Tipper & Al are not the only long-married couple to call it quits. 25% of recent divorces are among couples who have been married for at least 20 years. Splitting up the nest egg involves such issues as whether one spouse can afford to maintain the marital residence and how much are all those pension, 401(k)’s and other retirement accounts worth? Also, many couples now have children in college which raises the issue of who will pay the college expenses and student loans.

Most divorces eventually settle out of court after negotiations and settlement conferences to discuss the division of assets and debts.

If you are divorced or in the process of getting divorced, now is the time to work out potential problems regarding summer vacation with the kids, summer camp and other scheduling problems. Now is the time to look at your calendars and anticipate possible scheduling conflicts. For example who gets the kids on Labor Day and Memorial Day? Is the Monday holiday part of the long weekend or is it a separate visitation date? Schedule a consulation with Patti to work out your summer calendar in advance. As an experienced attorney and mediator, Patti can help you get summer schedules in place before they turn into arguments and emergency court motions. Patti’s goal is to help families enjoy the summer months without conflicts or legal battles. Call us to schedule an appointment for consulation or mediation on any scheduling issues.

While in court today I was reminded how important it is to plan for and discuss future college expenses for your minor children at the time of the original divorce.   Make sure that your attorney includes a comprehensive list of expenses that will be shared between the parents.  This list can include transportation costs for school breaks, clothing allowances, books, entrance exams and applications fees.

This time of year the Judges are hearing emergency motions every day to determine where the children are spending the holidays.  Make sure your divorce decree provides a specific schedule for holiday visitation or you will join the crowds at the court house asking the Judge to decide when you get to see your kids for the holidays.  A little advance planning will help you avoid the additional stress of going to court during an already busy time of the year.