“Ain’t Your Business”- T.I. Not Willing to Talk About Divorce from Tiny

Last week, we wrote about Brad and Angelina’s public statement that they would be continuing their divorce proceedings in private. It’s not uncommon for people in the public eye to shield themselves during a troubling time like divorce, and it looks like another celebrity is doing just that.

T.I., the Grammy Award-winning Atlanta rapper, recently split from his wife of six years after what seemed to be a cordial and family-filled Christmas holiday.

During an interview on Yung Joc’s morning radio show on Atlanta’s Streetz 94.5, Joc brought up the divorce and said he didn’t want to see the couple split up. T.I. was noticeably defensive, telling Joc that the divorce “ain’t your business.” While it probably did not shock him to be questioned about the divorce, it is understandable that he would be bothered by having his dirty laundry aired in such a public way.

Should I Keep My Divorce To Myself?

Divorce is a highly personal and often distressing process. It is easy to become overwhelmed with emotion and uncertainty, and because of that, it is usually healthy to speak to someone about your divorce. Of course, you probably don’t want to go on a radio show and solicit advice from a DJ (although that might work for some people), but having a support system consisting of friends and family can go a long way in addressing your fears and feelings. It’s best to start small, with a best friend or a sibling that you trust, and as you begin to get a better grip on what’s coming in the future, cast a wider net. You’d be surprised how much people are willing to do for friends and family.

Don’t take it from us ”“ ask our former clients what their experience with Divorce Matters was like.

Playing For Keeps: Dennis & Kimberly Quaid Dispute Over Support Payments

Dennis Quaid and Kimberly Quaid are playing for keeps in a dispute regarding child support and spousal support for Kimberly and the kids. Kimberly filed for divorce last June and never got a temporary spousal or child support order. Dennis has been paying spousal and child support voluntarily for Kimberly’s and their twins’ living expenses, but a dispute has arisen. Kimberly doesn’t think Dennis is paying enough. Dennis thinks he is paying too much.

So, the issue will be thrown to the courts. It will be up to a judge to decide who is right ”“ and whoever is wrong will have to cut a check for the difference to the other. It’s a bit like Vegas ”“ high risk, high reward.

How Child Support & Spousal Maintenance Are Calculated In Colorado

In Colorado, determining child support payments is based on defined calculations. The state first looks at a parent’s gross monthly income prior to taxes and deductions, and then takes into consideration the amount of overnights each parent spends with the children. Usually, it is the parent who has less custody time with the child who pays child support, unless one party has significantly higher income.

As for spousal maintenance (also called spousal support or alimony), no spouse has an automatic right to this support. Whether someone will receive spousal maintenance will be determined by the courts based on whether that person lacks sufficient property to meet reasonable needs and is either unable to work or has child care responsibilities. Support is calculated based on the length of marriage, the health (mental and physical) of both parties, the standard of living the couple enjoyed, each party’s earning capacity and how marital property is divided.

If you’re curious to see what your Colorado support payments would look like, check out our spousal support and child support calculator app, available for free on iOS and Android devices.

Divorce Can Crash Your Credit ”“ Prepare Yourself!

Credit is highly important in our society. Our economy runs on credit, and with good credit you are much more likely to be able to get a mortgage loan, student loan, car loan and many other types of financial aid. But major life events can have a huge impact on your credit ”“ and divorce is one of those. Here are just a few ways a divorce can crash your credit:

  1. Divorce expenses. Divorce can be expensive, and many people will decide to use credit cards to either pay off those divorce expenses directly, or to cover other life essentials that they would normally use their cash for. When they do this, it increases their credit card utilization, and too much credit card utilization can result in a hit to your credit.
  2. Failure to make payments. You may find that during divorce, you have a harder time paying off your financial obligations such as your car payment, your utility bills or your mortgage. This can be due to the aforementioned divorce expenses, or simply because without the dual income afforded by marriage, you are struggling with your financial obligations. Additionally, you probably share several accounts with your soon-to-be-ex. Divorce doesn’t stop you from having to pay debts on these joint accounts, and if your spouse fails to make payments, it will hurt your credit.
  3. On the note of shared accounts ”“ if you share things like credit cards and your spouse gets wind that a divorce might be on the horizon, your spouse might take measures to utilize those joint cards to rack up debt. It could be a vindictive response to intentionally harm you, or it could just be your spouse’s way of looking out for number one. Get yourself separated from those accounts as soon as possible.

Our Denver divorce law attorneys can help you get your finances in order during a divorce to protect your credit.

Johnny Depp Throwing More Shade ”“ Asks For Attorney Fees From Ex-Wife

The Johnny Depp/Amber Heard divorce continues to get spicier and spicier.

A few days before Christmas, Depp’s team of lawyers filed new documents with the court asking for Heard to pay up – $100,000 in attorney fees. Depp’s team says that Heard owes Depp the cash because she has continued to litigate the divorce which has been settled in an attempt to milk her 15 minutes of fame even longer. Harsh.

If Heard doesn’t pay up, Depp says he should be allowed to withhold the $100,000 from his settlement payments to Heard.

Heard’s attorneys fired back with some shade of their own, quipping that Depp had “rediscovered his comic touch with this laughable motion.” They claim that Depp’s latest action against Heard is just another thinly veiled attempt at not paying her what she is owed. Additionally, Heard’s attorneys claimed that Depp was not adhering to the terms of the divorce agreed upon by both parties. He has failed to comply with court-ordered mandates including property division, returning Heard’s belongings and transferring the title to a Range Rover into Heard’s name.

Recently, the couple made headlines after Depp donated part of Heard’s divorce settlement to charity, preempting Heard, who had made it publicly known that she intended to donate the money. Heard’s attorneys took offense to the donation, stating that by making the donation instead of giving the money to Heard, Depp was depriving Heard of tax benefits she would receive through her charitable giving.

Our Denver divorce lawyers seek to provide exceptional client experiences to divorcing couples in Colorado.

Why Is January Known As Divorce Month?

A new year. A new beginning. Or is it a new ending?

Did you know that the first Monday of the year often comes with a peak in divorce filings? The holiday season is usually seen as a time of joy and family, but for many couples, this joy is a façade to mask strife in the relationship or even a last-ditch effort to salvage a failing marriage. There are plenty of reasons a couple might stick it out for the holidays.

One of the most common reasons for January divorces is that parents want to preserve the magical feeling the holiday season brings to children. Starting a divorce right before the holidays introduces grief and uncertainty, which can detract from the kids’ ability to enjoy their celebrations. By waiting until January, the kids are able to enjoy one last holiday as a family.

Another reason January sees a spike in divorces is because of year-end reflections and resolutions. For unhappy couples, the end of the year might make them look forward and decide that they can’t take another year of unhappiness. Emotions run high and couples decide to call it off.

There are also economic reasons couples might want to divorce before the new year ”“ taxes, for example. A person’s marital status on December 31 determines whether the couple will file separately or jointly on the next year’s taxes.

Our Denver family law attorneys wish you the best going into the new year and are willing to assist you in any matters of family law you might need help with.

It’s been several months since the unexpected news of American singer-songwriter Prince’s death. The musician, known for his eclectic style, mastery of many instruments and Purple Rain, often considered one of the best rock albums of all time, was found dead in an elevator at his Minnesota estate after overdosing on an opioid known as Fentanyl. The death came less than a week after Prince’s plane made an emergency stop in Moline, Illinois for emergency medical treatment after he was found unconscious.

Does Prince’s Estate Still Owe Attorney Fees for His 2006 Divorce?

The musician recently appeared in the headlines once more as a result of an ongoing dispute regarding his 2006 divorce from second wife Manuela Testolini. According to Prince’s divorce attorney, Patrick Cousins, Prince’s estate owes him nearly $600,000 for attorney fees accrued during the divorce.

Why would Prince’s estate owe attorney fees 10 years after the divorce was finalized?

According to Cousins, he and the late musician were very close friends who had an agreement that Prince would owe Cousins nothing until all of the divorce’s loose ends were tied up. Cousins says that these loose ends were finally resolved on April 1, 20 days before the musician’s untimely death. When asked about what loose ends took 10 years to clear up, Cousins had no comment.

Our Denver divorce law firm seeks to provide exceptional client experience to divorce couples in Colorado.

How Can I Serve My Spouse Divorce Papers If I Can’t Find Him/Her?

You want a divorce, but your spouse has vanished ”“ won’t answer phone calls or texts, has no online presence and no longer works at any job you know about. What do you do?

If your spouse has pulled a Houdini, it is still possible for you to get a divorce. But the courts will require you to make a good faith effort to find your spouse. There is no law dictating exactly what lengths you need to go to in order to sleuth out your spouse’s location, so it falls to the judge to decide when you’ve done enough. Here are a few things you should look into before you make your case before a judge:

  1. When and where did you last see your spouse?
  2. Check your spouse’s last known address by mail, and in person if possible
  3. Check at your spouse’s last known workplace
  4. Contact any of your spouse’s family members you can and ask if they’ve seen your spouse
  5. Search through the Denver phone books
  6. Search through the Internet
  7. Check Denver criminal court cases either online or at a courthouse
  8. Call the jails near your spouse’s last known address
  9. Check with the DMV
  10. Call local hospitals and homeless shelters

Once you’ve exhausted all possible avenues to find your spouse, you need to file a Motion to Serve by Publication or Posting with the court. After that, a judge will review your motion and decide whether you should be allowed to publish a notice stating your intent to divorce. From there, your divorce attorney can help you proceed if your spouse does not respond to your divorce filing.

Our Denver family law firm delivers strength, confidence and experienced legal representation to clients throughout Colorado.

What Happens To Your Credit Card Debt In Divorces?

A 2013 study showed that nearly 40 percent of U.S. households have credit card debt, with an average of $5,700 in debt. When a couple is getting divorced, credit cards are one of the many things that need to be taken care of. Who gets the debt? Who keeps the card?

Like property, debt in Colorado is divided equitably, not necessarily equally. The courts will look at the total assets and debts of the couple, among other factors, to determine what the fairest split would be.

The first step in solving this issue is identifying which debts you are responsible for. Your credit rating and debts are allocated to your name, and the only way to view this is by requesting your credit report from one of the three major reporting bureaus. This report will inform you which debts are yours and which ones you share with your spouse. From there, you can start the process of removing your name from those joint accounts and closing them where necessary.

A word of warning: you should be diligent in paying all your bills, including those you share with your spouse, both before and after your divorce filing. Divorces can get contentious, and if you name is on an account and your spouse stops paying for it, that can hurt your credit. While many card companies will not allow you to close an account with a balance on it, you may be able to have the company freeze any joint accounts to protect your credit until divorce is finalized.

Denver divorce law attorneys assisting clients in Colorado in matters of property and debt division during divorce.

What Happens To My Retirement Money In Divorce?

In Colorado, assets acquired during marriage are equitably divided between spouses in divorce. Retirement funds are often the largest liquid asset involved in divorce, and come with a lot of complex issues when it comes to division. The largest of these issues is taxes, and depending on the type of retirement fund you have, there could be financial ramifications of dividing retirement money that you should be aware of before a divorce is finalized.

Proper Division Of IRAs

When transferring assets from one spouse’s IRA to another’s, you must label the transfer as “incident to divorce.” This is necessary to avoid penalties for early withdrawal from the IRA. Both the sending and receiving IRA custodians must sign off on the transfer and it must be approved by a judge. This process must be completed within one year of a divorce settlement to avoid review by the Internal Revenue Service.

Proper Division Of Qualified Plans, Such As 401(k)s, Defined Benefit Plans & Pensions

To divide a qualified plan between two parties, you need a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO). A QDRO is a court order that recognizes a former spouse’s interest in their spouse’s qualified plan assets. Using a QDRO, the “participant” transfers assets into the “alternate payee’s” IRA or qualified plan. Much like transfers incident to divorce, these must be reported correctly to the courts and retirement custodians to avoid any unfortunate tax penalties.

If you have questions regarding the division of your retirement accounts in a Colorado divorce, our Denver divorce attorneys are well-equipped to assist you.

2017 Is Coming: 5 New Year’s Resolutions for the Recently Divorced

  1. Pledge to be financially responsible. After a divorce, you are likely going through a major change in your family finances, so grab that bull by the horns and commit now to good money management. Start a 2017 budget and stick to it.
  2. Hit the gym more often. Divorce can lead to grief and depression, and while it might be hard to motivate yourself to exercise, the endorphins released by physical activity are proven to help your emotional state. It doesn’t just have to be the gym, though. You can work exercise into a lot of your daily routines. Bike to work, take the dog for a jog instead of a walk, join a dance class or go hiking with your children or friends.
  3. Start a new hobby. Maybe you were so busy coordinating your life with your ex that you never had time to sit down and pen that fantasy novel that’s been floating around in your head for years. Or maybe there’s a great little art studio around the corner from your new home that offers painting classes on the cheap. Not only do these hobbies keep your brain occupied, but they can teach you new skills that you might find useful in the future, and participating in them can help expand your social circle.
  4. Spend more time with the kids. Divorce is often particularly hard for children ”“ remedy this by showing them how much you love them. Create new traditions like weekly bike rides or monthly movie nights to engage the children and keep an active role in their lives.
  5. If you get off track, don’t give up. All too often, New Year’s resolutions are abandoned once they’ve been broken once. But people forget ”“ two steps forward and one step back is still forward progress. Keep going ”“ you’ll be surprised how you feel at the end of the year.

Our Denver family law firm wishes you the best for your holiday season and the new year to come!

A Year In Celebrity Divorce: 2016 Recap

What a ride 2016 has been in the world of celebrity divorce. Here’s a recap of the Year that Celebrity Love Died.

  • Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. The actress and Coldplay frontman were married in 2002 and lasted 11 years before Gwyneth announced her “conscious uncoupling” from her husband. The two remained good friends and continued to spend time together. The divorce was announced in 2014, but was only finalized this year.
  • Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom. This divorce was tumultuous, even as far as celebrity divorces go. After the two filed, Odom was found unconscious in Nevada and hospitalized for emergency treatment. Kardashian and Odom called off their divorce in the wake of Odom’s health scare, but announced in May that they were, indeed, going to divorce.
  • Frances Bean Cobain and Isaiah Silva. The couple married in 2014 and filed for divorce in 2016. The two have been engaged in a vicious battle over a guitar that belonged to Cobain’s father, Kurt, for several months.
  • Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman. The couple married in 2012 and released a joint statement declaring their divorce intentions in 2016. The divorce appears amicable, and both parents are still actively involved with their two children.
  • Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. The two married in 2015 and made it just over a year before domestic abuse allegations led to their divorce. In a particularly spiteful move over Heard’s divorce settlement, which she intended to donate to charity, Depp decided to skip the middleman and donate the settlement for her. For that, many accused him of using this shady tactic to obtain tax benefits for himself.
  • Perhaps the biggest celebrity divorce bombshell of the year, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. It is said that Angelina decided to split from Brad due to disagreements over the way he parented their six children. The custody battle is still ongoing.

It has been a rough year for celebrity love. As 2016 comes to a close, we look forward to a new day, one we hope is a little less tumultuous for Hollywood lovers.

Our Denver divorce attorneys help Colorado families through matters of marriage, divorce, custody and more.