Category: Divorce Attorneys

Counseling Children to Help Them Handle A Divorce!

Learning that their parents are getting a divorce can be scary and upsetting for younger children who may not understand what is happening.

When working with clients who are parents, divorce attorneys find that counseling kids as the process is happening can be helpful.

Though spouses are working with their divorce lawyers to end their marriage and will go their own way afterward, it will benefit their children if they can work together to be supportive and help their kids understand what is happening and why by working together to provide valuable parental counseling. 

Parents Need to Explain What Is Happening With The Divorce

Divorce law firms advise that in doing so, parents should be prepared to answer many questions and realize that their kids may be experiencing a number of negative emotions such as worry, fear, guilt, and loneliness. 

Kids may worry that they will be abandoned by one or both parents or that somehow the divorce is their fault.

Divorce attorneys advise their clients that parents should start out by explaining that this is not at all the case, but then give their kids the opportunity to voice their worries and fears so they can be addressed in an effort to ease those fears and help kids understand what to expect as time goes on. 

Parents Must Avoid Blaming The Other Partner For The Divorce

Using age-appropriate messaging as pointed out by divorce lawyers, parents should be open with their kids but also avoid finger-pointing or saying things that pit one parent against the other.

Divorce law firms know that the goal of parental counseling must always be to boost the children up so they regain their confidence and are more easily able to adapt to the changes that will come in the future.

Kids should not be used as a go-between for parents, keeping information with divorce attorneys about adult and financial concerns should remain private; however, keeping kids involved in the divorce is recommended by divorce lawyers with as much openness as possible.

Counseling Can Be Helpful For Children Of A Divorce

Should children react poorly to news of the divorce or of changes that will be coming in the future, parents are encouraged by their divorce law firms to be patient with them and remain reassuring.

If bad behavior at home or school occurs, make use of resources like school counselors or professional counselors, both of whom can be instrumental in helping some kids accept the divorce and the changes that will be coming.

Divorce lawyers advise their clients that online counseling can be especially helpful for teens, who might also be going through the turmoil of simply growing up. 

Helping Children Understand Is Vital

Divorce attorneys advise that regardless of how it is done, parents owe it to their children to counsel them about the divorce, respect their feelings and worries, and if necessary get them professional counseling that can help.

Counseling is critical for helping kids of all ages process a divorce and what their roles will be in a new family structure.

With caring conversation and concern, divorce law firms advise their clients that children of all ages can eventually learn to be okay with what is happening and maintain a good relationship with both parents, even after a divorce.

How does a Business Get Divided During a Texas Divorce?

In a community property state like Texas, all wealth known to be considered marital property by divorce attorneys is subject to being divided up and split between the two spouses.

This is easier to do with bank accounts, physical property, and other types of assets but can be extremely difficult to do when one or both spouses own a business.

If the business came about during the marriage, regardless of whether it is owned by one or both spouses, divorce lawyers must advise on the proper way to disperse the business as part of the community property owned by the couple.

How Can You Split A Family-Owned Business?

Family divorce attorneys advise that there are two ways to handle a business that becomes part of a couple’s marital property in a divorce:

  • The business can be liquidated altogether, with each spouse keeping their portion of the sale.
  • The business can be valued and one spouse buying out the other spouse’s portion so that they still get their portion of those assets.

Valuing The Business

In either case, the distribution of a business that is marital property begins with agreeing on the value of that business.

Valuing a business is much easier said than done, as any divorce attorney will attest.

There are multiple methods that can be used to do so and depending on the size and scope of the business, might involve bringing in experts to help.

According to family divorce attorneys, business valuation can be determined using one or a combination of these methods:

  • Fair Market Value - The price the property and assets can bring if offered for sale on the open market.
  • Intrinsic Value - The actual market value of the property and assets, including potential value, aside from what the current fair market value alone is.
  • Book Value - Valuation based on earnings, assets, and liabilities, and projected income.
  • Owner Value - Any additional value held by the owner including various intangible values like workforce value, process values, and more.

During the division of marital property, divorce attorneys and financial experts will usually apply more than one of these valuation methods while also considering other factors such as excess earnings, discounted earnings, and adjusted net assets, each of which can add or subtract value from the end dollar figure of a business’ worth.

Ultimate Goal is Sale of the Business

The goal, in the end, is for divorce lawyers and their clients to agree on the value of the business, both monetary and intangible, and then assign a dollar amount to these different values if the business is to be kept, with one spouse reimbursing the other for their half of the ownership value.

When the business is instead sold, the spouses split the money earned as required by Texas community property laws.