Friendly divorce guidebook for Connecticut: Planning, negotiating, and filing your divorce [Paperback]

Barbara Kahn Stark (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1998

During the chaos of divorce, the Friendly Divorce Guidebook for Connecticut provides a way to get back in control again. This book explains every step of the divorce process from the initial decision to the final agreement. With a focus on cooperation between spouses, this book contains the information necessary to help negotiate a divorce agreement out of court, or just understand the divorce process better.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Anyone going through divorce will love the Friendly Divorce Guidebook for Connecticut. It not only details the Connecticut legal process, but also encourages the divorcing couple to work through their issues cooperatively. The checklists are great tools for empowering couples to take charge of their own solutions. This book will better prepare anyone to work with an attorney or mediator. -- Michael Becker, President, Connecticut Council for Divorce Mediation

Attorney Stark takes the reader through a step-by-step analysis of all the substantive issues that have to be dealt with in a divorce ... She clearly outlines how parties must look at each of the issues and gives them appropriate options in order to formulate their own divorce agreement. Her description of the mechanical process of divorce in Connecticut is excellent. This is the best book to come on the market for persons doing their own divorce. I highly recommend it to all. -- Elliot J. Nerenberg, Chair Elect of the CT Bar Association Family Law

It's a veritable encyclopedia of definitions, sample forms and common sense aimed at changing the way unhappy couples approach the end of their marriage ... Stark urges people to take control of the process instead of having their attorneys and the court system decide everything for them. -- New Haven Register; April 6, 1998

From the Publisher

Getting a divorce may seem overwhelming. But the Friendly Divorce Guidebook for Connecticut cuts through the chaos of divorce to put you in control.

This book will help you understand:

Your emotions. Emotions run high during a divorce and this book tells you what to expect, how to handle the stress, and when to get extra support or help. Your soon-to-be ex-spouse. This book encourages you to work with-not against-your spouse. Understanding each other's needs and desire now make it less likely that there will be problems in the future. Checklists and other exercises make it easy to figure out what is important to each of you.

Your children. This book includes tips on how to tell your kids about the divorce, how to be a good parent throughout the divorce process, and how to include your kids in making decisions. There's also a section on figuring child support and the Connecticut child support guidelines.

The options. There are sections on different ways to divide property, decide custody and visiting rights, calculate alimony, and even a chapter on how your divorce will affect your income tax payments. Examples make it easy to see how different arrangements might or might not work for you.

The paperwork. This book includes sample forms and step-by-step instructions for filling out these forms.

The process. This book will walk you through the steps necessary to get a legal divorce, from making the decision to enforcing your agreement after the divorce has been approved.

If you've hired a lawyer, this book will give you the knowledge you need to be active and involved in your divorce process. If using a mediator, this book will guide you through a friendly and educated decision-making process. This book also contains all the forms and information needed to approach the divorce process on your own. Whatever your plan, this book will give you the understanding to get through your divorce and move toward a better future.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 390 pages
• Publisher: Bradford Pub. Co (1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883726069
• ISBN-13: 978-1883726065
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,766,399 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazingly helpful!, August 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Friendly divorce guidebook for Connecticut: Planning, negotiating, and filing your divorce (Paperback)

Ms. Stark's book offers both efficiency and compassion as she helps divorcing couples work through the process. Her information is accurate and precise. The advice she provides will enable reasonable people to find resolutions to many of the natural flashpoint issues natural to divorce.

Besides outlining the value of the mediation process in reaching closure and saving money, Stark provides a step-by-step how-to guide. Just as important, she offers an overview of the psychological stages of divorce that offers reassurance and preparation.

As a person using this book myself, I can recommend it to other Nutmeggers who find themselves needing to end a marriage. Doing so is always painful; Stark offers a guiding hand to help manage this passage.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A difficult process made easier by this book, July 8, 2008

By 

vegetarian x "walk softly" (peace, on earth) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Friendly Divorce Guidebook for Connecticut: Planning, Negotiating, and Filing Your Divorce (Paperback)

Divorce is messy. Divorce is scary. This book will guide you through every stage of the process, from deciding whether to divorce, all the way to starting your new life post-divorce. Anyone considering or already immersed in a divorce in the state of Connecticut should have this book as a reference.
My spouse and I did not know whether we wanted to mediate or collaborate; after reading one chapter we went the collaboration route. (The info on litigated/contested divorce kept us on the path to collaboration!)
Ms. Stark writes clearly & concisely. The chapters are well organized to follow the chronology of a divorce. Frequent icons in the margins call attention to certain aspects of your decision making and give advice on the steps involved. The layout is clean and highly readable.
Many references in the back of the book help one find support, services, and materials to get you through. I purchased three other divorce books at the same time, but found myself relying on this one alone.
Consider this a necessity. Consider this helpful even if you don't live in Connecticut!