Prenuptial Agreement – What Is It and Should You Consider It
It might be that you have some idea of what a prenuptial agreement is, but you aren’t sure what it entails or why you should even consider one.…
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How to Choose the Best Health Insurance Plan After Divorce
You’re probably not thinking about health insurance during divorce, but as your lifestyle changes, so will your insurance needs. There are a few ways that divorce can impact…
How to Split an IRA in Divorce
Retirement assets such as IRAs, 401(k) plans and pensions typically need to be split in some fashion as part of the divorce financial settlement. What many people don’t…
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Divorce: What You Need to Know
In this guide, I’m going to walk you through how to handle Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) in a divorce. So if you or your spouse has RSUs, you’ll…
Who Gets the House in a Divorce?
Your house may be the biggest asset that you have to split in a divorce. It’s no surprise that figuring out how to divide it equitably can be…
The Definitive Guide to Divorce and Military Benefits (Retirement Pay, Spousal Benefits, and More)
This is the ultimate guide to understanding how military benefits are handled in divorce. What are the military benefits? How is retirement pay divided? What are the pitfalls to steer clear of? We’ll cover all this and more in this complete guide.
101 Financial Pitfalls of Divorce
Divorce is a time of unprecedented change. It’s also the biggest financial event of your life. The simple fact is you don’t know what you don’t know. That’s why it’s so important to get educated so you can make smart financial decisions.
How to Protect and Rebuild Your Credit in a Divorce
Divorce can wreak havoc on your credit. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Check out our actionable tips for protecting and rebuilding your credit during and after divorce.
What does a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst do? (and how to know if you need one)
What does a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst do? How much does it cost? Do I really need one? How can I find a CDFA near me? This guide answers all those questions and more.
A Beginner’s Guide to Federal Pensions and Benefits (FERS, CSRS, TSP) in Divorce
Do the same rules that apply to private sector employees also apply to federal employees and retirees? No. Court orders that affect private sector pensions are generally governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) or IRS regulations. The Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) are governmental plans which follow federal regulations and are exempt from ERISA.
The Ultimate Guide to QDROs: Everything You Need to Know
What is a QDRO and how does it work? If you or your spouse have retirement accounts or pensions, you will likely need a QDRO. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the most important things you need to know about QDROs (process, cost, common mistakes, and more).
Pensions, IRAs, 401Ks and retirement plans are considered marital property in virtually all states. This means they must be divided equitably in a divorce. Depending on how a division of assets is negotiated, it may be possible to keep a larger part of a pension in exchange for giving up another asset of similar value. Often, this might be ownership rights in the family home.
Pension Valuations in Divorce: A Helpful Guide
The first thing that must be established is whether the pension is a defined benefit or a defined contribution plan. Once this is determined, then a valuation date must be established. The value of a defined contribution plan is simply the balance of the account as of a given date. However, the characterization of the account (community vs. separate property) requires a detailed tracing of the account from marriage through separation.
