Financial Stability in Two Households
This is splitting the day-to-day finances of one household into two. Learn how to balance income and expenses for both of you (and children), assess future earning potential and explore various financial support types, like child support, spousal support (alimony/maintenance) or direct expenses.
Cash Flow - Making Two Households Work Financially
An introduction to the cash flow analysis in divorce, focusing on income and expenses post-divorce and the ability of parties to support themselves (and children).
Income - How to Calculate What you Earn or What you Should Earn
In order to determine if you have sufficient money to meet your reasonable financial needs, you need to map out income.
Cash Flow - Is Support Needed?
Once you have a budget and income, the next step is to determine if you need support. Learn about this fundamental questions and types of support to consider.
Spousal Support - Everything you Need to Know
Learn all the considerations and elements of the analysis of spousal support, one of the most challenging financial aspects of divorce.
Child Support - Providing Financial Stability for the Children
Learn the key aspects of child support, including its purpose, calculation, enforcement, modification, and potential impact on your post-divorce financial situation.
Direct Expenses as Support
By allocating specific expenses to each spouse, direct payment arrangements provide transparency, accountability, and flexibility, allowing for a more tailored approach to financial support that meets the unique needs and circumstances of the family.
Children’s Direct Expenses as Part of Support
Learn the practicalities of implementing agreements on sharing direct expenses for children after divorce, aiming to provide clarity and guidance and avoid potential conflict.
Combination of Support Types
Integration of support types, like spousal support, child support and direct payment of expenses, can provide for unique agreements tailored to your specific circumstances.
Lump Sum/Buyout of Support Payments
Learn the pros and cons of making a lump sum buyout of support.
Income
Money or other financial benefits that you receive in exchange for providing goods or services, or as a return on investments, often in the form of wages, salaries, tips, bonuses, commissions, rental income, interest, dividends, capital gains, and other sources.
Long-Term Spousal SUpport
Also known as indefinite spousal support or permanent spousal support, a type of financial support provided to a spouse who is unable to achieve financial self-sufficiency due to factors such as income, age, health, or other circumstances.
Variable Costs
Also known as discretionary expenses, living expenses that are more variable and potentially more controllable than fixed expenses; they may be irregular and hard to plan for because these expenses are not always consistent and can be hard to budget.
Marital Standard of Living
Also known as standard of living, the degree of comfort you and your spouse lived in during your marriage, including the home you lived in, the vacations you took, restaurants you ate at and the overall lifestyle that you lived.
Waiver Agreement
A binding spousal support agreement that does not have an opening for modification meaning both parties waive their right to seek a modification in the amount or duration of spousal support.
Self Support
The point in time when a individual can meet their own reasonable budget with their own income without needing any additional support from a former spouse.
Cost of Living Adjustment
Also known as COLA, a periodic increase in financial support, such as alimony or child support, to account for changes in the cost of living, typically based on inflation or other economic factors.
Buyout
Also known as lump sum, when the payor spouse makes a single, upfront payment to the recipient spouse in lieu of ongoing periodic payments of spousal support in final settlement of future spousal support obligations.
Payor
The spouse that provides financial support to the other spouse (the recipient).
Direct Payments
A support payment method where the paying party makes support payments directly to the receiving party through cash or a check.
Reimbursement Method
The sharing of children’s direct expenses with one parent initially covering an expense and then requesting reimbursement from the other parent for their share of the cost.
Gross Income
Money coming into a household from all sources, including employment earnings, investments, and any other financial inflows before any deductions or taxes.
COLA
Also known as cost of living adjustment, a periodic increase in financial support, such as alimony or child support, to account for changes in the cost of living, typically based on inflation or other economic factors.
Cash Flow
The amount of cash being transferred into and out of a household during a specific period used to evaluate financial stability and the sustainability of a household moving forward post-divorce and determine if support is needed.
Income Deductions
Funds removed from gross income prior to receiving the funds, such as taxes, medical insurance premiums or retirement.
Future-focused
Looking to anticipated expenses or events rather than a review of expenses already incurred.
Mom Pays/Dad Pays Method
The sharing of children’s direct expenses by allocating responsibility specific expenses to each parent based on an agreed-upon arrangement.
Wage Garnishment
A support payment method where funds are withheld directly from the payor’s paycheck through wage garnishment or income withholding orders, ensuring timely and consistent payments, most common when the payor has failed to make payments or has been difficult to work with on support.
Immediate Spousal Support
A form of short-term financial support provided to one spouse during the divorce process, often before the finalization of the divorce settlement, to address the immediate financial needs of the recipient spouse, ensuring they can meet needs throughout the divorce proceedings.
Standard of Living
Also known as marital standard of living, the degree of comfort you and your spouse lived in during your marriage, including the home you lived in, the vacations you took, restaurants you ate at, and the overall lifestyle that you lived.
Discretionary Expenses
Also known as variable costs, living expenses that are more variable and potentially more controllable than fixed expenses; they may be irregular and hard to plan for because these expenses are not always consistent and can be hard to budget.
Permanent Spousal Support
Also known as indefinite spousal support or tong-term spousal support, a type of financial support provided to a spouse who is unable to achieve financial self-sufficiency due to factors such as income, age, health, or other circumstances.
