Month: December 2019

December 2019

Christmas Caring

December 20, 2019 / NEXT: An Empowerment Series

“It’ll be different,” she said, the tears filling her eyes revealing what her determined smile failed to hide. This Christmas was going to be painful. “It’s bittersweet,” he said. “This is a hard time of year for my wife.” “Honestly, I dread it.” I’ve lost track of the number of people who have exposed their truth that the holidays are hard for them. A death. A deep dysfunction among sibs. A distance brought on by addiction, geography, or a history of hateful words. A child they won’t see. For weeks I’ve anticipated the return of my children from across the

Does It Hurt or Help to be Nice in a Divorce?

December 17, 2019 / Divorce Made Simple, Divorce Tips

Divorce does not have to be contentious. In fact, you could be making it harder for yourself (and your children) if you approach your divorce with revenge in your heart. Taking the high road is not always easy, but there are several reasons you may benefit from it: You can save money. If you and your spouse can be on good terms during your divorce, you will find it pays off. Not only will the process go a lot smoother for you emotionally, but you can also save money if you are able to stay out of court. Settlement is

Lonely

December 13, 2019 / NEXT: An Empowerment Series

How does one escape an epidemic? Loneliness is rising at an alarming rate despite us having more opportunities for communication and connection than ever. Loneliness would have been the logical response for so many seasons of my life. Not only the divorce from my first husband, but also the years of marriage preceding it when I hid a book on intimate partner abuse under my mattress. I went away to college, and far away to law school, and to Spain on my own for a semester at 19. My youngest went away to college at 15 and today my children

How to Legally Change Your Name in Nebraska

December 10, 2019 / Divorce Made Simple, Legal Process

If you are preparing for or are in the process of getting a divorce, you will want to consider whether or not to restore your former name. Nebraska has a fairly easy process for accomplishing this as part of your divorce process. If you want to have your former (maiden) name restored, you should take the following steps: Request the change in your initial filing. If you are initiating the divorce action, ask your attorney to include a request for restoration of your maiden name in your initial complaint. If your spouse initiated the divorce, be sure that your answer

You Deserve It

December 6, 2019 / NEXT: An Empowerment Series

“You deserve it,” he says. I’m awkwardly silent. I feel more curiosity than satisfaction. Why do I deserve it? Would I be entitled to it even if I didn’t deserve it? Does it matter whether I deserve it? Other people deserve it, too, so why didn’t they get it? Am I somehow special? My charmed life means I hear this phrase often, like the time I got Grigio, my little silver convertible. Why the declarations of my deservedness? Was it because I had the income to afford it? Or because I’d lived enough years to be worthy? I wasn’t sure.

Using a Quitclaim Deed to Transfer Real Estate in a Divorce

December 3, 2019 / Assets and Debts, Divorce Made Simple

One of the easiest and most common ways to transfer property rights to another party in Nebraska is through the use of a quitclaim deed. This type of deed conveys the interest you have in a property without providing any warranties or guarantees about the interest you are conveying. If you acquired your home during your marriage, you probably own it together as a joint tenancy with rights of survivorship. This means that the property passes automatically to a surviving spouse. When you divorce, the property settlement you negotiate with your spouse will typically include one of these two options