Divorce, property division among New Year’s resolutions

Quite a few Florida residents are more than happy to pack away their holiday decorations and focus on the New Year. For some, divorce may play a big role in 2017. According to family law attorneys, the first few weeks of the New Year are a very busy time, with plenty of phone calls and emails rolling in. For those who are considering a divorce as part of their New Year’s resolutions, taking a proactive approach to matters such as child custody and property division can pay handsomely.

There are a number of reasons why people wait to file for divorce until after the holidays. Some simply want to get through the holiday season without additional drama. Others don’t want to taint their children’s holiday memories with the news of divorce. But some people have more practical reasons for postponing a divorce filing.

For one, many people receive a sizable holiday bonus at the end of the year. Waiting to file means that the value of the bonus will be part of the property division process. Generally, anything earned by either party after the official date of separation is excluded from division.

When planning for divorce, one of the best things that a Florida spouse can do to look after his or her own interests is to take a proactive approach, especially when it comes to property division. By gathering the required documentation and planning for negotiations, the entire process can be made simpler. For many people, this year will be the beginning of a new life as a single person.

Source: gazettextra.com, “”, Danielle Braff, Dec. 24, 2016

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