Northern Kentucky Family Law Blog

Divorced and separated parents in Northern Kentucky may wonder how to approach the holidays. The holidays can be stressful for anyone, but they are especially hard on divorced couples and their children. However, approaching the holidays with a pre-decided plan in place can make things easier on everyone involved.

One way to make the holidays less tense for children is to eliminate the factor of unpredictability. Children of divorced parents often have concerns about what the holidays are going to look like. Giving the kids information about who they will spend which days with and who will be picking them up and dropping them off can go a long way toward eliminating their stress. Proper communication and cooperation can drastically improve the holidays for children.

Parents in Kentucky and elsewhere generally want what is best for their children after a divorce. One way to do this is to allow a child to remain in the same home in which he or she lived prior to the divorce. In a process called nesting, the child remains in the family home while the parents rotate between that residence and an outside dwelling.

Ideally, this situation will only last for about three to six months. If nesting lasts for any longer, it could create stress and anxiety for the child. This is because he or she is not allowed to adjust to the parents living in separate homes. In some cases, the child may believe that the parents aren't living in their own homes because they are trying to get back together. As a general rule, children look for any signs that the divorce may not be permanent.

When you made the decision to divorce, you likely had a few concerns regarding how that decision would affect your children. You may relate to many Kentucky parents who were confident in their personal choice to leave their marriages but were worried about the possible negative consequences their situations might have in their children's lives.  

The good news is that most children are highly adaptable and those who have strong support systems can typically cope with divorce in as healthy and positive a manner as possible. There are no foolproof solutions to shielding your kids from any or all negative issues; however, the more you learn about the psychological growing stages of children in general, the better prepared you might be to help your kids overcome any challenges that arise.  

When people in Kentucky get a divorce, the process might be more difficult if they make common financial mistakes. For example, some people may go out and buy an expensive item during or after the divorce. This might feel better in the short term, but they will still have to pay the bill.

Another mistake is failing to understand the role of taxes. Liquidating an asset to pay bills could result in substantial taxes. This might also be the case if the couple needs to divide a 401(k). A distribution from a 401(k) needs to be rolled into an IRA, and the distribution must be done with a document called a qualified domestic relations order. Without an IRA or a QDRO, there will be taxes and penalties. People do not need to consider taxes for alimony as long as the divorce will be finalized after the end of 2018 since those payments will no longer be tax-deductible or tax-payable. Some people might take drastic steps to avoid alimony like quitting their job, but this will be costly in the long run.