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Arnold Schwartznegger and Maria Shriver still not divorced

On behalf of Amy Levine of Amy M. Levine & Associates, Attorneys at Law, LLC posted in High Asset Divorce on Friday, May 24, 2013.

The 2011 scandal that revealed Arnold Schwarznegger's marital affair officially ended his marriage to Maria Shriver. She moved out of their home and filed for divorce in July 2011. By most accounts, the divorce was going to be fairly amicable. There were no child custody or parenting time issues, and both parties were independently wealthy.

So nearly two years after the split, no papers have been filed to finalize the divorce. Why is this? Moreover, that can divorcing parties learn from this dissolution?

Preparing for a custody battle

On behalf of Amy Levine of Amy M. Levine & Associates, Attorneys at Law, LLC posted in Child Custody on Tuesday, May 21, 2013.

Parents facing the prospect of a custody (or parenting time) dispute in Franklin County family courts may look at it with fear and trepidation. They may be uncomfortable with the notion of someone who knows nothing about them evaluating their parenting skills and a judge deciding how much (if any) time they may spend with their children.

Others may be perfectly comfortable with a battle over custody. They are completely secure in their relationship with the child and believe (realistically or not) that they are best suited to have the child with them.

Whatever your temperment may be, it is important to understand the potential pitfalls that can arise and how to avoid them.

Words every divorcing parent should live by

On behalf of Amy Levine of Amy M. Levine & Associates, Attorneys at Law, LLC posted in Child Custody on Friday, May 17, 2013.

Divorces can bring out the worst in people; especially when children are involved. Sometimes the parents' anger towards each other is reflected in the way they describe (or even treat) their children. In some instances, they will refer to the child as "my daughter" or "my son", thus treating them like property that cannot be taken without a fight.

Other parents may resort to badmouthing the other parent or poisoning the child's mind with lies and half-truths about them. Classic examples incllude, "Your mother's not here with us because she doesn't care." Or "your father's a drunk and you're better off without him."

Documents in NASCAR Exec's divorce unsealed

On behalf of Amy Levine of Amy M. Levine & Associates, Attorneys at Law, LLC posted in High Asset Divorce on Tuesday, May 14, 2013.

Court documents in Charlotte, North Carolina were recently unsealed in the divorce of NASCAR chief executive Brian France and his former wife, Megan. The couples' second divorce was finalized in 2008, but the documents had been sealed before several news organizations brought suit to have them released.

They argued that the filings were a matter of public record and available to the public, and an appeals court agreed. Some 3,000 documents revealed what was a contentious and bitter proceeding that included dozens of motions regarding parenting time, alimony payments and property division disputes.

How to avoid parenting issues during Memorial Day weekend

On behalf of Amy Levine of Amy M. Levine & Associates, Attorneys at Law, LLC posted in Child Custody on Friday, May 10, 2013.

The unofficial start of summer is still three weeks away, but as we have noted in prior posts, it is never too early to plan for holiday events. Memorial Day weekend is a time for family get-togethers, barbeques and fun times at amusment parks, but they can easily be derailed by disputes over parenting time.

This post will revisit some of our tips for planning and negotiating so that you may avoid the emotion fueled disputes that can affect your children for years to come.

Keeping higher education in mind after divorce

On behalf of Amy Levine of Amy M. Levine & Associates, Attorneys at Law, LLC posted in Child Support on Tuesday, May 7, 2013.

We enjoy helping our Ohio divorce clients through some of the most trying times in their lives. As attorneys, we are charged with being legal advocates as well as de-facto financial counselors. This means we help our clients understand the future financial implications of their decisions, and we help reach agreements that will serve their best interests.

One important, yet overlooked aspect of financial settlements is planning for college education. As a married couple, the prospect of supporting a child in college (whether it be completely or partially) is reasonable. However, divorcing parents may find it very difficult to do so, given the additional burdens of running a household on one income.

Nevertheless, there are a number of ways that divorcing parents can help their kids afford a college education.

Could the end of alimony be near?

On behalf of Amy Levine of Amy M. Levine & Associates, Attorneys at Law, LLC posted in Alimony on Friday, May 3, 2013.

Aside from child support, spousal maintenance (aka alimony) is likely the most hotly contested aspect of a divorce. Depending on the circumstances, maintenance may be necessary to keep bills paid and maintain the status quo while the legal issues are resolved. A classic example is alimony for a homemaking spouse who needs time (and money) to make ends meet while the transition take place.

However, more parties who divorce both earn an income. When there is a slight disparity between the couple, the issue of alimony can merely be an emotionally charged measure of revenge.

Jordan takes on second marriage

On behalf of Amy Levine of Amy M. Levine & Associates, Attorneys at Law, LLC posted in High Asset Divorce on Monday, April 29, 2013.

Michael Jordan is perhaps the most recognizable player in the NBA, even 10 years after he retired from basketball. He is also well known for his contentious divorce with former wife Juanita, which eventually led to an estimated $180 million settlement (which was a record at the time).

After going through such a difficult divorce, most people would not even consider getting married again. Despite the likely scars, Jordan was taking the plunge once again.

Jane Seymour's divorce may be a good example

On behalf of Amy Levine of Amy M. Levine & Associates, Attorneys at Law, LLC posted in Family Law on Friday, April 26, 2013.

Our readers have likely seen many posts advocating for Ohio divorcing couples to take an amicable approach to their breakup. The research on how combative divorces affect children, as well as studies on mental health during tumultuous breaks should inspire people to treat each other with respect as they move on with life.

Nevertheless, it takes a modern example of a "friendly" divorce to show others that it is possible to move on without hard feelings. Kay Jewelers magnate and noted film director James Keach recently announced that they will be divorcing. The couple had been estranged for some time, but they recently came together for a charity event and it appeared that their animosity towards each other was a thing of the past.

Millennials have their own take on love and marriage

On behalf of Amy Levine of Amy M. Levine & Associates, Attorneys at Law, LLC posted in Family Law on Wednesday, April 24, 2013.

Just like many traditions and milestones in life, millennials are doing things differently compared to past generations. Their take on job searches (and job expectations) are different. They communicate differently, opting to have text message conversations as opposed to calling on the phone.

As for the tradition of courting, getting married, then buying a home, millennial couples have their own take on this as well. Many are buying homes together before tying the knot. According to a USA Today.com report, nearly 25 percent of couples aged 18 to 34 bought a home together before getting married. This is a big leap compared to the 14 percent of couples who did the same a generation before (i.e. generation X'ers).

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