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FOR MEDIATORS AND ATTORNEYS USING COLLABORATIVE
LAW
The financial issues in divorce are difficult because
there is often not enough income after divorce for both
parties to maintain their marital lifestyles. It is
your job to help the parties arrive at a fair and workable
settlement, and Lee Slater can help. In Mediation or
Collaborative Divorce, Lee works in two different ways:
1. Individually, in support of the spouse who is less
knowledgeable financially, in order to keep negotiations
on an equal footing
2. With both spouses to document and organize financial
data, look at the effects of different scenarios, and
minimize taxes to create additional post-divorce cash
flow.
You have been in sessions where one party was not holding
his or her own and you needed a strategy to insure that
the process remains fair. Often, Lee is retained during
the mediation to work with the less financially savvy
spouse. He use the financial planning methodology to
help her/him understand key financial issues, including
prioritizing financial goals and developing workable
post-marital budgets within available income limits.
At times, a reality check is necessary, since there
is only so much money to go around. Depending on the
clients' needs and concerns, Lee does a comprehensive
analysis of the financial issues that will affect their
post-marital lives, such as insurance, retirement planning,
college funding and estate planning.
When Lee works with both spouses, the first step is
establishing their assets, liabilities, and post-marital
budgets. Once assets are divided and support is allocated,
Lee prepares a 10-year cash flow analysis to insure
that the plan will work going forward. Finally, through
efficient allocation of tax deductions, Lee is able
to minimize taxes and increase cash flow so that both
parties will have the most money available to support
their post-divorce lifestyles.
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