Pilot Father Must Pay for Respite Care for Disabled Daughter

At March 30, 2020
By Miles Mason
In Alimony Modification, Attorney's Fees, Child Support Modification
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Tennessee alimony modification case summary and special needs child. Christopher Maurice Kibbe v. Mary Carolyn Kibbe The mother and father in this Washington County, Tennessee, case were divorced in 2014. They were the parents of two children, one of whom was disabled. The father was granted 124 days per year of co-parenting time with the […]

Big Divorce Mistake #2: Not Analyzing Claimed vs. Documented Income

At March 28, 2020
By Miles Mason
In Alimony, Divorce Tips, Forensic Accounting, Income Determination
0

Often, spouses must declare, or claim, what they earn. Very often, they earn significantly more according to their own tax returns, W-2s, 10-99s, and current pay stubs. There are even more documents available from which to compare claimed vs. documented income. Miles Mason, Sr. JD, CPA is the author of The Forensic Accounting Deskbook: A […]

Who is Responsible for Debt in a Divorce?

At March 26, 2020
By Miles Mason
In Forensic Accounting, Property Classification
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What happens to debt in a divorce? For more information, see Debt Division in Tennessee Divorce. VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Tracy Coenen: How do debts get valued in a divorce? And who has to be stuck with those debts when the divorce occurs? Miles Mason: That’s a great question and especially given the recession, a big issue, […]

Dave Ramsey’s Divorce Advice

On his talk show, Dave Ramsey runs callers through many of the same questions a divorce attorney would ask. To determine where spouses are financially, he needs to know their ages and educational levels, how long they’ve been married, and if they have minor children. Assessment requires details about income, assets, savings, and retirement accounts, […]

Evidence of Bigamy on Wife’s Foreign Marriage Not Enough

At March 25, 2020
By Miles Mason
In Attorney's Fees, Divorce, Divorce Process
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Tennessee case summary on attorney’s fees in divorce. Cecilia Gonzalez v. Mauricio Gonzalez The husband and wife in this Shelby County, Tennessee, case were married in Florida in 2001 and had one child, born in 2002. The wife filed for divorce in 2010. The husband answered and alleged that they were never legally married. He […]

Big Divorce Mistake #5: Misunderstanding How Alimony is Calculated

At March 24, 2020
By Miles Mason
In Alimony, Divorce Tips, Forensic Accounting
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Calculating alimony (spousal support) is a state by state determination but many states have the same considerations and factors. Need, ability to pay, and lifestyle of the parties are fantastic issues for forensic accountants to analyze and form opinions thereon. Through review of tax returns, financial statements, divorce discovery, subpoenas, and other methods of investigation, […]

Violation of Automatic Injunction Doesn’t Mean Windfall

Tennessee case summary on mandatory injunctions in divorce. Rose Coleman v. Bryan Olson Under Tennessee law, a party in a divorce case is not allowed to modify an insurance policy without the consent of the other spouse or the court. The wife in this Montgomery County, Tennessee, changed the beneficiary of her life insurance […]

Big Divorce Mistake #6: Not Being Skeptical about Financial Documents

At March 21, 2020
By Miles Mason
In Divorce Process, Divorce Tips, Forensic Accounting
0

What is the role of professional skepticism in reviewing financial statements? Forensic accountants can cross-reference financial documents better than anyone to uncover inconsistencies. Miles Mason, Sr. JD, CPA is the author of The Forensic Accounting Deskbook: A Practical Guide to Financial Investigation and Analysis for Family Lawyers, Second Edition, published by the ABA Family Law […]

Big Divorce Mistake #9: Not Getting a Business Valuation to Save Money

At March 19, 2020
By Miles Mason
In Business Valuation, Divorce Process, Forensic Accounting
0

Often, businesses are the most valuable asset in a marital estate. Only appropriately credentialed professionals are qualified to issue an opinion as to fair market value for this marital asset. In a divorce before a marital estate is divided, assets must be identified, classified (marital or separate), and valued. To learn more, see Business Valuation in […]

10 Big Divorce Financial Mistakes

#10: Mishandling the Pension QDRO & Elections #9: Not Getting a Business Valuation to Save Money #8: Being Cheap & Not Hiring a Forensic Accountant #7: Ignoring Red Flags of Hidden Money #6: Not Being Skeptical about Financial Documents #5: Misunderstanding How Alimony is Calculated […]