7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book will save those going through divorce both time and money!, January 7, 2009
This review is from: Nolo's Essential Guide to Divorce (Paperback)
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I was speaking with a client this week regarding a business related matter that I am helping him with and he mentioned the expense of his divorce that he had a different attorney handling. He commented that only the attorneys win and they were the ones making money. I mention this, because I really like the message throughout this book that it is to everyone's benefit, and especially that of children, to make the divorce process as civil as possible. If you don't, you may find yourself in a battle such as Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner in "The War of the Roses."
To help save money, emotional turmoil, and a lot of time, Nolo's "Essential Guide to Divorce" by Attorney Emily Doskow is a great resource for those facing or going through divorce. The book is full of practical advice regarding the legal side of divorce but does not forget that there is an emotional side to divorce as well. Divorces can be very costly, the small amount paid for this book could save one a lot of time and money.
The book starts out with a discussion on the differences between separation, divorce, annulments, etc. It is a good overview and introduction to the topic. Chapter two then delves into the first steps after you decide to divorce. There is a lot to do and this book helps you sort through what needs to be done when.
Chapter three focuses on Uncontested Divorces, or when you can agree on how you want to divide things and part amicably. If only all divorces could be this easy.
Chapter four is on mediation, or how you can work things out with the help of a mediator. In many states you have to go to a mediation as part of the court process. People can save a lot of money by seeking out a mediator at the onset and working toward resolution early rather than committing to long drawn out fights.
Chapter five covers when you can't agree on things and you have a contested divorce and trial. Chapter six then covers custody decisions and parenting. Chapter seven continues by addressing custody disputes. From there, chapter eight goes into child support.
Chapters nine and ten cover the division of marital property. Chapters eleven covers spousal support and health insurance, while chapter twelve covers special issues with military divorces.
Chapter thirteen focuses on getting it in writing and covers the basics of preparing a marital settlement agreement. Chapter fourteen is an ugly chapter, but a necessary one, that covers issues regarding when things to wrong. Topics such as domestic violence, child abuse, kidnapping, and bankruptcy are discussed here.
Chapter fifteen has a lot of information related to after the divorce while chapter sixteen provides a lot of great resources to find additional information and where to get help.
The appendix provides some additional information and some worksheets to assist you with things such as financial inventories, net worth, income and expenses and budgeting.
Being an attorney, I really liked that this book did not tell you to just do everything yourself, but also provided good information on how to find and work with an attorney. Yes, some divorces can be handled by the parties without any assistance, but sometimes having an attorney can really be beneficial. This book will help make those decisions. I will point out that even though this 2nd edition has updated state laws, it is always prudent to research your own state laws and/or discuss with an attorney licensed in your state to ensure laws have not changed.
Rather than spending money on a "Do it Yourself " divorce book, I think anyone considering divorce would benefit from reading this guide and following the excellent advice provided by Emily Doskow. It is well organized and easy to understand. I really wish so many people didn't need this book, but because the divorce rate is so high, it is a good thing Doskow wrote this guide, because it will help a lot of people.
Reviewed by Alain Burrese, author of a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easy to Understand Guide about a Difficult Subject, July 16, 2010
This review is from: Nolo's Essential Guide to Divorce (Paperback)
It goes without saying that when you got married you really meant till death do you part. You'd met your soul mate, you were gonna make a life together and it was going to be heaven on earth. But sometimes people change. Sometimes things don't work out the way you'd thought they were going to. Sometimes people make mistakes. Sometimes stuff happens. Sometimes divorce is the only option.
And if you find that's the case with you, then this book is a good place to see what you've in for, especially if children are involved. However, if children are involved I'd urge you to try extra hard to make your marriage work, but maybe you can't. If that's the case I highly recommend that you get this book and read what Emily Doskow has to say about taking the high road, even if you feel that you are the wronged party, because even though you're divorcing your spouse, you're not divorcing your children.
Ms. Doskow walks you through everything you should do and consider before divorcing, during the proceedings and afterwards, when you've come out on the other end. She does it with compassion in her words and without talking down to you. And, most importantly, she does it in laymen's terms. Lord I hate those books you gotta be a lawyer to understand, that is not the case here. This is a good and useful book about a difficult subject that is easy to understand. It really is an essential guide to divorce.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sobering advice before you take action, May 28, 2009
This review is from: Nolo's Essential Guide to Divorce (Paperback)
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Wading through the rough waters of separation and divorce is a painful journey. If you are considering either, read first, consult later. This book provides a valuable (though general) first look at the realities of divorce. One of the most valuable points of advice is to seek mediation over litigation, an opinion shared by some of my ethical lawyer friends, who note that mediation saves money, time, dignity and angst. But because mediation is not always possible, this book does help to prepare the reader for some harsher scenarios. Overall, this Nolo guide's greatest contribution is a realistic introduction to a complex subject; the better prepared one can be when approaching divorce, the better the outcome. A bit generalized, it receives four stars instead of five, but worth the money. Recommended.
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