Domestic violence is an issue that touches millions of lives every year. In the coming days, Tessmer Law Firm will provide tips and information on this important subject, beginning with some facts:   1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States - more than car accidents, rape and muggings combined. About 4,000 women die each year as a result of domestic violence. 1 in 3 abused children will become abusers themselves. On average, a woman will leave an...

Picking up and starting over after the loss of decades worth of plans is the most crushing aspect of divorce after age 50.  Change that touches every aspect of your life can be emotionally devastating.  It is natural to grieve. You have, after all, spent half a lifetime together, if not more.  But put conscious effort into moving forward and make the second half of your life worth living. You can now make choices and be open to opportunities that you may not have considered before divorce. Surround yourself with supportive family and friends.  Stay active and involved in your...

Consult with a qualified attorney, even if you feel your situation is simple. Don’t make any agreements before you are fully informed. Even though you may agree to something and you know you can change your mind about it, don't set up that expectation. By negotiating too early, you may create barriers and expectations that make later negotiations more difficult. Spouses need to be on an even playing field with both knowing what they have and what their range of options are. That will save money and heartache down the road....

In all cases, “gray” divorce or otherwise, make sure that any tax issues are reviewed prior to finalizing.  This ensures that neither spouse ends up owing a tax bill that could have been reduced, or avoided entirely. To split some assets, a divorcing couple will need a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), which is designed to protect the couple from owing taxes when retirement funds are transferred from one to another.  This is not a “do-it-yourself” document.  A QDRO must be properly written, or you can incur tax penalties.  This is another good reason to consult a qualified family law...

Retirement savings become especially important in a “gray” divorce. It is best to try to avoid accessing retirement savings before retirement, if possible. Spouses in a “gray” divorce have fewer working years left to contribute to separate retirement savings accounts, and less time to recover from any depletion of retirement accounts. Early withdrawals from retirement funds can result in penalties and fees for withdrawals before age 59 ½ as well as potential increased taxes and delays in retirement. Both spouses may have to delay their retirement or adjust their standard of living to either contribute more to their savings now...

In Texas, alimony is called spousal support or spousal maintenance.  Spousal support provides a spouse with periodic payments from the former spouse's future income that continues after the divorce. Spousal support is not automatically ordered.  Many factors are considered by the Court when determining if spousal support is appropriate, such as each spouse’s financial resources, education and employment skills, and the length of the marriage. To find out if you may qualify to receive spousal support, you should consult with an experienced family law attorney....