DIVORCE HEADQUARTERS NEWSLETTER       Issue #1, July 2000 Welcome to the premiere issue of the Divorce Headquarters Newsletter Since it's official launch this spring our web site has continued to grow every day. Please take a moment to visit our attorney, mediator and support group directories. You will see that we have added quite a few new members. In this Issue: The IRS and your divorce Is mediation right for you To pre nup or not pre nup Reality TV takes on divorce Divorce humor ** The choices you make today will affect your every tomorrow ** 1. THE IRS AND YOUR DIVORCE As with every other part of your life, separation and divorce impact your taxes. This is an area in which you should try your hardest to keep the lines of communication open and the emotions out. One issue that must be determined in your seperation agreememt and divorce decree is who will claim the exemptions available for the children. A form 8332 must be completed if the non custodial parent will be claiming an exemption for the child. Make sure that any time limitations on granting the exemption to the non custodial parent are clearly stated in your agreement or decree and on form 8332. Granting the exemption forever overlooks the fact that economic situations do change. Do be careful when completing the form as it is an official document and is not easily revoked. Just to emphasis how complicated tax issues relating to divorce are "Publication 504 Divorced or Separated Individuals" is 26 pages. For more info on tax considerations during your divorce go to http://www.divorcehq.com/taxes.html 2. IS MEDIATION RIGHT FOR YOU? According to Carol A. Butler, Ph.D and Dolores D. Walker, M.S.W., J.D. in their book The Divorce Mediation Answer Book,"divorce mediation is a process by which you and your spouse can negotiate the terms of your separation or divorce in a cooperative, nonadversarial setting, with a minimal investment of time, money and emotional energy. The mediation process results in a settlement that becomes the basis for your legally binding separation or divorce agreement." Not sure if mediation is right for you? Butler suggests participating in a mediation session to see how it feels to you. Mediation is not for everyone, but if it is right for you mediation can be a less adversarial and cost effective solution. As with everything else, research mediation before you agree to it. There are many good books available on the subject including Butler's book "The Divorce Mediation Answer Book". For more information on mediation go to http://www.divorcehq.com/mediation.html For books available to help you through a divorce visit http://www.divorcehq.com/divorcebooks.html 3. TO PRE NUP OR NOT PRE NUP A pre nuptial agreement, also referred to as pre marital or antenuptial agreement is an agreement where a couple decide on how they will deal with their assets, debts, income and expenses during the marriage and in the event of a divorce. It is a way of protecting pre marital assests. For example, if you own a home at the time of the marraige and sell it during the marraige the proceeds from the sale could become a marital asset without a pre nuptial agreement. A pre nuptial agreement is a contract, therefore it should be reviewed by an attorney before it is signed. It is best to have separate attorneys for the purpose of a pre nuptial agreement. Have you taken our survey yet? Every month we pose a new question about issues of divorce. This month our survey is about pre nuptual agreements. If you haven't already voted why not stop by and let us know what you think. For the latest Survey go to http://www.divorcehq.com/survey.html 4. REALITY TV TAKES ON DIVORCE Can this be true? I just read that one of the major networks will be doing a "reality" based show called "I Want a Divorce"? Supposedly a real live couple going through a divorce compete against each other for their own property. As if the divorce process wasn't bad enough. Been there, done that, it's not entertaining and I certainly don't want to watch it on TV! We'll keep you informed. 5. HUMOR For a while we pondered whether to take a vacation or get a divorce. We decided that a trip to Bermuda is over in two weeks, but a divorce is something you always have. - Woody Allen