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Archives for December 2022

Dec 13

7 Reasons Why Women Are More Likely to Initiate Divorce

The divorce rate for first marriages in the United States remains at a high level, and more than two-thirds of those divorces are initiated by women. There are several reasons why women are more likely than men to initiate a divorce and why working with a divorce lawyer can help to secure a comfortable future.

1. Lower Marriage Satisfaction

Although some women want to enter marriage more than men, once they are married, they might be less likely to be satisfied. Low marriage satisfaction involves many factors, including a lack of respect, insufficient trust, a decrease in shared interests, different political ideologies, poor emotional connection, and not enough affection. Incompatibility also plays a role in marital dissatisfaction. Women tend to want compatibility on more of life’s important issues than men.

2. Less Financial Harm Than Expected

In previous generations, few women worked after marriage. This is no longer the case. Today, divorce causes less financial harm to women than they might expect. While women on average still earn less than men, even in the same career or job, they are less likely to be in dire financial straits after a divorce than they were decades ago. Increasing educational levels and a greater number of women in the workforce mean that a divorced woman can provide for herself in many cases.

3. Reduced Reliance on Men

Women no longer have to rely on men for access to resources. When looking at human evolution, females tended to stay closer to home, tend to the children, gather nearby food and water, and handle the domesticated animals while males traveled a greater distance to hunt and secure other resources. Today, women have more access to resources. Laws passed in the last century allow women to have a bank account and credit card without a man’s permission. Women can also sign a lease, buy a home, and take out a loan without a male co-signer.

4. More Self-awareness

Past generations of women were taught to cater to the needs of men. This started from a young age when girls had to serve their brothers or father at home. Today, more women are taught to be self-reliant and self-aware. This greater sense of independence means women aren’t as afraid to be divorced.

5. Social Changes

Society doesn’t look down on divorced women like it used to. Birth control and access to education have allowed women to take charge of their futures. These social changes reduce the guilt that women feel for wanting out of their marriages.

6. Mismatch in Marriage Benefits

Heterosexual marriage remains a gendered institution. After a man and woman get married, the man reaps more benefits than the woman. Social expectations typically result in married women doing more hours per week of household chores and childcare than married men, even if both partners have full-time jobs. This often leads to a buildup of stress, frustration, and resentment that eats away at the core of the marriage.

7. Out-of-court Options

Today’s divorce process offers more out-of-court settlement options compared to what women could access a generation ago. It is often no longer necessary for a divorce lawyer to litigate a case in court. By choosing other options, such as mediation or collaborative law, women can keep their personal business out of the public’s eye. These alternatives can cost less, require less time, and help to improve communication for future co-parenting and other needs.

When you’re considering a divorce, a no-court option may be a helpful solution. Staying out of court takes some of the stress out of the process and may help you set up a collaborative communication system for the future. Consulting with divorce lawyer Joanne Kleiner provides you with information about your rights and how Pennsylvania divorce cases work so that you can make an informed decision about how to move forward. To make an appointment, call the Law Office of Joanne Kleiner in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania at (215) 886-1266. You may also request a consultation by completing our contact form, and an associate from our office will reach out to you.

Dec 07

The Role Of A Financial Neutral

What Does a Financial Neutral Do in a Divorce?

Debt and disagreements over money and assets are major sources of contention in many divorces in the United States. An estimated 54% of Americans believe that debt is a solid reason to divorce, and 35% of Americans say that finances are the leading cause of stress in their marriages. If your marriage has come to an end, working with a financial neutral in addition to a divorce lawyer could help you set up a more secure and less stressful future.

What Is a Financial Neutral?

A financial neutral is an independent, third-party expert or professional who focuses on the financial aspects of a divorce. They do not represent either of the spouses and thus does not advocate for one party or the other. If there is future litigation, neither party can contract with the financial neutral for future representation. The financial neutral may be retained by the divorce lawyer or by the couple if they both agree to the collaborative process.

What Are the Qualifications of a Financial Neutral?

The qualifications for a financial neutral encompass a wide range of degrees, certifications, and experience. Some of the certifications held by financial neutrals include certified public accountant, business appraiser, certified fraud examiner, certified divorce financial analyst, or certified financial planner. Most financial neutrals participate in many hours of annual continuing education in order to maintain their license to practice accounting and to maintain their certifications. A financial neutral usually holds a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business, finance, accounting, or a related field of expertise.

Which Services Can a Financial Neutral Provide?

During a collaborative divorce, these professionals focus on the financial aspects of the divorce. Their role often begins with information gathering. They may gather information from both parties. The financial neutral usually asks for documentation of income, debt, retirement savings, taxes, bank accounts, investments, and other assets and liabilities. They do not duplicate the efforts of the divorce attorney. The financial neutral provides copies of information to both parties as requested by the attorneys. After reviewing what both parties provide, the financial neutral may identify missing documents and overlooked debts or assets and request them before the divorce process can proceed.

How Does a Financial Neutral Participate in a Collaborative Divorce Process?

A financial neutral meets with spouses on an individual basis as well as during joint sessions. The spouses’ respective family law attorneys are usually present during joint meetings in order to represent the best interests of their clients. If one spouse plans to request spousal or child support, the financial neutral participates by creating budgets for one or both parties. They may also perform cash flow analyses for each spouse in consideration of what their post-divorce financial futures will look like.

Who Would Benefit From Working With a Financial Neutral?

Any divorcing couple in disagreement over the distribution of assets would benefit from working with a financial neutral. Divorcing spouses who do not have any major areas of contention may also benefit from working with the financial neutral in order to have a more clear picture of their finances after the divorce. A spouse who earns significantly less than the other may wish to work with a financial neutral in order to make a support request that is likely to be agreed to out of court.

If you’re facing a complicated financial future, a consultation with our divorce lawyer gives you insight into structuring a fair settlement and helps you understand more about your financial future. To learn more information about the impact of a divorce on your finances and the role of a financial neutral in the divorce process, arrange a consultation with the Law Office of Joanne Kleiner in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. Contact our office by phone at (215) 886-1266, or fill out and submit our online form to make an appointment.

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From Our Blog

  • Some losses that divorce might cause
  • Divorce and managing your emotions
  • 7 Reasons Why Women Are More Likely to Initiate Divorce
  • The Role Of A Financial Neutral
  • Divorce and your medical practice

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