The new tax law, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“TCJA,”) impacts many of the most commonly negotiated terms in divorce. I’ll briefly cover just a few here. Please be sure to review your tax status with your tax planner or attorney before next year. Alimony: For divorce decrees after December 31, 2018, alimony … Continue reading Divorce and the New Tax Law
An attorney called me concerned that her client, Jill*, would not be able to afford to keep the family home after divorce. Jill wanted to keep that home but the attorney believed her budget couldn’t tolerate the payment. Jill insisted that she could figure out a way to make it work on her salary as … Continue reading In Divorce, Nearly Missed Opportunity – The Mortgage Payment
A post divorce prospective client, Linda*, called me last week. She signed her divorce decree over a year earlier and is now trying to divide property and accounts. Linda was awarded the home and previously unidentified expenses have come up. She may have to sell the home as is, at a reduced value. Likely proceeds … Continue reading Deferred Maintenance on the Primary Home or other Real Estate in Divorce
Inherited IRAs could be mistaken for traditional IRAs in divorce. The consequence can be dramatic and costly. An Inherited IRA could inadvertently be treated as a traditional IRA, included as a community asset and divided in the decree – mistakes that could cost the beneficiary of the Inherited IRA thousands in both the amount included … Continue reading Inherited IRAs in Divorce
When couples own a primary residence and rental properties one idea for asset division is for one spouse to stay in the primary residence and for the other to move to one of the couples’ rental homes. While this is convenient, the tax costs should be considered when valuing the properties. Section 121 IRS rules … Continue reading Converting Rental to Primary Property in Divorce