January is, in family law circles, known as divorce month. It is a month when many Massachusetts residents who have been thinking about divorce finally take the plunge. It is a new beginning of sorts. Traditional divorce is not the only option out there for those who decide the time to end their marriages has come. Divorce mediation is a good way to get the job done.
Why consider divorce now? The answer to that question will be different for everyone. For some it will be because they feel no hope in salvaging their marriages. They have stopped talking to their spouse; they have different goals or dreams; they feel their needs are not being met. For some it will be all about the money.
Thanks to the new tax law, starting in Jan. 2019, couples may have less money to split thanks to the changes in the alimony tax benefit. Those whose divorces are completed in 2019 and who are ordered to pay alimony will no longer get to claim the alimony tax deduction. So, those who wish to take advantage of this benefit and keep more money in the pot — so to speak — need to have their divorces finalized before the end of 2018.
Sometimes the divorce process can be long and drawn out. It does not have to be that way, though. Those who choose divorce mediation often complete the dissolution process in less time and save money along the way. Massachusetts residents who think this may be a good option for them can turn to a family law attorney who has experience handling the mediation process to see if it really is a good fit.
Source: businessinsider.com, “January is ‘divorce month’ — a lawyer and a psychotherapist break down the top signs a marriage is about to dissolve“, Shana Lebowitz, Jan. 12, 2018