There Is Help for Divorce

 Freya’s Financial Facts Regarding Divorce

 West Coast Woman

Published November 2005

Question’s & Answers

How did I get into this predicament anyway?

Have you been wondering lately how it is that you find yourself considering divorce? Or maybe your partner has told you that it is impending. I certainly believe in the institution of marriage, although, funny…. I am not married currently. I will definitely do things differently if there is a next time.

When I got married over 16 years ago I thought it was going to be forever. Don’t we all? When it was over I just knew it was over. However, I did spend three years in counseling to make sure I had done everything I could! I think one of the fallacies of divorce is that it is easy “for the one who decides, to go through with a divorce”. That was me, and it was no easy task. I understand exactly how you are feeling, sister, because I have been there. Sometimes it is even harder, because the burden of a failed relationship can be on one person’s shoulders if the other one is clueless. I am sure you get my drift.

Either way it happens, it is not easy. There are many issues to consider today that you have maybe not thought about before. Oh, there are the obvious ones. For instance: How am I going to survive? What will our friends and family say? How do I tell him? Will I get to keep the house? How will we tell our children? Will I need to go back to work? What happens when we retire? Someone told me I can collect Social Security based on half of what my husband collects. Is that true?

Is there anyone out there that can help me?

When you come to our office, we actually help you with the questions above. We laugh and cry right along with you while giving you the support (emotional and financial expertise) that you need to get through this time in your life.

I just wished when I was going through my divorce, there was someone like Zollinger Mediation to answer my questions and guide me financially in order to make the best decisions for me. This is nothing to take lightly, there are serious choices to make and you need to have all the facts and know how each choice can affect you financially for the short and long term. First, we have you come in for a complimentary consultation to determine if we are a good fit for you and vice versa.

By the time you leave our office you will know what the next step will be for you. It may be to see a counselor, to see an attorney or to come back to us and work out an amicable settlement with your mate. The mediation that I practice takes a lot of the stress out of divorce. You will know the answers to the financial questions so that you can work out an agreement without it ending in a court battle. If it does end in the courtroom we can support you there also. Less than 5% of all cases end in court.

What makes you the expert?

First of all, I have been in your shoes. No one can say they know how you feel unless they have been there. Unfortunately, my own divorce cost me alone over $60,000. That was the result of the typical adversarial approach. As a result of my own experience I decided to get certified as a Mediator and take the training to become a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst. I actually cut my teeth in this business using my own divorce. It was necessary in my divorce to do some forensic accounting as my ex was self employed. I had custody, alimony, visitation, relocation, division of a SEP-IRA and sale of our marital home to deal with.

If you find yourself knowing or wondering if divorce might be looming in your future, call to schedule an appointment and we will be happy to visit with you about your particular situation. It is nice to have the information in advance, just in case. By the way, we can help you structure the financial aspects of pre or post-nuptials also, along with other financial planning and budgeting solutions. I love what I do and am glad I can assist you.