Cobb County Divorce Law Blog

Reassessing financial priorities after a divorce

On behalf of Vic Hill of Hill Macdonald, LLC on Friday, August 16, 2019.

Getting a divorce is one of the most financially-tumultuous events a person can go through. After determining everything with your former spouse, it is paramount to turn your focus toward the future. There are several steps to accomplish this, as outlined by U.S. News.

You will undoubtedly lose something in the divorce. It may be an important asset, such as a car. You and your spouse may also need to sell the house to divide the funds, if necessary. When this happens, you need to regain your financial footing. Here are some steps to take to reassess your financial priorities after a divorce, so you can start rebuilding.

How to divide stocks in a divorce

On behalf of Vic Hill of Hill Macdonald, LLC on Saturday, July 20, 2019.

If you live in Georgia, then you already have a higher chance of divorce. In a recent study, Georgia, along with Kentucky and Alabama, ranked among the highest divorce rates in the country.

In a divorce, both spouses' legal teams will look at shared assets to determine an equitable division. While most couples focus on material objects, such as houses and cars, it is also paramount to look at other monetary possessions, including stocks. Investments are a great way to build a portfolio, and it can help you develop a nest egg for retirement. You may wonder what will happen to any stocks you own, and all legal parties will consider various factors to reach a consensus.

How do I know if my prenup is enforceable?

On behalf of Vic Hill of Hill Macdonald, LLC on Wednesday, June 26, 2019.

Entering into a prenuptial agreement can be an effective way to protect and manage finances in the event of a divorce. The document can lay out what happens with property division, debts and alimony payments. But your prenuptial agreement must adhere to Georga laws for it to hold up in court.

If you do not have a valid marital contract, all your work may be for nothing. Here is a general overview of how to create an enforceable prenuptial agreement in Georgia.

Recognizing signs of parental alienation

On behalf of Vic Hill of Hill Macdonald, LLC on Tuesday, May 21, 2019.

As someone making your way through a Georgia divorce, you may understand all too well just how much the situation between you and your one-time partner can change. Maybe you simply grew apart, or maybe one of you stepped out on your marriage, but if the relationship between you has gotten particularly ugly and the two of you share a child, you may start seeing signs of parental alienation.

Parental alienation occurs when one parent fosters and encourages a child’s rejection of the other parent, and regrettably, this is not at all uncommon in divorce. While parental alienation has the capacity to sour the relationship between you and your child, it can also have other substantial and negative effects when it comes to your child’s emotional and overall well-being. In fact, in some especially severe cases, parental alienation can even constitute abuse, and it can prove extremely isolating for the child. So, how may parental alienation manifest, and how do you know if your child’s other parent is attempting to turn him or her against you? The following are potential signs of parental alienation:

6 times prenuptial agreements make sense

On behalf of Vic Hill of Hill Macdonald, LLC on Thursday, April 25, 2019.

Pop culture, romantic comedies and love songs tell anyone who will listen that relationships are all about love, warm feelings, flowers and sunsets. While there is nothing wrong with falling head-over-heels in love with for your future spouse, you probably want to protect your assets. Unfortunately, prenuptial agreements are often the third rail of romantic relationships.

While it can be difficult to discuss a prenuptial agreement with your love interest, drafting one may be the best way to ensure your financial viability as an individual and as a couple. While there are a few reasons to have a prenuptial agreement, you may be on the fence about creating one of your own. Here are six times these agreements make sense:

4 reasons to hire a certified divorce financial analyst

On behalf of Vic Hill of Hill Macdonald, LLC on Wednesday, March 27, 2019.

Marriage is often an effective way to achieve financial freedom. If you are going through a divorce, you may worry about providing for your basic needs. You may also fear losing things for which you worked hard. Either way, you want to divide your marital assets in a way that makes sense.

As you probably know, financial matters are some of the stickiest parts of many divorces. To keep your sanity, you must have a strategy for dealing with money during and after your divorce. Fortunately, you do not have to figure everything out on your own. Here are four reasons you may want to hire a certified divorce financial analyst to help you dissolve your marriage:

Equitable distribution does not guarantee 50/50 split

On behalf of Vic Hill of Hill Macdonald, LLC on Thursday, February 28, 2019.

Divorce can cause tempers to flare and anxiety to set in. After years of working and saving for retirement, you worry that the split will leave you with little foundation.

Georgia is an equitable distribution divorce state, but it does not guarantee that everything from the marriage splits evenly. When considering divorce, especially with more substantial assets, it is a good idea to understand what equitable distribution may mean for your situation.

3 tips on breaking the divorce news to the children

On behalf of Vic Hill of Hill Macdonald, LLC on Wednesday, January 23, 2019.

One of the hardest aspects of divorce is informing the kids. You and your partner might no longer be romantically involved and have been trying to keep up appearances. You may face more challenges when it is time to establish custody, child support, alimony and other issues involving children and their well-being if you wait too long tell them or they find out from someone else.

There is no right or wrong way to bring up the topic of divorce to kids. Here are a few pointers to help you break the divorce news to children.

How to discover hidden assets in a divorce

On behalf of Vic Hill of Hill Macdonald, LLC on Saturday, December 22, 2018.

Georgia is one of the most expensive states to divorce in. In one recent study, Georgia ranked eighth in terms of the most expensive places to divorce.

While it can cost a lot of money to divorce, you hope you will end up with a fair settlement, especially if your spouse makes substantially more money than you do. However, people have ways to hide money and assets so you do not get them in a divorce. Here are a few ways you can be proactive in uncovering hidden assets.

How does divorce mediation work in Georgia

On behalf of Vic Hill of Hill Macdonald, LLC on Monday, December 3, 2018.

Courts and litigants today are increasingly exploring alternatives to traditional litigation in the form of various types of collaborative law. As a reflection of this movement, Georgia courts typically require divorcing couples to attempt mediation before proceeding to litigate.

Knowing what mediation entails can help you get the most out of your sessions. Even if you are ultimately not able to resolve all issues via mediation, the process can help you define your goals and improve communication.