One of the many divorce related questions we get asked about frequently at MyDivorceDocuments.com is “What is the difference between legal custody and physical custody?” With that in mind we decided to use today’s blog item to go over the differences between the two and how it relates to divorce. In Part1 we will solely discuss and go over the aspects for the physical custody portion of a non fault uncontested do it yourself divorce.

Physical custody section is made up of several activities and events all having do with the actual time lines in which each parent takes and acts as sole guardian of their children at a prearranged, predetermined date as agreed upon by the spouses. With physical custody, in an ideal world, the parents sit down with a calendar and basically determine what holidays and weekend are best suited for each spouses schedule and lifestyle and who and when each specific parent gets to supervise the child and actually has physical custody acting as sole guardian. As part of a do it yourself divorce; think of it as the process of deciding who has officially been proclaimed parental guardian over each day, weekend, holiday, etc etc. Color coded markers and a 12 month calendar in tow; if both parties agree on the divorce process the heavy lifting may be easier then you think.

In terms of DIY divorce the key factors in determining this portion of the divorce process between each parent is that they both have identical goals and each parents custodial calendar synchronizes with the other regarding the calendar agreement towards physical custody. If the parents can not agree on this aspect of custody-the court will step in and decide on their behalf. In terms of an uncontested no fault divorce and online divorce forms- this factor is critical. Want to avoid lawyers and courtrooms? Best to be prepared for some give and take between spouses as this could possible be the deal breaker.

Other items regarding physical custody can be trivial in terms of diy online divorce forms do it yourself divorce having to do with transferring the children during visitation exchanges as well as transportation and how to handle any unexpected changes to the aforementioned visitation agreement. All of the factors should be covered as in terms of legality they are important to the divorce process.

Once again, and we cannot stress this point enough, being cooperative in this phase of the custody portion of divorce is key to making a no fault divorce a tangible reality not to mention the psychological benefits to your children. Working out these details in a day to day mutually agreeable fashion will be the optimal goal for all parties involved making the process of divorce amicable and streamlined.

Back in the day, the idea of divorcing your spouse was a challenge and invariably lead to rumors or innuendos that one spouse must have committed some grounds of divorce as as unspeakable, unsavory or sordid act like committing adultery, spousal abuse or emotional abuse and utilize these as leverage on the assumption they would serve as ammo or the necessary needed proof that your spouse had acted improperly and thus be granted a divorce. Think about that-two adults who wished to make the split almost being forced to attack the other simply to earn the right of being freed of matrimony.

Fortunately, those days are behind us divorcing your spouse is much easier. Most couples can simply divorce sans courthouse using the downloadable divorce kit without the stigma and horror of having you and your family forced to ride the roller coaster of divorce court and the possibility of children having to listen to mom and dads lawyers making each of their parents out to be horrible people. With the theatrics and working knowledge of the courts and the divorce process some lawyers are very adept at stretching a court case out far longer then it other wise would need to be.

If there are children involved-avoiding the courtroom altogether is the best decision possible as it considers the feelings of children and avoids the high probability of humiliation and trauma of sitting and listening hearing about mom or dads worse personal traits paraded through the court.
All states nowadays allow for “no fault”, “no contest”, or uncontested divorce which essentially means that both spouses can agree on the terms of a divorce and amicably work out their own settlement. Considered in this process is the sorting out of assets and loans, cars and houses, child custody, alimony etc etc.

With the notion of a long term courtship or knowing your soul mate after 10 minutes becoming far less frequent- we have seen a distinct rise in couples who are either getting married far too young or simply getting married after a very short time after meeting. As much as we smirk and snicker at the idea of a downloadable divorce kit; A “no contest’” divorce also has the benefit in that a couple can simply decide to split without having to give a reason.

And without question in almost all instances an uncontested divorce kit will surely avoid attorneys, lawyers, and court rooms which also equates to a “no contest” divorce being far more cost effective. Basically seeing both spouses work out the details by themselves to the benefit off all parties involved in an adult, rational decision.

Divorce can be ugly and it doesn’t take Freud to unveil the facts. A married couple who at one point had the assumption that as life partners they would grow old together decide to go separate ways, there is resentment, hatred and a fury of mixed emotions which makes “irreconcilable differences” seem far too gentle of phrase. While there have been plenty of articles, blogs, websites, and LifeTime Network movies made for divorced women focused on handling depression and other negative effects of divorce; Hardly any attention gets shined on men’s reactions to divorce. MyDivorceDocuments.com examines the issue.

As of 2008 there was an estimate that close to 40% of marriages ended in divorce. The stats for second marriages are even less impressive. And while we are led to believe that most men are at fault for divorce for not showing enough affection at best and abuse at worst-no one disputes that divorce is hard on everyone. Most men can ponder what will happen in terms of child support and custody laws but once the ruling is made, most men can begrudgingly accepts it.

In general, men are defined by more than just their status in a marriage. A lifelong bachelor with a successful career never gets castigated of question yet an older woman in similar circumstances gets branded a spinster. A man who doesn’t want children isn’t looked at it in the same light as woman. A man can get judged by his job, his car, his hobbies and ironically men are effected more by employment status then marital status. If a man can pay the child support and have more time to golf-he probably isn’t going to think the divorce process a bad decision.

In stark contrast; men do not suffer the depression women do and tend to be far more impacted by employment status. Yet post divorce studies show an amazing statistic in that a woman’s standard of living drops by 73% while the man’s standard of living increases by 42%. It’s going to get a whole lot better soon. Probably a good thing that most men do not know this stat as I am sure many men on the marital fence would probably have visited MyDivorceDocuments.com yesterday. But once again; the pull of providing for spouse and children is a powerful and compelling reason to stay and given that men typically won’t research divorce law or child support laws there tends to be a blind eye cast to the subtle nuance of divorce law.

Lets examine it-a man gets divorced. Now what? He still has his job, friends, business associates and a social support system that he probably lamented not being able to spend more time with. Since Time and Memorium men have been raised to be the Hunters, Breadwinners, builders, police and fireman rolled into one; knowing the ins and outs of Divorce Law take a backseat to the needs of the family.

Studies show that men suffer disproportionate health effects on a far higher scale for employment factors then marital factors while the stats for woman are quite the opposite. The facts are no one looks eagerly towards divorce and very few men endure the divorce process unscathed. It is however time to admit that emotional factors and baggage due to divorce isn’t always solely reserved for women.

It’s no secret that the divorce process is typically a painful process for all parties involved-throw in experienced attorneys who often times financially benefit the longer the proceedings drag out and the litany of items to argue about such as child custody, alimony, and child support payments and you’ve got a recipe for emotional and financial disaster.

Even the court room setting itself makes for an uncomfortable setting and if asked in your minds eye to picture a typical court room the first thought one envisions is rarely something positive much less familial. As a matter of fact-given the number of times the court room is used to do legal battle and the myriad of terms that hints some type of war the setting itself lends itself to brutality and an overall lack of civility. Online Divorce has probably been so appealing.

Sometimes there is no way around the courtroom option but given the high profile, celebrity divorces routinely given the TMZ and National Enquirer treatment, more and more couples are looking to make the split amicably and on friendly terms. Thus websites like MyDivorceDocuments.com are experiencing record popularity.

The Huffington Post of all places, published some advice for divorcing couple who can objectively realize the many negatives involved in a traditional divorce settle and choose to take the kindler, gentler approach to divorce which makes perfect sense given the resurgence of Do it Yourself Divorce.

The first offering not only makes sense is probably the danger zone item at which all divorce proceedings fall apart and ugliness ensues. In Essence it says do not argue the largest, most contentious items first- instead opting and choosing to work on settling smaller more agreeable items; thus laying the groundwork for give and take and generally setting a congenial tone for future discussion points. Divorce information and sage wisdom finally meet.

The next common problem is not surprising when the issue of financial arrangements rears its ugly head. Once again as this item is typically a point where things get heated; its best left for later discussion and if the issue is forced-try to keep the numbers in a range instead of absolutes. Remember-each parent will still be the parents-so taking dad to the cleaners may not be the best idea given that the kids will be spending at least a portion of their time with him. “Sorry Kids, Would love to take you Miniature Golfing but I can’t afford it this weekend….what flavor Cup of Noodles do you want for Dinner tonight?” Remember-the treasure reaped from the divorce process still has balance and that balance will still have an effect on the children….your children.

Finally the article talks about never issuing an Ultimatum. “My Way or the Highway” is rarely an idealism that has been embraced by all. Generally the ultimatum only brings contempt and make the opposing party more inclined to dig the heals and not budge at all. The old saying of drawing more flies with honey then vinegar is very apropos and this Divorce Information is well timed and informative.

There are so many good reasons to avoid the courtroom, and the attorneys office when it comes to divorce. MyDivorceDocuments.com certainly wont make a riveting Television Show or movie, but it can bring an aura of stability and com co-operation in one of life most challenging and difficult periods.

While last week we took a very serious look at the ramifications of divorce and the ravaging effects it has on the family unit; this week we decided to take a different spin and take a look at some of the most expensive celebrity divorces in history. Compared to the divorces we’ll discuss below; a DIY uncontested online divorce would be bargain at half the price. We can only speculate what the Demi and Ashton final tally may be and where it may rank along with some of the items below. And while we are proud that we offer inexpensive divorces online; here we present a collection of the Most Notably Expensive Divorces.

Starting the list and maybe a startling low sum given some of the later entries is Paul McCartney and Heather Mills. Mills was awarded 48.6 million dollars-a fraction of McCartney’s real worth. While the couple were married close to 6 years and do have a child between them the Judge of the case was apparently none too fond of Mill’s or perhaps simply a huge fan of McCartney. At the ruling the Justice was on record as saying “I am driven to the conclusion that much of her evidence, both written and oral, was not just inconsistent and inaccurate but also less than candid.” After getting off easy on what some speculated could have been in the $100 Million category-Maybe Hes Amazed at how easily he got off by comparison.

Next we see the divorce of Kevin Costner and Cindy Silva. Long married and having dated since their college days- the two had 3 children and a 16 year marriage before calling it quits towards their California divorce in 1994. Silva may have been the luckiest woman on the planet for the Buy Low Sell High principle- while married Costner made Field of Dreams, Dances with Wolves, & JFK; after the split he made Waterworld, The Postman, and a slew of other failures. Even in the world of high end high dollar divorce-Timing is everthing.

Coming in next on the list is Han Solo/Indiana Jones star Harrison Ford and ex Melissa Mathison. After 18 years of marriage and enough Star Wars and Indiana Jones money to buy Greece; Ford decided to seek greener, younger pastures. Mathison came out of the divorce sitting pretty having cashed out to the tune of $85 million-not to mention a share of future earnings from the movies he made while they were married. No word on whether or not her divorce lawyer has yet been contacted by professional athletes to represent them on their next contract.

$100 million dollars later all the while continuing the Indiana Jones theme… Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving. Even though they had signed a prenuptial agreement Irving was able to convince the court that she wasn’t properly represented legally for the signing. While being known as one of the all time highest grossing filmmakers its a mystery as to why Spielberg didn’t simply ring up and ask Harrison Ford’s for the number of his wife’s divorce attorney.

Add another $100 million dollars for the Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren divorce. While most men cannot fathom the idea of needing to cheat when married to a Super Model; Woods overactive use of his putter cost him plenty. His career has yet to recover and he has yet to regain his form which made him a household name and arguably the biggest superstar and phenomena that the gold world has ever seen.

And moving right along we see our next musician to make the list with Neil Diamond and Marcia Murphy. Diamond who wrote “I’m a Believer” for the Monkees in the 60s and then struck gold on his own with too many hits to count throughout the 70s and 80s. The pair divorced and settled amicably for a paltry $150 million with Diamond on record as saying Murphy “earned every penny” and that “she’s been through thick and thin with [him] and deserves half of [his] fortune.” We’re pretty sure Spielberg and Ford were quite as complimentary to their exes.

Coming in with a slam dunk we see our first Athlete of the list with the $168 million dollar divorce of Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy Jordan. The couple filed for divorce in 2002 but reconciled-probably at the insistence of Jordan’s accountant. In 2006 they filed again for good with Juanita walking with the multimillion dollar 7 acre estate and $168 million-that will buy a lot of Nikes.

And trumping all in the mother of all divorce settlements comes Rupert and Anna Murdoch which saw the Gazillion dollar Aussie Mogul cough up a stunning 1.7 billion in assets for their 1999 divorce settlement. Murdoch married his much younger employee Wendi Deng only 17 days later. I can venture a guess that when Deng decides to divorce Murdoch she will use the previous 1.7 billion settlement and raise the price accordingly.

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When you are in a divorce (where you and your spouse can not agree on issues such as funding, custody, division of property, etc) the best option would be to seek the services of a lawyer. When the divorce is contested, which means that you agree with your spouse in the conflicts mentioned above, you have two options:Go see a lawyer – can be costly that some lawyers charge fees up to $ 2,000 or more for an uncontested divorce. A typical divorce can be quite bitter that each element of the agreement is disputed by both parties, so legal costs can easily spiral out of control. Some lawyers bills can run into tens of thousands of dollars.MyDivorceDocuments.com is the beginning of the divorce forms, the service provides a great way to reduce the costs of litigation, as well as emotional stress related to divorce. The process is simple and takes the sting out of the divorce process. Provided, however, that both parties are treated to more affordable, housing issues, and that it is uncontested divorce.Mydivorcedocuments service makes the system of divorce, the United States more accessible and affordable for the general public by making it possible to start the divorce process online. With people struggling to make ends meet during the credit crisis we face, MDD (MyDivorceDocuments.com) is a clear alternative for couples who seek an uncontested divorce in any U.S. state. Divorce is a process that few people without serious consideration of its consequences. By offering such a service, MyDivorceDocuments.com note on its website that its aim is not to sanction or encourage divorce, but to create a simple online service to make the divorce process less expensive and stressful. There is clearly a rebound in European countries and the United States in the number of divorces online. Also MyDivorceDocuments.com also offers valuable information on other aspects of divorce, as its physiological effects, information on counseling, custody, maintenance and domestic violence disputes, which are freely available on the website, and the information really useful to have and now the most comprehensive resource of everything that divorce you need to know about divorce and its consequences. Users can also read and buy books about divorce on the site and follow a blog on matters of divorce, rebuilding his life, tips and ways to deal with links emotional stress caused by divorce.

MyDivorceDocuments.com has recently updated its online DIY divorce forms for Florida, Delaware, California and Connecticut. Internet, besides providing a great platform to find solutions for quotidian problems – you can manage your ended marriage life legally, by doing it all yourself through the available online divorce kits and can save a lot of money which these state divorce lawyers charge you and which is not lesser than a penalty. You can surely avoid the hassle of getting divorce now in any of these states without spending a single dime on hiring the high divorce attorney fees.

The online divorce form services in Florida were specifically designed to save your priceless time and money when going through the divorce process all by you. The online divorce kits and forms is a system of ‘do it yourself’ and by obtaining one online, you actually get an organized set of instructions for which you actually hire a Florida Divorce lawyer who charges you thousands of dollars and along with the divorce, this fee payment of the lawyer can really put you in financial crisis; so the good news is that there is a method of saving that money of yours, and that is getting Florida divorce forms online.

Getting divorced is not an easy experience for everyone. Many people undergo difficult emotional states followed by the bumps of legal procedures in filing for divorce. And people are seen to be handling this issue all by their own self by adeptly obtaining the divorce kits online. Thousands of couples have been benefitted from the online Florida divorce paperwork and actually have avoided a real time situation where they are required to spend thousands of chunks on taking assistance of an attorney and their legal advices. This virtual network has actually created a platform for the pertinent clients to get benefit and save their large sum of money.
http://www.mydivorcedocuments.com/Florida-DIY-Divorce-Forms.asp

What is an Uncontested Divorce?

An Uncontested Divorce is a way majority people get a divorce.  It is very basic and the most inexpensive way to divorce.  It gives you and your spouse a chance to end your marriage quietly and civilly.  An Uncontested Divorce is not right for all divorcing couples.

Advantages of Uncontested Divorce

The advantage of an uncontested divorce is the low cost.  An uncontested divorce that stays uncontested is almost always the most inexpensive way of getting a divorce.  I am sure the first thing that may go through a person’s mind is “can I afford this divorce”?  The simple fact is that any money you can avoid spending on any type of legal fees or mediators, you may be able to use after your divorce or on your children if any.  The low cost is not, however, the only advantage of an uncontested divorce.  If the level of differences between you and your spouse are kept at ease then you will be able to keep your costs low.  The agreements that the two of you will reach in an uncontested divorce and file in the court will be a matter of public record.  Nor do the various proposals you discuss as you negotiate an agreement that’s acceptable to both of you.

Now don’t think you have to agree with each other about the issues of your divorce for an uncontested divorce.  It is not so much a question of agreement as it is your desire to get through your divorce in a civil matter.  If you and your spouse don’t yet agree on all the issues of your divorce that just means you may have some negotiating to do before you finish it.

When an Uncontested Divorce is a Bad Idea

An uncontested divorce is not a good idea when one spouse chooses to belittle or continuously bring up all the faults of the other spouse.  When domestic violence is involved, an uncontested divorce is not a good idea either.  Uncontested divorce is a bad idea when the parties are not able to speak civilly with one another.  If your spouse refuses to have any discussion with you about divorce, and if you’re determined to move forward with the process, any money you spend on an uncontested divorce is likely to be wasted.  If you are patient, you may find that your spouse may come around later, but if you are determined to finish it now and your spouse is not cooperating, you may have no choice but to serve them with the normal divorce process and do it the hard way.

The first thing you need to know about uncontested divorce is that the lawyer you get to do your uncontested divorce cannot represent both of you.  The courts assume that the spouses in a divorce have different interests.  The lawyer must represent one of you and not the other.  Uncontested divorce can happen much faster than most people realize.

An uncontested divorce basically all depends on your specific divorce case. If you and your spouse are able to come to an agreement and work civilly together then an uncontested divorce is perfect for you.  On that note, if you would like to not only save money but time as well you can try a do it yourself divorce.  Simply go to www.mydivorcedocuments.com and look into a specific state down-loadable divorce kit for a low cost and begin your divorce process today!

A limited divorce is a legal action in which the court supervises a couple’s separation.  It is generally used by people who:

• Do not yet have grounds for an absolute divorce
• Need financial relief
• Are unable to settle their differences without an attorney

During a limited divorce, the parties are to live apart.  However, they remain legally married but separated.

• Although the parties are still married, neither party has the right to have sexual relations with the other spouse.
• In addition, neither spouse may remarry, nor sexual relations with another person during a limited divorce and is considered adultery.

The court determines which party is at fault, if either is at fault.  The court may grant support to one spouse based on the particular situation.

The limited divorce can also resolve questions of:

• Child custody
• Child support
• Health insurance coverage and
• Division of personal and real property

If spousal support is not required and there is no property to divide, there is generally no need for a limited divorce.

If one spouse dies after a limited divorce the other spouse may still inherit property.  Also the form of ownership for any property you own as husband and wife will stay the same.

Grounds for a Limited Divorce

To obtain a limited divorce, you must first prove at least one of four grounds.  These grounds include the following:

• Cruelty of treatment
• Physically or mentally abused
• Abandonment
• Mutual and voluntary separation

The more frequently used ground is desertion.  There are two types of desertion, actual and constructive.

• Actual desertion is where one party unjustifiably abandons the other or actually kicks out the other spouse from the home.
• Constructive desertion is where one party is forced to leave the home because of the misconduct of the other.

There is no certain amount of time needed to prove desertion in a limited divorce.  Any reasonable time period will justify the action.

Also, a spouse may obtain a limited divorce where one spouse engages in cruelty of treatment or excessively vicious conduct toward the other spouse or a minor child of the party who is filing for a limited divorce.  A victimized spouse who leaves the marital home because of some type of abuse also has a legal action for a limited divorce on the grounds of constructive desertion, as well as a justifiable defense to an abusing spouse’s claim of desertion.

On this note, if you and your spouse are able to come to an agreement without an attorney you are able to use the do it yourself divorce.  Not only will a DIY divorce save you money but it will also give you the peace of mind that you are waiting for so you can begin your new life today.  Simply go to www.mydivorcedocuments.com and download your specific state forms and kit now.

Before you begin your divorce process, attached are five simple financial tips that can make your divorce a bit easier.

Tip # 1

Be sure to copy all of your legal documents and gather all of your financial information that you have accumulated over the duration of the marriage

First you will need to get a hold of all your finances like never before.  Whether you are a financial pro or whether you have not worked outside the home in years.  You will need to know everything possible in regards to your finances for the divorce.  One reason it is so critical to do this before the divorce process begins is that this information can often disappear once the divorcing begins.  It can become more difficult to find regardless of the cause or circumstances.  How can you know or plan for what to divide if you don’t know what you currently have?

Tip # 2

Begin to seek out expert advice to help you figure out what is next

Some of the financial information you’ve collected above you can start establishing your priorities. This may not sound like a financial step on the face of it but when you sit down and write the things that you’d like to have from your marriage, or try to envision what you might like or need in order to carry on into the future – these can and will actually be translated into numbers.  Do you think you and the children want to stay in the same neighborhood or house?  Do you want to hold onto most or all of your pension? If these are your priorities they will have a range of dollar signs eventually attached to them.

Tip # 3

Protect your Credit

Order a copy of your credit report early from all three reporting agencies: This is very important since you can now have this as a base line to know where you stand now, at the end of your marriage.  This way you’d be able to see whether any new unauthorized debt is being added in your name only and if you have no credit in your own name now, you may want to apply for a credit card.  To begin building your own credit now may be far easier while still married than after, all things being equal, especially if you have not been the primary breadwinner.

Tip # 4

Check up on your Insurance
Get to know the details of all the kinds of insurance that helps to protect your family.

Just the sheer number of types of insurance may be overwhelming, but take it one step at a time.  The goal is to get your hands around what coverage’s your family has and needs.  What are your policy numbers deductibles, limits, premiums?  Life, car, medical, dental, home-owners, renters, flood, insurance and the list goes on and on.  How important it is to keep your insurance related financial issues in order can not be over emphasized.   One example: On your life insurance policies, it’s really quite important that you locate and know now about who are the owners of the insurance – you, your wife/husband?  A family trust, your spouse, your children?  Knowing this now is essential  if for no other reason, you’ll now have this on your radar.

Tip # 5

Be sure to have your taxes prepared in a way that you will be comfortable for sometime

If it is tax season and you are preparing for a divorce, this may be notice that you should proceed with caution.  Be sure to contact your accountant or financial adviser and have him or her advise you not only the possible tax savings now that married jointly filing couples enjoy, but also on the potential future liability you could face in should the returns be found deficient.   Know that on returns where you sign jointly, you will be jointly held responsible.  This is most often the case whether or not you have any first hand knowledge of the all the financial information on your return.
As always, the best offense is a good defense and to arm you with knowledge is often the best first step in trying to achieve an equitable, fair outcome.  By trying to anticipate problems ahead of time you may avoid serious financial issues.  Be sure to get good advice throughout your entire process starting as early as possible in the process.

Now that you have a few pointers to remember during your divorce process, now is the time to decide how you want to go about your divorce.  There are several ways that you choose from.  These days many people are choosing to do there own divorce online.  This way not only saves you time but can also save you a lot of money as well.  You can begin this specific state down-loadable divorce process by simply going to www.mydivorcedocuments.com today.