Author Archives: Amos Whitney
Human Lawyer vs. Chat GPT: is it advisable to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to draft a Marital Settlement Agreement? (Part II)
Human Lawyer vs. Chat GPT: is it advisable to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to draft a Marital Settlement Agreement? (Part II) On May 13, 2024, Google unveiled its newest AI Tool, Chat GBT 4.0. As a follow up to the experiment contained in the prior Blog on this topic, the directions, below, were typed… Read More »
QDROs: 401k? 403b? 457b? What’s the Difference?
It’s time to get a QDRO drafted. But, there are many different types of retirement accounts: 401k, Roth 401k, 401a, 403b, 457b, IRAs and more. All these numbers and letters can begin to blur. What’s the difference between them? Let’s begin with how they are similar. First, they are all forms of deferred income,… Read More »
Custody/Access Schedules for Children
One of the biggest concerns of parents during a divorce or custody action is the custody/access schedule for their children. For many parents who live together with their children, the thought of not seeing their children every day is overwhelming. So, most parents meeting with an attorney are going to ask, “what type of… Read More »
Top Ten Tips for Filling out your Long Form Financial Statement
If you are involved in a divorce case in which alimony (and possibly child support) is being sought, you may be required to fill out something called a Long Form Financial Statement. While the required form is set forth in Maryland Family Law Subsection 9-203, there is no guidance provided as to how best… Read More »
Kristin Cavallari Did It, How Do I? How to Best Introduce Children to Your New Relationship:
Last weekend Kristin Cavallari shared a photo of one of her sons spending time with her new boyfriend, Mark Estes. Post divorce, when parents begin dating again, the question of when to introduce your child(ren) to the new partner will inevitably arise. Consider the following when navigating how to introduce your child(ren) to your… Read More »
How long does it take for a QDRO to be completed?
Divorcing couples are often faced with having a QDRO drafted. One of the first questions they ask is “How long will this take?” For many, it seems that a QDRO should be similar to a transaction at a bank, like moving money from one account to another account. It would seem that it would… Read More »
Parent Coordination: Helping You Co-Parent for the Benefit of Your Children
While some families are able to transition from an “intact” family to a family with two homes (either post-divorce or separation) seamlessly, the reality is most families cannot. No co-parenting relationship is exactly 50/50 even when parents are together. Sometimes, one parent stays home and takes a larger role in the day-to-day management of… Read More »
Top 5 Methods (with Agreement Language) to Divide Your Furniture and Furnishings When Separating/Divorcing
It is always the best practice to be more specific as opposed to less specific when drafting the terms and provisions of a Separation Agreement or Marital Settlement Agreement. While it may seem like “overkill” at the time, it is always advisable to have clear and carefully drafted language to fall back on in… Read More »
QDROs: Shared vs. Separate?
One question you may hear when preparing to divide a retirement plan is “shared or separate interest?” What does that mean? It’s an important decision and one worth understanding. To begin with, here’s an example: Suppose Ms. Smith is a long-time employee of the Jones Company and is a fully vested participant in the… Read More »
Tips for the Holidays!
Children of divorced parents can start to become stressed as the Christmas holiday and breaks from school approach. Parents getting along and exchanges going smoothly are on the top of their wish list. Here are a few ways parents can ease their child(ren)’s mind during the holiday season: Don’t put emphasis on your “lack”… Read More »
