Horse Trading Using Valuation Techniques in Divorce Mediation

February 28, 2022Divorceamediate523

When it comes to divorce and the division of assets, not all assets are equal. A dollar in a retirement account does not equal a dollar in an investment account which does not equal a cash dollar. Similarly, money owed to a family member does not equal an IRS tax lien which does not equal a student loan. The equitable distribution process in divorce mediation using various valuation methods and techniques used to properly identify and distribute marital assets and debts in a divorce. There is a process to divide assets and in divorce mediation, which includes the following phases: List the assets: These...Read More

TFAPM Announces 2021 Award Winners

December 16, 2021Generalamediate523

The Florida Academy of Professional Mediators (TFAPM) is pleased to announce the recipients of the Mel Rubin Memorial Award of Merit and the Susan Dubow Service Award for 2021. Deborah Beylus is the winner of the Mel Rubin Memorial Award of Merit. Ms. Beylus has been certified by the Florida Supreme Court for over ten years. She is certified in Family, Circuit Civil, County, and Dependency. A former senior equity analyst for one of the largest financial firms, she is also a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst. In addition to her mediation practice (South Florida Mediation Services), she has served as...Read More

Divorce and the Child Tax Credit

December 9, 2021Divorceamediate523

Of the many complex financial issues that spouses may need to address during the divorce process, tax considerations can be among the most confusing. These issues can be a major concern for parents since the ability to claim children as dependents can affect the amount of taxes that a person will pay, the tax credits they can claim, and the tax refunds they will receive when filing their annual tax returns. Parents will need to be sure to understand how to address child-related tax issues both during the divorce process and after their divorce is complete. They will also need...Read More

Dividing Debt in a Divorce

August 13, 2021Divorceamediate523

Marriage is more than a legal relationship. It is a union of finances as well. Money problems are always one of the top reasons for divorce. There is no question that money problems can erode the fabric of relationships. The circumstances of every divorce are different, of course, but in many cases, untangling the finances in a divorce is a large part of the battle. Divorce, however, doesn’t fix those money problems. In fact, it often creates additional ones for each spouse—particularly if there’s only one financial breadwinner. Most people want to emerge financially separated from their former spouses. The...Read More

The Outlook for Mediation in the New World of Covid-19 in 2021

January 29, 2021Mediationamediate523

The unexpected COVID-19 pandemic is transforming how we live and work in ways profound and superficial alike. In light of the crisis, those changes will dramatically shift the way many in the mediation industry function permanently. While many of the sources and causes of disputes and conflict continue, the coronavirus and efforts to contain its spread have led to new and immediate conflicts. Managing workforces becomes more difficult while adhering to social distancing guidelines. Tensions in households have skyrocketed since the pandemic. Small disagreements that would be no big deal in a pre-Covid world is enough to start a major...Read More