Customer Reviews

Getting Divorced Without Ruining Your Life: A Reasoned, Practical Guide to the Legal, Emotional and Financial Ins and Outs of Negotiating a Divorce Settlement

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Having made the painful decision to divorce, I am trying to do it in the "best" way possible, in terms of the effect on our children. Being a lawyer myself, I understand first-hand what a poor solution litigation is to family problems. The author makes the very valid point that the legal process is liable to lead you to take actions that are contrary to your long-term interests: an effective parenting plan, the maximum financial benefit, and emotional health and well-being. Legal battles drive you apart, escalate conflict, and cost a lot of money. He suggests negotiation as an alternative, and provides a blueprint for the process.

One caveat: some of the information in this edition is slightly out of date, since it is from 1991. Also, if you are in a community property state, much of the advice on dividing up the marital estate is going to be inapplicable.

After my wife told me she wanted a divorce, I bought several divorce books and all were reasonably helpful. Then I stumbled on this one. It puts all the rest to shame. I wish I had found it earlier in the process, and am grateful to have found it when we have given only $5000 to lawyers who have done nothing but confuse the issues. If you even think you might ever get divorced, get this book. I wish I had read it years ago--I may have been able to prevent my divorce!

My kids are happy because their father and I have had a truly amicable divorce. We work cooperatively as parents, so our kids have adjusted well although the situation has been painful for them (and for us). This book helped us to work out tricky custody and financial issues. It helped us avoid costly adversarial litigation. The book is sensible, down-to-earth and filled with good solid advice. We were fortunate enough to live in close proximity to one of Dr. Margulies' two locations of practice (NJ and NC) and to work with him personally on issues we could not resolve on our own. He is as excellent in person as he is in print! He has a good sense of humor, lots of compassion and a wealth of experience in dealing with sensitive subjects. I highly recommend the book, and I also recommend him as a mediator.

Everyone wins: the husband, the wife, the kids, and yes, even the lawyers, because Sam Margulies illuminates the way. It has been 6 years since our divorce, and I am delighted to report that everyone is happy and speaking to each other, and the children have great emotional health. The goal is to optimize everyone's chances for future happiness, and especially, to do nothing to cause further grief. Thanks to one section of the book, I negotiated half alimony if I remarried, and a return to full alimony if that marriage resulted in a divorce. We all agreed that this pension-like plan was fair because I spent 30 years helping my physician husband develop his career when I could have been developing my own. Friends and family say that my ex-husband and I had the best divorce they ever heard of!

This book is worth it's weight in gold. It covers all there is to know about divorce: financial, custody/visitation, legal, how to deal with lawyers, emotional, and practical aspects. My ex recommended it to me, and it was amazing help in getting through the process -- I only wish she had read it more herself!

Many of our friends have spent thousands on lawyer fees and ended up frustrated and bitter. Following Sam Margulies' advice, we were able to work out an equitable divorce settlement that was approved by the court within a month of the final divorce decree. Our total fees were less than $1000.00, and our relationship has remained good enough to make decisions about our children together with the kids' best interests in mind. Unlike others we know, we've both been able to move on with our separate lives.

A clearly written book that tells you what to do and how to avoid the legal traps that can get you caught up in a web of anger, endless money (to the lawyers),and frustration. Everyone should read it before they make a mess of their divorce. Hats off to Margulies.

This is a good, practical guide with commonsense advice to parents who are going through a divorce. If you read this book and follow its guidelines you won't need to spend endless amounts of time and huge amounts of money with lawyers and other mediators. Margulies knows his stuff and it works!

I give this book to all my clients at our first meeting. This book will help divorcing couples stay sane and get what they need out of their divorce process. Every chapter has guidance and words of wisdom. I recommend this book to every person who is thinking of, or going through, divorce.

My ex-wife liked this book a lot; not surprising ... the advice to women is "you're entitled to a lot of cash from this process". The advice to men? Just hand over your wallet ... there, now see how the conflicts over money just evaporate? No money? No conflict. It's better for everybody. Don't bother with this piece of trash.