Synopses & Reviews
The inside scoop
for when you want more than the official line! One of the toughest situations you'll ever faceyour divorceis before you, and your whole future will be affected by the decisions you make right now. But with so many issues to handlefrom legal to financial to emotional onesyou find it difficult to get your priorities in line, avoid pitfalls, keep your life on track, and settle the divorce quickly and amicably without getting ripped off. You want the inside scoop. The Unofficial Guide to Divorce gives savvy consumers like you a foolproof appraisal of everything you need to know to start over, with unbiased recommendations that are not influenced by any company, product, or organization. This book, like every Unofficial Guide, is intensively inspected by the Unofficial Panel of Experts, a team of top legal and counseling professionals. They ensure that you are armed with the most up-to-date insider information available and are told exactly what the Official establishment doesn't want you to know. In this Unofficial Guide, you get: Vital Information that other sources can't or won't revealfrom how to find the best legal representation to choosing and evaluating the support systems available to help get you and your kids through this process unscathed. Insider Secrets from judges, lawyers, psychological counselorsand people like you who've been through the process themselves. Money-Saving Techniques that help you develop the fairest settlement and keep your divorce costs on budget. Time-Saving Tips that let you take care of all the details while keeping your day-to-day life on track. The Latest Trends in law and finance as they affect divorce, so you're up to date when planning your strategy or settlement. Handy Checklists and Charts that make your divorce process run smoothly and ensure that you get a fair deal in court. visit us on-line at www.idgbooks.com
Synopsis
The inside scoop... for when you want more than the official line!
Sad. Mad. Scared. Stressed. Distraught. Distracted. Overwhelmed. Divorce dredges up so many emotions and entails so many financial and legal issues, it's difficult to stay rational and keep your life on track. This savvy, updated guide empowers you to take constructive steps toward a better future. It leads you through preparing for divorce, the process, legal issues, coping, sticky situations, and post-divorce financial and health-care issues. It tells you things attorneys and other advisors may not, and gives unbiased recommendations for negotiating the tricky issues of divorce while keeping your sanity.
- Vital Information to help you protect your interests in a divorce or in dealings with your future ex, attorneys, financial advisors, and more.
- Insider Secrets for moving from "I do" to "I don't" with harmony, intelligence, and grace.
- Money-Saving Techniques to reduce legal fees and court costs.
- Time-Saving Tips to help you resolve your divorce without going to court.
- The Scoop on the Latest Trends and precedents in spousal and child support, pre-nups, and more to help you set realistic expectations.
- Handy Checklists to help you do everything from setting priorities to telling the children to dividing property
Synopsis
The statistics are no secret: the U.S. Census Bureau reports that 50% of marriages end in divorce. This means that each year, 2.5 million people go through the divorce process -- many of them without a clear-cut understanding of their options. That's where The Unofficial Guide to Divorce comes into play.While most books on divorce are either personal sagas or dry, technical guides, this book is written with the aid of both a therapist and an attorney. It sensitively explains the process and offers unbiased advice on selecting an attorney, evaluating agreement options, dealing with a high-conflict divorce, helping families cope with stress, getting emotional support, using the Internet as a valuable resource, and so much more. The Unofficial Guide to Divorce will allow readers to survive the ordeal and come up winners both emotionally and financially.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 349-356) and index.
About the Author
RUSSELL WILD, MBA, financial planner, and SUSAN ELLIS WILD, JD, litigation attorney, have the professional and personal expertise to write this book. Married for 22 years and the parents of two children, they are now amicably divorced. Russell is the principal of Global Portfolios, a fee-only financial planning firm in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He has also authored or co-authored nearly two dozen nonfiction books, writes regularly about financial issues for national consumer magazines as well as financial trade journals, and has appeared on Oprah, The View, and other popular programs. Susan is an honors graduate of George Washington University Law School and has practiced law for 24 years. She has frequently been appointed by the courts to serve as an independent arbitrator/mediator of cases.
Table of Contents
About the Authors.
Introduction.
What’s in This Book?
How This Book Is Different.
How to Use This Book.
How to Be a Savvy Consumer.
How to Keep Your Sanity During the Process.
Special Features.
Part I: Smart Preparation for Divorce.
1. Is This Really the End of the Marriage?
2. Setting Up a Successful Divorce: The First Steps.
3. Making the Best of It.
Part II: When War Seems Imminent.
4. Before You See an Attorney.
5. Choosing Your Lawyer.
Part III: Welcome to the U.S. Court System.
6. Filing for Divorce.
7. The Discovery Process.
8. The Final Steps Toward Resolution.
Part IV: Big Issues You Can’t Escape.
9. Family Values.
10. The Children’s Hour.
11. What Will I Live On?
Part V: The Aftermath: Coping Well.
12. Surviving the Ordeal.
13. We All Need Help Sometimes.
Part VI: Surviving Sticky Situations.
14. Spouse and Family Discord.
15. Special Circumstances.
16. Considerations Beyond the Horizon.
Part VII: Post-Divorce Money and Health Issues.
17. Mastering Your Finances.
18. Who’ll Pay the Doctor Bills?
A. Glossary.
B. Resource Guide.
C. Recommended Reading List.
D. Important Checklists.
E. Assembling Your Divorce Team.
Index.