Divorce and Money: Everything You Need to Know [Mass Market Paperback]

Gayle Rosenwald Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 6, 2004

Walk Away From Divorce with Financial Security

Family lawyer Gayle Rosenwald Smith has designed this thoroughly researched, practical, and easy-to-read guide to help the reader through difficult, emotional, and often overwhelming divorce processes. She comprehensively explains the financial issues that can impact divorce and, most importantly, tells the reader what they can do to better understand their situation and how to take proper action.

Included are effective tools and strategies to:

€ Choose the best lawyers, financial advisors, and more
€ Track assets with checklists and charts
€ Evaluate and understand stock options and other "perks"
€ Prepare a budget and expense sheets
€ Value business, pension plans, and retirement funds-401(k)s, IRAs, and more
€ Understand the importance of insurance in divorce
€ Determine the best course of action for the family home and other property
€ Get a good property settlement agreement
€ Ensure your future financial security and economic well being

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Smith (What Every Woman Should Know About Divorce and Custody), a Philadelphia attorney specializing in family law, believes that divorce often causes people to make emotional decisions that can lead to dire financial consequences. They end up selling homes, losing businesses or paying off spousal debt without considering the move's long-term impact. "It is essential to look at the big picture. If you can't logically and rationally identify all the `things' you own, you will lose the opportunity to fight for them," says Smith in the book's introduction. She begins by identifying what's included in marital assets and how to conduct an inventory of this property. She discusses homes at length since the decision whether to move out or sell a house is one of the most significant decisions in divorce proceedings. This one issue touches on the impact divorce has on children, the ability of a spouse to buy-out the other spouse's share and whether the spouse keeping the house can continue to pay the mortgage. There's also advice on finding attorneys, valuing businesses, retirement plans, alimony and more. While the book covers a wide range of issues, it is quite accessible. Smith's friendly and reassuring style will appeal to readers frustrated and uneasy about the divorce process.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Gayle Rosenwald Smith is a Philadelphia lawyer concentrating her practice in family law. She is a member of the American Bar Association and the Philadelphia Bar Association. Her articles have appeared in such publications as the Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia magazine, Money.com, and TheLaw.com. She is also the co-author, with Sally Abrahms, of What Every Woman Should Know about Divorce and Custody.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Perigee Trade (January 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399529438
• ISBN-13: 978-0399529436
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #598,056 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is the wrong book!, July 12, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Divorce and Money: Everything You Need to Know (Mass Market Paperback)

I got this book on accident after my friend recommended the Nolo book by the same name. I was really not expecting much and this book lived up to my expectations because it kept saying "Go see a lawyer! Go see a lawyer!" Then my friend saw I had the wrong book... Part of the reason I picked up this book was all the good reviews, but then I see that many of them come from Philadelphia, where this book's author is from. Coincidence? Probably not because all their comments don't seem to match the contents. Do yourself a favor and get the Nolo book, it's really much better.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TWICE BURNED! This is the real deal, March 1, 2004

By 

James N. Trachtenberg "Z8Jim" (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Divorce and Money: Everything You Need to Know (Mass Market Paperback)

2 marriages down and this book is saving me major dollars in ending the 2nd one!
It has helped me to understand all of the issues that I need to deal with as well as to learn what info I needed to gather. In my 1st divorce, I caved because I did not know where to go to get help with my home work. Now, finally, I have learned the importance of focusing on the facts and documenting all of my home work as well as business transactions.
This book is so very user-friendly.....it breaks down complicated info into readily understandable (in English!) usable knowledge. I read 2 other books on the same topics and my eyes glazed over.....too boring!!! This book is the ONE AND ONLY WAY TO SAVE MONEY IN LAWYER FEES AND EMOTIONAL CAPITAL.....8 STARS****

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars VERY HELPFUL, February 12, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Divorce and Money: Everything You Need to Know (Mass Market Paperback)

From a divorced health professional: This is a great book, packed with up to date, realistic and useful information at a reasonable price, particularly as compared to other alternatives. It is NOT biased in directing the reader to a lawyer, but instead offers practical advice when a "one size fits all" or "cookbook" answer would be inappropriate or varies by state or county. To the contrary, a main point of this book is to encourage the reader to understand the financial issues involved, so as to be able to take personal responsibility to try to minimize legal fees. An ounce of prevention can be worth a pound of cure, before making final decisions and signing on the dotted line. Moreover, a word of caution: the judicial system, as in the court, judges, masters, etc. respond negatively to people who represent themselves, particularly when the opposing side has legal representation. Even out of court, if your spouse has a lawyer and you don't, it would be self-destructive to go up against them on your own. It would be folly to try and "buck the system" to save a buck. In fact, if a lawyer recommends this book to a client, that's a good sign that they will NOT take advantage of that client, who is then well informed, and more likely to be able to do some of the background work for themselves. This book helps take the stress out by giving you the knowledge to help yourself and thereby to help your lawyer, IF you use one.