Queens Divorce and Family Law Attorney Bruce Feinstein, Esq. Offers Women Insight on What to Do Before Divorce
Queens, NY (PRWEB) March 30, 2016 -- Divorce can help struggling couples regain their independence, but it is not without its pitfalls. And the physical and financial repercussions of divorce can be harder on women than men. A recent Duke University study of over 15,000 people found that “women who had been divorced once were 24% more likely to have a heart attack. Women divorced at least twice were 77% more likely to have a heart attack.”
Men, on the other hand, were found to have an increased heart attack risk only if they have divorced two or more times, and remarrying negated the higher heart attack risk. These health risks for women led Bruce Feinstein, Esq., a divorce and family law attorney in New York with nearly 20 years experience, to shed light on ways women can prepare for divorce. “For many couples, divorce is the only reasonable option, so it’s especially important for women to come into this life change properly prepared for the financial and emotional changes involved,” says Mr. Feinstein. “If we can empower women with the tools they need during the divorce process in New York, we can help them transition into this next phase of their lives.”
Mr. Feinstein is sharing top five ways women can prepare for divorce in New York. Divorce can disproportionally impact women’s income, insurance, credit standing, and more, so Mr. Feinstein is helping his clients understand these issues and how they can affect them. The first step is to choose the proper legal counsel. Using a lawyer who is properly versed in family law can help women get a better settlement for them and their families. “An experienced family law attorney in New York will know the details of alimony, custody, visitation, and other legal issues that can come up in the divorce process,” explains Mr. Feinstein. “It may also be helpful to hire a financial planner if both spouses have more complicated combined assets like a shared business. This will ensure that both key issues - finances and family - are covered.”
The second issue at hand is joint finances. Mr. Feinstein recommends that women prepare as much financial information as possible before the divorce proceeding. This can include obtaining details of financial institutions, bank account information, investments, and savings. “It’s often not enough for a spouse just to know that ‘X’ amount is in ‘X’ account. Save information on account numbers, passwords to online banking, and which accounts have automatic payments. But don’t obtain information illegally; consult your divorce attorney if you have questions about the proper actions to take,” says Mr. Feinstein.
The next step is anticipating unexpected costs. These may arise while gathering financial information, or pop up during the divorce proceeding. For example, a spouse may remove his wife from his health insurance plan, passing on an additional cost or health insurance penalty to the other spouse. One way to avoid unforeseen expenses is to request a one-time payment outside of alimony. This can cover added costs before alimony payments begin, and relieve unneeded stress during a delicate transition period.
Moving into the more emotional aspects of divorce, Mr. Feinstein warns against trying to hurt an ex-spouse. Emotions are raw during a divorce, and taking things into ones own hands often seems like a way to feel more powerful or gain back control. “A woman may want to expose a spouse’s philandering to his boss, but if he gets fired then both spouses – and their children – are affected by the financial loss. Even taking your emotions to social media may seem harmless, but they become permanent, public displays of aggression that children and family members can read,” says Mr. Feinstein.
Finally, Mr. Feinstein underlines the complicated reactions children have to divorce. Parents need to monitor the actions of their children during the divorce in order to understand how they are coping, and then take the appropriate steps needed to help them adjust to this new life. Younger children may regress into childlike behavior, while adolescents may react with anger or rebellion. Children often feel responsible for the breakup even if they are told they are not the cause. Mr. Feinstein recommends addressing issues early on as a family unit. This way, children can talk about issues together. He also suggests taking extra steps without singling out children. He says, “It may be helpful to inform a child’s teacher of divorce to help monitor changes in behavior. But don’t feel the need to start therapy immediately. Doing so can make the child feel singled out.”
The Law Offices of Bruce Feinstein has nearly two decades of experience in divorce and family law, helping clients and families resolve their issues and move forward with their lives. If you are thinking of getting married or divorced and want more information visit feinsteindivorcelaw.com or call (718) 475-6039 to reach the New York office.
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Bruce Feinstein, The Law Offices of Bruce Feinstein, Esq., http://bfeinsteinesq.com, +1 (718) 475-6039, [email protected]
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