For most people, this means the end of love. For Herve, it didn’t end with his divorce, because the love he and his ex-wife shared for their daughter remained.
Herve explains how he told his daughter about their separation and how this approach is helping other families to minimize the traumatic impact of separation.
Social Security is an important part of nearly every American's retirement plan. While it likely won't be enough by itself to cover your costs in retirement, it still will provide a decent foundation. Here are 3 tips to increase the amount you can get from the program:
No. 1: Work longer. Social Security bases its payment for your retirement on your highest 35 years of wage earnings. Working more as a seasoned professional may erase $0 or low-income early career years.
No. 2: Start collecting later. The longer you wait to start your Social Security check, the bigger it will be, up until you reach age 70. If you haven't yet reached age 70, it's an 8% per year increase for delaying between your full retirement age and age 70.
No. 3: Earn more. Any increase in your wage-type income up to the max -- currently at $117,000 -- increases your eventual benefit check unless you already have 35 higher-income or maxed-out years on your record.
Are you struggling because you don't where to turn, now that you are getting a divorce? Divorcing Divas offer their Top Ten Tips to help you get through the legal, financial, and emotional hurdles of divorce. Learn that you are not alone. Hear practical advice on where to go to get support. Remember: it's not the end... it's the beginning.
Consulting a Social Security disability attorney is a smart move for workers who've become incapacitated due to injury or illness and are no longer able to do their previous jobs. Applying for support is a five-step process that can be complicated and cumbersome. Having sound legal advice can help make the process less confusing for claimants and their families.
The claim should be filed as soon as possible after the accident, illness, or injury. The qualification process can take a year or more, and the sooner a claim is filed after the disability occurs, the better. It's important to establish a timeline early on so that it's clear that the incident or illness caused the disability. The applicant will need to prove that they are no longer able to perform the main duties of the previous job and that the disability prevents them from gaining meaningful work in another or related field. Information like doctor's reports, an official job description, and specific details about the illness, injury, or accident can help establish the validity of a claim. All of this information will be useful during the initial application process and interview.
The application will be reviewed, and the Social Security office will determine:
- Whether the applicant is able to complete his or her former job functions.
- How the work the applicant did compares to how the job is done nationally and whether the applicant can complete the same job in a different way.
- How the injury or illness has affected the applicant's ability to do his or her job effectively.
- Whether the applicant can be trained to do a different job.
In order to determine the answers to these questions, the office will look over medical records, laboratory test results, and other information provided. A Social Security disability attorney can help the applicant understand what is necessary. It's important to turn all forms and information in on time. The applicant is responsible for ensuring the disability office gets all the information it needs to make a determination.
Once the application is accepted, an interview will take place, either by phone or in person. The application process can take three to five months. It's an arduous process, but a necessary one if one is disabled and unable to work. Once the application has been fully processed, the office will make a determination based on whether the applicant's condition matches one on an existing list of disabilities, and the individual's ability to work, either in the previous job or in another job.
Seventy percent of claims are denied, which is why it's important to have an experienced Social Security disability attorney on hand to answer questions and help with the appeals process. Once the claim has been denied, the applicant can file an appeal, either online or by mail. New and updated information from doctors, physical therapists, and others may be helpful when filing an appeal. A Social Security disability attorney can advise claimants on the proper steps to take and documentation to provide when appealing a denial.
As a marriage starts out in euphoria, sometimes it doesn't last and soon enters into a divorce. Around half of all marriages will fall apart and eventually file for divorce. The next step that should be considered is either obtaining a divorce attorney or attempting to file all the legal documents by yourself. There should be some careful consideration before a decision is made.
No one goes into a marriage thinking they will eventually file for a divorce. Dismally in our society, divorces have become more common and accepting than generations before. Either way, the whole family is hurt by a divorce. Emotions and strengths of character are tested during the roller coaster ride of a divorce. By having emotions and feelings being hit so hard, a person going through a divorce should not have to deal with the legal issues pertaining to their case. This era in one's life should not be thought lightly and a divorce attorney should be hired to ease the burden. Even if you are contemplating hiring a divorce attorney, it should be considered that even lawyers will hire and delegate their own divorces to other attorneys.
Advantages When Hiring a Divorce Attorney
1. Experience- Many people going through a divorce, do not have the slightest clue of the legal proceedings. A divorce attorney, on the other hand, will know exactly what and when to proceed with filings. Having a legal professional that has expertise in family law will be an advantage to your side. They will be able to educate and inform their clients about the particulars of divorce laws that are unique to your locality. Family law specialists will be able to offer their insight on what the outcome of the divorce will yield. There is no perfect divorce equation, but having the experience, a divorce lawyer can have a good guess on what is going to happen.
2. Local Experience- Hiring a local attorney is much better than hiring a high profile attorney that is not located in your jurisdiction. Not only will they understand the local laws, but they will have a good impression on other lawyers, court clerks, and judges who will be running your case. This is an advantage as the lawyer can predict actions of judges and anticipate other divorce attorneys moves.
3. No Emotional Bond- From the emotional toll before and during your divorce proceedings, you will become attached to certain items and intangible aspects through the divorce. A divorce attorney will not have the emotional bond to a court case that a person going through the divorce will have. There is no doubt that the legal representative will have your best interest, but he or she will not make irrational decisions based on emotions. They will rather base decisions on fair compensation and legal practices. If a person is going through a divorce with children, these emotions are even higher, having another reason to hire a family law specialist.
4. Efficient- If a person is trying to complete their own divorce, it will take a lot of research, time and effort to understand the legal filing process, terms, and procedures. If that same person is working and taking care of kids, it's nearly impossible to complete efficiently. When hiring a divorce attorney, these tasks will be handled swiftly and professionally by your divorce lawyer.
5. Expertise- By working with the same type of clients and dealing with the legal system, a divorce lawyer has built an expertise in the family law field. Other attorneys may practice different entities of the legal system, but an attorney who deals strictly with family law and divorce will have built their reputation and expertise in that field. Whenever hiring an attorney, always make sure they have expertise or credentials showing their skills in their field of practice.
If you are deciding whether or not to hire a divorce attorney, it will be much easier on you and your family if you do. By hiring a divorce lawyer, he/she will be giving the professionalism and experience that is needed when dwelling into the legal system. The divorce attorney be as efficient as possible with filing papers with the courts and not having the emotional bond that their clients hold onto during a divorce. Hiring an expert in the field of family law will give you an advantage and save much time and effort during a high turmoil time in your life.
