Know the Basics for Your Divorce We recognize that it’s not easy to think about, but knowing the basics of the divorce process can set you on the best possible footing as you move forward. You don’t need to know everything — that’s what your attorney is for. But having a general sense of the process will help you prepare for each step and give you a better understanding of how it all works. Here’s an overview of the second phase of most divorces, called the discovery process. A Look at the Discovery Process About one month after you’ve filled a petition for divorce, the second step of proceedings is what’s called the discovery process. This is the term used by courts and lawyers to describe the exchange of financial information between the two parties. This exchange allows attorneys to put together an idea of the financial state of each party. Florida’s mandatory disclosure laws require each party to exchange three years of tax returns, one year of savings and retirement statements, three months of bank and credit card statements, and other documents. In more complex cases, lawyers will ask for three years of most financial and business records. As part of the document exchange process, lawyers can subpoena records from you or your spouse’s banks, employers, accountants, and anyone else who may have relevant information pertaining to the divorce case. Do you have further questions about this process? Don’t just rely on Google. The internet is a wealth of resources on endless topics, and the divorce process is no exception. What’s out there, though, is not always written by legal professionals, and having insight from a trusted attorney can make a world of difference in how you approach your divorce. In our online “Florida Divorce Law Guide” video series — available on our website — attorney Christopher Bruce walks you through each step of the divorce process, making it straightforward and simple with only the information you need to know to have the best divorce. The discovery process: the initial exchange of financial records
ENGAGE YOUR KIDS ON THANKSGIVING WITH THESE GRATITUDE-THEMED GAMES Thanksgiving is an excellent time to teach children about gratefulness. By planning some fun, gratitude-themed games, you can impart a valuable lesson and spend some quality family time together. Get your kids in the holiday spirit by adding a Thanksgiving twist to these classic games. PICTIONARY Want to bring out your kids’ creative sides? Pictionary is the perfect way to encourage artistic expression and grateful thinking. Try adding a rule where players have to draw something they’re grateful for. This will get your kids thinking beyond turkey and stuffing and give them an imaginative way to express their gratitude. Plus, who doesn’t love a good art contest? GUESS WHO? To play gratitude-themed Guess Who?, have each participant write down their name and something they’re thankful for on a slip of paper and put it in a bowl. Then, at the dinner table, have each person draw a random slip and read what it says without saying the name while everyone else tries to guess who wrote it. While Pictionary may get your kids talking about what they are thankful for, Guess Who? will tune them into what others around them are thankful for too. PICK-UP STICKS Like regular pick-up sticks, the goal is to remove a stick from a haphazard pile without disturbing the others. However, by using colored sticks that represent different kinds of thankfulness — such as places, people, or food — you can make players think outside the box. This will ensure you get a wide range of creative, thoughtful answers whenever the kids pick up a stick. These modified games are great for helping your kids realize how much they have to be thankful for. Use these to spend some fun, educational, quality time with your family this Thanksgiving.
You can find more information and resources on our website, FloridaDivorceLawGuide.com.
Is your friend or client in need of a guide as they prepare for divorce? our divorce strategy book can help! The book can be downloaded for FREE at ControlYourDifficultDivorce.com. If your friend or client lives in the South Florida area, we will mail them a hard copy of the book upon request.
2 • BrucePA.com
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