If you've thought about walking away from your marriage, then the year to do so may be 2018. If you're someone who has a sizable investment portfolio, an executive's salary or other valuable assets, then you'll want to consider how the change in spousal support laws at the end of the year may affect you.
Who can get permanent alimony?
Florida is one of the few states that allows the awarding of permanent spousal support as part of a divorce settlement. The court does not give it to just anyone, though. Who can get permanent alimony? How is the amount determined?
There's an order you need to access an ex's retirement account
Splitting up collectibles such as artwork, china, cars, coins often involves an appraiser coming in and assigning a value to the different items. That value is then used to equitably split up such assets between exes. Splitting up investment accounts, a pension plan or IRA account proceeds can be perhaps even more difficult though, especially if former spouses want to avoid having to pay early withdrawal penalties or exorbitant taxes for doing so.
Divorce may stem from these communication habits
Communication issues can ruin a relationship, and studies have linked it repeatedly to divorce. While poor communication may not be as obvious of a cause as infidelity or financial problems, it still causes a lot of couples to split up.
Divorce stalls retirement and alimony tax deductions end
A study published late last month by Boston College's Center for Retirement Research (CRR) shows that many divorcees may have to buckle up and spend an extra few years in the job market or otherwise plan to live on a lot less money in the future.
