you’re finding it difficult to cope with the emotional toll of divorce, therapy can provide the support you need to process your feelings, rebuild your life, and move forward with confidence.

There are several different types of therapy for divorce, depending on your specific needs and objectives. With individual therapy, you work directly with a therapist to address the emotional challenges you are facing in connection with your divorce. This is a one-on-one approach that can allow you to explore your fears, express your concerns, and process your emotions.

Couples therapy may be another option to help you navigate the emotions of divorce. Not only can it help spouses address their feelings, but it can teach them how to communicate respectfully and effectively — this is crucial if you will be co-parenting. It can also reduce stress and minimize conflict during the legal process for divorce and set boundaries for the future.

Another type of therapy is cognitive-behavioral therapy. This technique can also be used in individual or couples therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps you identify and change negative thought patterns that you experience in response to divorce by replacing them with healthier perspectives. It can address habits that can be self-destructive during the divorce process — as well as those that can inhibit you from moving forward in the future.

Contact an Experienced Maryland Divorce and Family Law Attorney

During and after divorce, it’s important to have both the emotional and legal support you need as you open up the new chapter of your life. At the Law Office of Shelly M. Ingram, our Fulton, Maryland divorce attorneys are committed to providing you with reliable legal services for a wide variety of divorce and family law matters, including those involving prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. Trained in collaborative divorce, mediation, and traditional divorce litigation strategies, we work closely with our clients to achieve a positive outcome in every case.

To schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced Maple Lawn divorce attorney, call us at (240) 652-2596">(240) 652-2596 or contact us online.

Most people are familiar with prenuptial agreements and how they function. However, it’s important to understand that if you and your spouse did not sign a prenup before you were married, you still have the opportunity to enter into a postnuptial agreement. These contracts can be signed at any point during your marriage and can address a wide range of financial issues — as well as protect your economic interests in the event of divorce.

Here are seven reasons you should consider a postnuptial agreement:

1. You Would Like to Clarify Financial Expectations

A postnuptial agreement has a significant advantage over prenuptial agreements — these contracts can be entered into at a time when spouses have more knowledge regarding their marital finances. They may be better informed about their financial needs than they were prior to the marriage. Importantly, a postnuptial agreement can be used to help spouses clarify financial expectations and reduce misunderstandings by encouraging them to have an open and honest discussion about money and property matters.

2. You Have Received an Inheritance

If you have received a large, unexpected inheritance, it’s vital to take the necessary measures to protect it. While inheritances are treated as separate property in Maryland, they can sometimes become commingled with marital property — this can complicate asset division in cases where a couple parts ways. An inheritance can be included in a postnuptial agreement to ensure that it remains the property of the spouse to whom it was bequeathed.

3. You Have Brought Significant Assets into the Marriage

If you entered into the marriage with significant assets or acquired them during the marriage, a postnuptial agreement can help to protect your wealth in the event of divorce. This would ensure that spouses part ways while keeping the individual wealth they have accumulated intact.

There are numerous reasons to consider a postnuptial agreement, from asset protection to business interests and financial security. A knowledgeable attorney at the Law Office of Shelly M. Ingram can draft, review, and negotiate a solid postnuptial agreement to ensure your interests are safeguarded in case of separation.

A postnup can address a wide range of assets and property, including but not limited to the following:

• Real estate
• Investment properties
• Investment portfolios
• Retirement funds
• Personal property
• Vehicles
• Artwork
• Jewelry
• Family heirlooms

A postnuptial agreement can also address many other financial matters, such as how debts accumulated during the marriage would be handled, whether spousal support would be issued in the event of divorce, how certain properties would be managed, and who would be responsible for attorneys’ fees in divorce.

4. You Own a Business

If a spouse owns a business, dividing it in divorce can be one of the most contentious issues you may face during legal proceedings — especially if the business grew substantially during the marriage. Significantly, a postnuptial agreement can protect business interests by:

• Classifying business assets as separate property that remains with the original owner after divorce
• Preventing disruption to your business after divorce
• Specifying how the business will be managed
• Protecting the interests of business partners
• Outlining each spouse’s financial responsibility and obligations toward the business
• Reducing the potential for lengthy and costly litigation

With a solid postnup in place, you can continue to focus on your company’s growth and operations without concern that divorce proceedings could interfere. In addition, it can also show lenders that your company is a stable investment.

5. You Would Like to Financially Protect Children from a Prior Marriage

If you have children from a previous marriage, a postnuptial agreement can be used in connection with your estate plan to ensure your children are provided for. By specifying which assets are considered separate property and how they should be distributed in the event of divorce or death, the assets can be safeguarded for your children. The agreement can address things such as money, inheritances, financial accounts, family heirlooms, and other assets that you would like passed down to your children.

6. There are Unexpected Financial Imbalances in the Marriage

Not all financial issues in a marriage can be addressed in a prenuptial agreement. In some cases, there may be unanticipated events or unexpected financial imbalances that arise during the course of a marriage. For example, if one spouse takes on homemaking or child-rearing responsibilities while the other spouse seeks employment outside the house, the financially dependent spouse might want to seek assurance by addressing alimony issues in a postnuptial agreement.

7. You Did Not Enter into a Prenuptial Agreement

If you didn’t enter into a prenuptial agreement before you were married — or did and financial circumstances have changed — a postnuptial agreement can be used to protect your interests. In the event divorce is imminent, a postnuptial agreement can safeguard your separate property, establish the division of assets without judicial intervention, and help spouses avoid litigation.

Contact an Experienced Maryland Divorce and Family Law Attorney

There can be a wide range of reasons to enter into a postnuptial agreement. A skillful attorney can draft, review, and negotiate a postnuptial agreement that will be legally sound if you and your spouse choose to part ways. At the Law Office of Shelly M. Ingram, our Fulton, Maryland divorce attorneys are committed to providing you with high-quality legal services for a wide variety of divorce and family law matters, including those involving prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. Trained in collaborative divorce, mediation, and traditional divorce litigation strategies, we will help you achieve a positive outcome for your specific situation.

To schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced Maple Lawn divorce attorney, call us at (240) 652-2596">(240) 652-2596 or contact us online.

Even if a couple agrees to part ways, divorce can be overwhelming. There are many issues that must be determined before a judge will sign the final divorce decree, including those involving finances and asset division. One of the ways spouses can reduce the emotional stress and financial burden of the division of property in divorce is by using the collaborative divorce process.

In Part 1 of this blog series, we discussed the collaborative process as an alternative to litigation in the courtroom — and how it works. In Part 2, we will cover how this form of alternative dispute resolution can be used to address financial matters and divide property.

Understanding the Role of a Financial Neutral in Collaborative Divorce

Division of property and assets is one of the most contentious — and complex — issues couples face in divorce. Dividing assets may have tax implications, and certain types of property might need to be appraised to ensure it is valued correctly. There may also be business interests at stake, real estate to divide, and property that must be traced. When spouses use the collaborative divorce process, financial experts can be brought in as part of the collaborative team to help ensure both parties receive a fair distribution of marital property.

Depending on the issues in the case, a variety of financial neutrals can play a critical role in helping spouses reach an equitable outcome. A collaborative team may include the following financial neutrals:

• Appraisers — An appraiser can provide a professional opinion concerning the value of a property. This is critical when it comes to determining how each asset should be divided.
• Financial advisor — A financial advisor can offer guidance regarding asset division during divorce and help the spouses create post-divorce budgets.
• Accountant — An accountant can explain the tax implications of property division and suggest ways to split assets that will reduce the tax consequences.
• Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) — A CDFA has special training to help spouses navigate the complexities of addressing financial matters during divorce. They can assist with asset valuation, equitable distribution, and financial planning after the divorce has been finalized.

It’s important to understand that financial neutrals in a collaborative divorce work for both parties. They do not act as either spouse’s representative or take sides. They also cannot have worked for either party in the past. Ultimately, their role is to guide the parties in considering their options and reaching an agreement without controlling the outcome or rendering any decisions.

Key Considerations When Dividing Assets in Collaborative Divorce

Collaborative divorce offers a cost-effective, confidential approach to property division, reducing emotional and financial stress for both parties. Learn how it can make the divorce process smoother with tailored guidance from the Law Office of Shelly M. Ingram.

There are many complex assets that can come into play in a divorce. Significantly, the key to successful division of property in a collaborative divorce is open communication between spouses. The goal is not to “win,” but to reach a satisfactory outcome for both spouses.

The collaborative process can help ensure that certain types of property with unique considerations are handled in a way the spouses deem fair. For example, spouses who own a business together can work with financial neutrals to determine its value and the best course of action to take. Similarly, if spouses own real estate together, a financial neutral can guide them to reach a decision concerning what they will do with the property. Through open and honest discussion, spouses can also reach an amicable resolution to the issue of the division of retirement accounts and pension plans that are considered marital property.

Notably, spouses often reach creative solutions with the help of financial neutrals for property division matters that would not otherwise be achieved in litigation.

How is Property Divided in Collaborative Divorce?

After all assets have been identified and valued, and tax implications have been considered, the spouses can negotiate a settlement. When the collaborative divorce process is used, the parties will work together and compromise to find a solution that meets their objectives. Each spouse should create a list of assets that they consider a priority to have a starting point for negotiations. Spouses might also consider trading assets — in these instances, the parties would negotiate a settlement where one party keeps assets that are important to them, while trading property that is of a similar value.

Other options spouses may consider when it comes to the division of property in a collaborative divorce can include selling or co-owning certain assets. If an asset cannot be physically divided and the parties agree, it may be possible to sell it and divide the proceeds between them. In other cases, such as those involving investment properties or vacation homes, spouses might agree that each party should retain a percentage of the asset.

Once the issue of property division has been settled, a formal agreement outlining the terms of the division of property (and all other matters that were determined during the collaborative process) must be signed by both parties and submitted to the judge. Once the judge signs this document, it becomes a binding order that both parties must follow.

Learn More About the Division of Property Using the Collaborative Divorce Process

The collaborative divorce process has many benefits, including confidentiality, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency. If you would like to learn more about using the collaborative divorce process and how it can be helpful to divide your marital property, a knowledgeable divorce attorney can discuss whether it is right for your specific case. At the Law Office of Shelly M. Ingram, our Fulton, Maryland divorce lawyers are dedicated to helping clients find tailored solutions for their specific situations.

Contact Us for a Consultation

Trained in collaborative divorce, mediation, and traditional divorce litigation strategies, at the Law Office of Shelly M. Ingram, we will help you reach an amicable resolution to your divorce matter. To schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced Maple Lawn divorce attorney, call us at (240) 652-2596">(240) 652-2596 or contact us online.