Law Offices of Pastor & Pastor

08/21/2023

Your ex-spouse can use your record to get Social Security, but your benefits won't be affected.

As it turns out, you don't need to care.

08/19/2023

Between state laws, beneficiaries, and dividing assets, disentangling your finances from your former spouse's can become incredibly complicated. This is a crucial time to rely on professionals that help ensure you've checked every box, found every account, and have fully protected yourself from financial damage.

Divorces can be messy, but taking the right steps to divide your finances can help cover your bases and recover your assets.

08/16/2023

Property owners and managers are required by law to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors. If you slip or trip and fall on a commercial or residential site due to a hazardous condition for which no warning was posted, you may be able to recover money damages.

08/14/2023

Divorce rates have increased significantly for Americans 50 years and older since 1970.

Rising divorce rates for people over 50 are one reason why an increasing number of older Americans are living alone.

08/12/2023

Your marital status is not part of your credit history. But it's wise to check your credit reports before and after a divorce.

Your divorce is not on your credit report — and neither was your marriage. But that doesn’t mean your credit was not affected.

08/09/2023

Divorce rates among people aged 50 and over are on the rise and for some, that means an increased interest in what happens to their retirement accounts following divorce. If retirement is one of your greatest concerns, look for a divorce attorney with plenty of experience working with retirement benefits.

Divorce brings up emotional and financial issues. Keep reading to learn about one of those financial issues -- retirement accounts.

08/05/2023

Divorcing older couples face the typical challenges of splitting up at any age. But they also come with a new set of financially grueling obstacles to navigate.

People may be living longer, but more marriages aren't going the distance. What you need to know about gray divorce.

08/01/2023

There are several ways a parents’ divorce can affect a student’s college financial aid application process.

Divorced parents should be aware of how a new family status can impact their child’s financial aid eligibility. Learn some tips for how to navigate it.

07/29/2023

A divorce is a new chapter in your life, emotionally and financially. Being honest with yourself — and doing your financial homework — will allow you to lead your best life going forward.

Most married people would need an increase in income of about 30% to maintain their standard of living after separation, according to a national study. Divorce can be lots of things: painful, confusing, and nerve-wracking. It also can wreak havoc on your finances.

07/25/2023

By addressing the losses that come with divorce, it is possible to work through the ongoing and often conflicting emotions that arise and find ways to get through the most painful parts.

Regardless of how you feel after the marriage is over, you will grieve. Here is the process of grieving and tips on how to get through heartbreak.

07/22/2023

A qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) is a legal document, typically found in a divorce agreement, that recognizes that a spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent is entitled to receive a predefined portion of the account owner’s retirement plan assets.

In a divorce, a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) requires that a portion of retirement account assets be paid to a former spouse.

07/19/2023

An organization, which tracks pedestrian deaths in the U.S., estimates that more than 7,500 pedestrians were killed by drivers last year — the highest number since 1981.

The number of pedestrians killed by drivers has been climbing for over a decade. Experts say some solutions are within reach.

07/18/2023

The divorced spouse's benefit can be up to 50% of the ex-spouse's full retirement benefit, regardless of their ex-spouse's marital status or decision to remarry.

Yes, but it's complicated. Also, your gender doesn't matter.

07/14/2023

The best defense when facing the financial concerns of a divorce is knowledge.

When it comes to divorce and money, splitting assets, dealing with debt, and understanding tax implications can cause financial stress. Guidance and preparation can help.

07/10/2023

Separating from your spouse can mean suffering a heavy emotional and financial toll. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can protect your retirement savings during a divorce.

Separating from your spouse can mean suffering a heavy emotional and financial toll. You may be wondering how to protect your 401(k) in a divorce. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can protect your retirement savings during a divorce. … Continue reading ->The post Ways to Protect Your Reti...

07/07/2023

One of the biggest decisions divorcing couples face is what to do with the marital home. If you’re in this situation, your options might depend on how the home is financed and titled, among other factors.

What should you do with the mortgage on your marital home? Here are possible solutions and considerations to think about.

07/04/2023

Businesses sometimes require customers to sign liability waivers before taking part in activities that carry some measure of risk, like sky diving or scuba diving. The enforceability of these documents depend on the state where they are signed, and courts may weigh the document against other factors, such as whether the person signing it understood the form and the risks they were taking.

Passengers of the expedition likely signed liability waivers that will have a huge impact on any legal action.

06/30/2023

The divisions of pensions in a divorce isn’t always a cut-and-dry situation. An experienced divorce attorney can answer questions you have about how to handle your pension during a divorce.

A divorce is an unfortunate time in anyone's life, as it signifies the end of a likely long-term relationship and marriage. However, it's important to understand the financial ramifications of a divorce as you're going through one. So if you're … Continue reading → The post Is My Spouse Entitled...

06/28/2023

Part of splitting with your spouse means taking care of debt that was incurred during the divorce.

How you handle divorce and debt depends on state law and any premarital agreements. Learn how different types of debts are divided up between spouses during divorce.

06/23/2023

Are you preparing for divorce but worry about what will become of your shared home? Depending on your situation, having one party remain in the home or selling it outright could be best. But at the end of the day, there’s no right or wrong answer as to how to handle the property you shared with your former spouse - Every divorce is different.

Sharing a home can complicate matters in a divorce. Here are your options.

06/21/2023

Divorce can be challenging especially when it comes to the financial ramifications. Understanding your options in relation to your Social Security claiming strategies as they relate to your own Social Security benefit and an ex-spousal benefit is an important piece to solidifying your future financial health.

Ex-spousal benefits are probably the most misunderstood Social Security benefit. I keep things simple in this article and explain the qualifications and exceptions.

06/20/2023

A 2019 study found that e-bike accidents were three times more likely to involve a collision with a pedestrian than either traditional bikes or powered scooters.

'I can't imagine a 13-year-old being able to drive something that can go 25 to 30 miles an hour in the middle of a road. It just doesn’t seem safe.'

06/16/2023

Divorce rates for people aged 50 and over are rising. Although divorce is difficult at any age, there are several mistakes you can avoid to protect your financial future.

Learn how to avoid money trouble if you decide to divorce your spouse after age 50.

06/14/2023

In the absence of a prenuptial agreement, property in a divorce is divided based on which state you live in. Generally, any property that you acquired independently before the marriage remains yours. But property you acquired together after marriage could be considered marital or joint property, and your state's laws would determine how it is divided.

If you didn't sign a prenup, it can impact your assets and property if your marriage ends. Read on to find out how.

06/10/2023

Your credit report doesn't show your marital status, so your divorce isn't listed in your report, either. What will change is the number of active accounts.

Divorce can put a strain on your financial health, but there are steps you can take to protect your credit.

06/09/2023

Divorced spouses may be eligible to receive Social Security benefits based on their former spouse’s earnings record.

Here’s what you need to know about Social Security benefits for divorced couples under a rule change that went into effect in 2016.

06/03/2023

If you’re facing the prospect of a divorce, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to get your financial house in order.

Divorce is rarely easy, but getting financial paperwork in order, working with professionals and making tough decisions now can take some of the stress out of it.

06/02/2023

Gray divorce, also referred to as silver divorce, points to the trend of increasing divorce rates in older adults and particularly couples who had long marriages. People over 50 today account for a quarter of all divorces. https://bit.ly/3oN4oI1

06/01/2023

If you were hurt in an incident that was partly your fault, you may still be able to recover monetary compensation. How much you can recover depends on your state’s version of a legal doctrine known as comparative fault. An experienced personal injury attorney in your state can explain your rights and options.

05/27/2023

The attorneys and advisors are meeting more and more clients where one person has invested hundreds of thousands, or millions, of dollars in crypto without telling their partner, a new report from CNBC says.

As crypto has become more popular, hidden investments also have caused more problems for divorce attorneys working to divide assets.

05/25/2023

When your divorce is over, you might be inclined to discard the related paperwork. But there are key documents you should retain, like the final judgement of divorce (also known as a divorce decree), any appraisals of your assets, and any divorce-related financial paperwork. If you're not sure what to keep, be sure to consult with your attorney.

05/20/2023

There are several financial and social implications to consider when deciding whether it is in your best interest to keep your marital home after divorce.

There are many implications of keeping the marital home post-divorce. Make sure you consider the financial, emotional, and social implications to make the wisest decision for you.

05/18/2023

You cannot take your spouse's name off the joint account without his or her permission. If you're worried your spouse may withdraw all the funds, a divorce attorney can explain your options for protecting your assets.

Divorce means separating marital assets. Here's how your joint bank account is likely to be distributed and what you can do to protect the money until the court steps in.

05/17/2023

Participating in a class action lawsuit can mean surrendering the option to file an individual claim. And in cases where you suffered significant harm, suing individually could secure a bigger payout. Consulting a lawyer can help you determine whether you have a strong case and how it might unfold.

When you receive an email or mail notice inviting you to join a class-action lawsuit, or notifying you that you’ve been automatically included, it might give you pause

05/13/2023

Divorce is a challenge at any time in life, but during midlife or later in what is known as “gray divorces,” it poses entirely new problems related to finances, particularly if you’ve been saving for retirement or had your future financially planned.

Divorce can drop a family's wealth by 77 percent, so take heed.

05/11/2023

Everyone's situation will be a little different, but there are a few things that every divorcing couple needs to do in order to start fresh on their own.

Divorce means starting over. Follow these steps to build a new budget and get your finances in order as quickly as possible.

05/06/2023

It is important that you be fully informed about your financial situation before you agree to a divorce settlement or go into a trial.

It is not uncommon for one spouse to be accused of financial fraud in divorce. Arm yourself with the knowledge of the potential red flags and warning signs so you can ensure your settlement is as equitable as possible.

05/05/2023

With a little preliminary preparation, you can be in a better position to act strategically throughout the divorce proceedings to protect your finances.

Here are some of the common (and costly) mistakes often made during the divorce process — and what might be better to do instead.

04/29/2023

It's vital to include any joint credit card accounts in financial agreements that are made in the course of divorce proceedings.

If you hold credit card accounts jointly with a soon-to-be ex-spouse, you'll want to handle them carefully before you untie the knot for good.

04/28/2023

Most people have heard that half of all marriages end in divorce, but is there more to the story? New divorce statistics shed more light on when and how marriages come to an end.

Most people have heard that half of all marriages end in divorce, but is there more to the story? These divorce statistics shed more light on when and how marriages come to an end in the United States. Read on to find out the truth about who is dissolving their marriages.