Prince Divorce Update: Records To Be Made Public

We wrote last week about a development in the case of the late singer-songwriter Prince’s 2006 divorce from Manuela Testolini. Prince’s attorney claimed that the musician’s estate owed him nearly $600,000 due to a verbal agreement between him and Prince that no attorney fees would be owed until the finer details of the divorce were finalized. The attorney claims that these finer details were settled on April 1, 20 days before Prince’s untimely death.

More news appeared this week declaring that Prince’s divorce records would be unsealed on January 13, despite objections from Testolini that unsealing the records would open her up to harassment. The Minneapolis Star Tribune wants the records publicly released, but Testolini’s lawyers said that the release should not happen because the records are tied to a private settlement.

Certain details of the records will be redacted from the release, including things like financial information. Other than those few details, the judge says that the divorce records don’t contain anything else that would warrant censorship from the public eye.

Prince died at the age of 57. He was found unresponsive in an elevator at his Paisley Park home and recording studio. The cause of death was eventually revealed to have been an overdose on the painkiller fentanyl. After his death, the United States Senate passed a resolution praising his achievements as a musician, composer, innovator and cultural icon.

Denver divorce lawyers helping couples throughout Colorado come to equitable agreements on the terms of their dissolution of marriage.

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.

Don’t Delete Your Emails – How Electronic Data Can Help & Hurt A Divorce

What happens to all your emails, texts, Tweets, Facebook posts and other digital information during a divorce?

Electronic data has become more and more important in divorce cases as computers and smartphones have become more and more ubiquitous. The rise of social media has made it so that there is so much information you can find about a person through the Internet. But how is it used in divorce cases, and what can you do to protect your data?

  1. Don’t delete anything! Your emails, your social media updates, and all electronic data should not be tampered with. It creates the impression of wrongdoing and could be considered spoliation of evidence, which can result in fines or other sanctions.
  2. Restrict your online activity while the divorce is ongoing. Don’t post about any new relationships or anything that might suggest you are spending money frivolously.
  3. Change ALL your passwords and your security questions for account recovery. Make sure the answers are things only you know and that your ex-spouse cannot find out.
  4. Use a new email address for your personal business.
  5. Adjust your privacy settings on social media accordingly.
  6. Have control of your electronic devices. Many people sync contacts, calendars and other information across different devices, which could lead to unauthorized access to your accounts.
  7. Don’t try to dig up information on your spouse without the assistance of an attorney. Some methods of acquiring digital data may be illegal, and you don’t want to have that reflected on you.

Denver divorce attorneys assisting Colorado families in matters of family law, through tailored actions designed to secure the best outcome.

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.

Mary J. Blige Divorce Gets Uglier As Husband Withholds Assets

Nine-time Grammy Award winner Mary J. Blige filed for divorce from her husband Martin “Kendu” Isaacs in July this year, citing irreconcilable differences. Ever since, it seems like this rollercoaster of a divorce has gone to deeper and deeper depths. The divorce started with a bang, as Isaacs was not only Blige’s husband, but also her manager, a business relationship that was promptly severed by the divorce.

In September, TMZ reported contention between the two regarding the prenuptial agreement that they signed. Blige’s attorney asked the judge presiding over their case to rule on the validity of the prenup, which Isaac’s attorney called “invalid, unenforceable and unconscionable.”

In November, it was revealed that Isaacs was requesting quite the sum of money from Blige: nearly $130,000 per month in spousal support, $100,000 for attorney fees and $30,000 in forensic accountant fees, which he argues is necessary due to Blige cutting off his access to their joint business and personal accounts.

Where Are They Now?

In mid-December, Blige filed new documents accusing Isaacs of withholding significant assets from her. Among them: a Range Rover that Isaacs was supposed to return in February, a Mercedes C300 that Blige wants (while allowing Isaacs to keep the other Mercedes) and ”“ yes ”“ one of Blige’s Grammy Awards. Blige has also accused Isaacs of stealing $420,000 from her, which he allegedly spent on “business expenses” that had absolutely nothing to do with her business.

Denver divorce lawyers serving clients in matters of family law throughout Colorado.

Can Mediation Make My Divorce Cheaper?

Divorce is expensive, there is no way around that. The average cost of a divorce in the United States as of 2015 is somewhere in the range of $15,000-$20,000. This price can be prohibitive for some people, but there are ways to bring the costs down.

Mediation

Mediation is one of those ways. Mediation is a way for a couple to work through their problems to arrive at an agreement that both parties accept and find fair. Once the terms of the divorce are agreed upon, a divorce settlement can be drafted. The key to mediation, though, is the ability to work amicably with your spouse. Not every couple can do this, but it can drive down the costs of divorce. Some couples will use this method to avoid having to pay for an attorney, but even in those cases, it is still a good idea to have an attorney look over the final agreement to ensure that neither party makes a costly mistake; after all, some agreements cannot be changed once the divorce is final.

Collaborative Divorce

You might also consider what is called a collaborative divorce, which is similar to mediation in that you are working together with your spouse as well as separate attorneys for each of you. You might share an accountant or therapist, but lawyers cannot be shared. This is one way to avoid a lengthy and expensive litigation process.

Speak with an Experienced Denver Family Law Attorney

If you find that there is no way to be amicable with your spouse for the divorce proceedings, you may also consider arbitration, which is similar to going to court but is usually quicker and less expensive. You would pay an arbitrator to act as a judge and make all of the decisions a judge would. The best way to decide which option is right for you would be to present your case to a divorce lawyer.

Quitclaim Deeds Can Make Refinancing Home Easier

Financial difficulties are pretty common in divorce cases, especially involving the marital home. With one party now absent, whoever ends up with the house might face daunting costs related to taxes, upkeep and utilities. Many divorcees will refinance their homes, but depending on their credit, interest rates might actually go up, making it even more difficult to keep the home.

What is a Quitclaim and How Can it Help?

This is one situation that could benefit from something called a quitclaim deed. What this does is shift the ownership of the home from one party to another. This has a few potential benefits.

In a situation where one spouse has much better credit than the other, a quitclaim deed can be essential in getting lower interest rates from home refinancing. You go through the process to transfer the house to the party with better credit, and that party can apply for refinancing and likely get a better interest rate. However, this is not a simple process due to the nature of mortgage companies.

Quitclaim deeds can also be used when one spouse wants to add the other to titles of separate property, when property needs to be transferred as a result of a divorce settlement or when one spouse wants to be removed from a title.

Quitclaim Requirements

Additionally, quitclaim deeds can be used to convert marital property into separate property, exempting it from the process of equitable division of assets. For a quitclaim deed to be valid, it must:

  • Be in written form
  • List the involved spouses
  • Identify the property by address or by legal description
  • Be signed in the presence of a notary public
  • Be recorded in the county where the property is located

Contact a Colorado Family Law Attorney

If you have questions about property division during divorce or would like more details on quitclaim deeds, speak to a Colorado family law attorney. The team at Divorce Matters has the skills and experience to help you!

You Don’t Need to Be James Bond to Find Your Spouse’s Hidden Assets

In this increasingly digital world, there are more options than ever before for finding out if your spouse is hiding marital assets. But you don’t have to be James Bond and spy on them ”“ in fact, that can get you into a lot of trouble.

Be Wary of “Snooping”

It might be tempting to run to the spy store and purchase a cheap GPS tracking unit to hide on your spouse’s car, giving you an idea of where he or she has been ”“ visits to a bank you weren’t aware he or she had an account, for example. The more technically savvy spouse might even go as far as to install spy software on the home WiFi to sniff incoming packets for suspicious info. Here’s why you shouldn’t.

Domestic courts in Colorado are courts of equity, so snooping, while a legal gray area, could hurt you in the courtroom. If the courts become aware of your snooping, you could be seen as the bad guy/girl. This could factor into every aspect of your divorce ”“ child custody, property division, etc.

The High Road Approach to Finding Hidden Assets

It is not that difficult to find hidden assets when you have access to the particular set of skills of a divorce attorney. Attorneys can subpoena a great deal of your spouse’s electronic data, and it is very difficult to hide assets without leaving a digital trail of breadcrumbs. Emails, cell phone activity ”“ most of the things that you would probably be able to find by snooping can be found legally and effectively by a divorce attorney.

Speak with a Colorado Divorce Attorney

So don’t risk a charge for spying or stalking ”“ you’re not a 00 agent. Don’t risk your standing in court. Speak to a divorce attorney, and you will get the help you need to ensure an equitable division of your marital property.

How To Deal With 3 Common Divorce Fears

Divorce can be a scary time. It is a huge upheaval in a person’s life. You will have to consider money, your kids and maybe a new place to live. As such, it is not uncommon for divorce proceedings to be underlined with a pervasive sense of fear or anxiety, especially regarding property and money. The good news is that the three big fears about the financial ramifications of divorce can be mitigated through a little work and planning.

The Three “Divorce Fears” and How to Deal With Them

Many divorcees worry that they are not getting their fair share of assets. The more assets a couple has, the scarier it can be, especially when there are homes, stock options and businesses to consider. This is why Colorado uses equitable division to split marital property. Your share may not be equal, but as long as all assets are discovered or disclosed, the courts will split them accordingly. A divorce attorney can help you ensure that you get your fair share.

  1. Another common fear is not knowing exactly which property you will get to keep. Maybe you want the house, but don’t have enough liquid assets to ensure that you will be able to keep it. The way to lessen this fear is to take inventory of your assets, and know which are liquid and which are not. Having $500,000 in cash is very different than having a $500,000 house, after all, and you want to be able to remain financially flexible after your divorce instead of being stuck with only illiquid assets.
  2. The other big fear can be simply summed up as fear of change. Will I have enough money left after spousal support (maintenance, alimony), child support, taxes and living expenses to survive and thrive? Will I need to sell the house and move somewhere else? How will the divorce affect my health insurance? These are big questions, and there are a lot of them. Speaking to a financial advisor can help you budget for your future and assuage these fears.

Get in Touch With an Experienced Divorce Attorney

Divorce is a big change, but there are people out there ready to help you. If you have any questions about your finances during and after divorce, bring them up with a divorce attorney.

Divorce Matters ”“ Denver Family Law Attorneys

How Is Foreign Property Divided in Divorce?

If you and your spouse own property outside of the United States ”“ a condo in Europe, or beach house in South America ”“ then when it comes time to get divorced, you will likely face a complicated situation in terms of property division. Because the property is in another country, Colorado courts don’t have jurisdiction over that property. However, this does not mean that the property’s value cannot be split.

If the value of the property has been established, then the courts can still consider that value when devising a plan for equitable property division. Say you own a $150,000 home in London and have $400,000 worth of assets in domestic property. The courts may use that $150,000 in the final property judgment by awarding the party that loses the foreign property a greater share of the domestic assets.

Colorado courts can also order one party to sell or liquidate foreign property under penalty of contempt of court if the order is ignored.

Additionally, depending on what country the property is in, the foreign government may have policies in place that allow them to help enforce a U.S. court order. However, that is outside of the realm of U.S. family law and would have to be dealt with accordingly.

In some situations, though, the court may devise simply that it has no power over the foreign property. It is unusual, but it has happened before.

Contact a Colorado Property Distribution Lawyer Now

Any issues or concerns you have related the to equitable division of marital property in divorce should be discussed with an experienced family law attorney. Call the professional legal team at Divorce Matters today!