Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Mediation

Join the Divorceteam this week on Friday at 11:00am on CastleRockRadio.com for a discussion about Mediation during the divorce process. The pros and cons of mediation, the legal system, and the courts.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

CastleRockRadio.com

Tune in every Friday at 11:00am to www.CastleRockRadio.com to hear "Life After Divorce". This internet radio show has topics specific to divorce and offers free advice for families going through the divorce process. You will hear from attorneys, mental health professionals, financial specialists, and real estate experts. You can also visit the archives and discover the shows that are most helpful to you.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

Divorce expectations

Most people enter into a divorce situation hoping that things will get better. Some may have chosen the divorce, while others may feel that it was chosen for them. However, most people hope that when the dust settles; things will get better. For most that day can’t come soon enough. Whether your divorce is amicable or rather challenging, your expectations make a difference. If you expect the divorce to do something for you the marriage didn’t then you may be sorely disappointed. It is common for people to want the divorce to “settle the score” so to speak. Some people hope that the Courts will tell them who the good guy is and who the bad guy is in a divorce. Colorado is a no fault state, so the Courts won’t do this for folks. (They also won’t tell you that they are sorry for you, although they may say that they are sorry for your children.) It is extremely costly to try and get a “win” out of the divorce, to perhaps replace what you didn’t get out of the marriage. For those folks who might try to make the other parent “pay” for all the hurt and pain they have caused in a divorce situation, you will most likely find that it doesn’t work. Couples who come to the table with a realistic expectation tend to do better through the divorce proceedings. Two things that most parents will experience in a divorce are less time with their children than they had before, and less money than they had before. You will find that you will be sharing the children with your former spouse and dividing your assets meanwhile increasing your expenses with two households to support. All is not lost however, you will also have more free time sans children. Use this time to take care of yourself!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Parenting After Divorce.

For many people their parenting plan equates to less time with their kid(s), but in reality that time with your kid(s) increases in its quality. When two parents are living in the same household together, the parents tend to interact with each other more frequently than they interact with the kids. When there is only one parent with the kids, there tends to be much more parent to child interaction occurring. As such, many relationships between parents and children are strengthened post divorce. Although you may see your children less frequently, you may have more quality time when you are together.

As far as the finances go, two households will probably be more expensive than one. On the brighter side, you get all the freedom to decide how to spend your money. No more need to explain or justify your spending habits to your spouse.

Friday, August 13, 2010

What to do with your home in a divorce

What are we going to do with the house? -- Clearly one of the biggest questions a couple will ask themselves when going through a divorce. Oftentimes the homes it the most valued asset a divorcing couple has. It can also be the highest sources of contention during and after the divorce.

One of the first things you will need to do is find out how much your house is worth in today's market. You could start at www.zillow.com and get a preliminary picture of the price, but you will have a much better answer if you call a Realtor and ask for a broker price opinion.


If you owe more than your house is worth, there are several options to consider: stay in place (if you can afford to) until the market improves, rent the home, apply for a loan modification, short sale the home, or allow the home to go into foreclosure. Each option carries financial and legal risk and should be discussed with your Realtor, CPA, lawyer, and financial planner.


If you have equity in the home you may decide to have one spouse stay in place or refinance to pull some of the equity out to "buyout" their ex. The other tried and true option is to sell the home, divide the proceeds and move on. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you have had competent counsel from professional help.


Keep moving forward.


-Kurt Groesser
Realtor(R)
Keller Williams DTC
www.granthamhometeam.com

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Reduce the fighting, use a collaborative model for your divorce. Mediators can help with this process, so can the right frame of mind. I recommend the Good Karma Divorce.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

The team approach to divorce

Hire a team for your divorce. Most parents going through divorce are exhausted by the process. Many people don't know what support systems exist or what is available to help them through their divorce. By virtue of using a team approach, couples can save substantially by combining the skills and knowledge of a team of divorce specialists. Visit www.NewBeginningsCoParenting.com or www.CastleRockRadio.com to learn more about the resources available to you during divorce.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Dating a single mother or not?

The Divorce Team are co-hosts of New Beginnings, life after divorce. New Beginnings is aired every Friday at 11:00 AM MT. We had an interesting show last Friday. One of the topics we talked about was dating a single mother.

Our listeners had lots of opinions on this topic from meeting men at church to not dating until kids are older.


It's a fine line when dating someone with children. This Friday July 6th , Pat Skinner , a licensed therapist specializing in step families will be our guest on the show. She is back by popular demand. She brings a wealth of knowledge when it comes to step parenting and family dynamics. Join us at http://www.castlerockradio.com/ Friday morning at 11:00. We would love to hear from you!