Augusta Military Divorce Attorney - Army Is Phasing Out Stop-Loss for Soldiers
By YOCHI J. DREAZEN
WASHINGTON -- The Army plans to phase out its deeply unpopular stop-loss program, which forces soldiers to remain in the military after their enlistments end.
The first Army units will deploy overseas without stop-loss soldiers in August. Barring a national-security emergency, the Army hopes to effectively eliminate the practice in 2011.
Pentagon officials said the move was meant to reduce the strains on soldiers and their families, and to help lower the alarmingly high rates of military suicide and divorce.
The move could also help defuse the anger in military circles over the Obama administration's aborted plan to make veterans' private health insurers reimburse the government for the cost of treating combat-related injuries. Amid a political furor, the White House dropped the proposal Wednesday.
Robert Gates
About 13,000 soldiers are being kept in the Army against their will because of the stop-loss program. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he hopes to cut that number in half by June 2010 and bring it down to the "scores, not thousands," by March 2011.
"I felt, particularly in these numbers, that it was breaking faith," Mr. Gates told reporters. "When somebody's end date of service comes, to hold them against their will...is just not the right thing to do."
Wednesday's announcement caps a multiyear controversy over the stop-loss program, created by Congress as part of the Army's transition to an all-volunteer force after the Vietnam War.
The policy affects soldiers whose units are set to deploy within three months of the end of their service commitment to the Army. Commanders say the policy helps maintain unit cohesion at a time of war and ensures that the Army doesn't face shortages of soldiers with specific skills.
The widespread use of the policy during the Iraq War became a heated political issue. In 2004, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry likened it to a "backdoor draft."
In the 2008 movie "Stop-Loss," an Iraq veteran makes plans to flee to Mexico or Canada after he receives notice that he is being kept in the military and sent back to Iraq.
Under the Army's plan, the Army Reserve will begin mobilizing units without stop-loss soldiers in August, and the National Guard will do the same in September. The active-duty Army will follow suit in January 2010.
Mr. Gates said the Army would also give all soldiers who are affected by stop-loss a $500-a-month bonus, with the payments made retroactive to soldiers serving involuntarily as of Oct. 1, 2008.
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
Augusta Military Divorce Attorney - Gates lightens load for war-worn forces
Augusta Military Divorce Attorney - Gates lightens load for war-worn forces
Ending 'stop loss' is just one example of how he has sought to heal an overstressed military.
By Gordon Lubold | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
Washington - After six years of war have almost worn down the military, Defense Secretary Robert Gates is trying to make the armed forces whole again.
In suspending this week an unpopular policy that required some soldiers to stay in the forces because their skills were needed in time of war, Mr. Gates is dismantling some of the policies that have caused hardship to the military.
Since the invasion of Iraq, many service members and their families have endured the mental and physical trauma of extended, back-to-back deployments. Divorce rates are high among the armed forces, and suicides are up.
Now, as the end of the war in Iraq draws closer, Mr. Gates see an opportunity to help put the military back at normal.
On Wednesday, Gates said the Pentagon was "breaking faith" with those soldiers who wanted to leave the service, but were forced to stay under the infamous policy known as "stop loss," called by critics a "back door draft."
"[Gates] seems to care about the people and he does seem to be addressing people issues in a way that his predecessor didn't," says Joyce Raezer, chief operating officer of the National Military Family Association in Alexandria, Va. But he has his work cut out for him, she adds.
"The suicide numbers, the divorce numbers, a lot of that is a result of the accumulation of years of multiple deployments, the family separations, and stress. It's going to take awhile to reverse some of those trends."
Last year, Gates ended a policy he had implemented himself that let the military deploy Army units for 15 months at a time; now, most deploying units return in 12 months or less. He has also pushed for more "wounded warrior" programs to take care of veterans. Recently, he discovered that there were two standards for evacuating the injured from Iraq and Afghanistan – a one hour deadline in Iraq versus two hours in Afghanistan – and pushed commanders to accelerate evacuation in the latter.
And last month, he ended a longtime ban on media coverage of the return of the bodies of soldiers at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, saying families should have the final say, not the Pentagon. He also offered to pay for families wanting to travel to Dover to receive their loved ones.
Gates visited Dover for the first time this month to witness the return of remains from Iraq or Afghanistan, boarding a parked plane alone to stand amid the flag-draped caskets. Asked about the visit at a news briefing Thursday, he said that it was "very difficult." Pressed further, he cut himself short to avoid being overcome with emotion.
"We need to do things that support the troops and their families," says says Geoff Morrell, Gates's press secretary. "Whether it's giving them force protection, or the tools they need to succeed, the medical care they deserve, or the respect they've earned."
In some ways, the military is stronger despite waging the longest war in American modern history. Recruiting and reenlistment are generally high, military pay is up 37 percent since 2002, and the US now has one of the best trained and most combat-seasoned force it may have ever had.
The Army is training its force with skills relevant to what soldiers are confronting, not just with deployments but to help families cope, says Master Sgt. Terry Easter, an infantryman who deployed to Afghanistan in 2003 and then to Iraq in 2006 for a 15-month tour.
"The training definitely has us smarter. It has us stronger, mentally, to accept what's going on," he says, adding that the Army is taking steps to "mitigate" the difficult circumstances that soldiers face.
But there is still work to be done. Most troops want more time at home between deployments – a period known as "dwell time." The Army and Marine Corps both aim for a period at home that is equal to about twice the amount of time deployed, but neither have achieved that yet. New deployments to Afghanistan will, for now, keep that a distant goal.
"I think [Gates's] heart is in the right place, I just hope the troops don't say 'it's over,' because it ain't," says Larry Korb, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank in Washington, who says the stop loss policy should have been lifted earlier.
The current circumstances have given Gates a chance to lift a policy that as of January had prevented more than 13,000 soldiers from leaving the service. The war in Iraq is winding down, the economy is helping retain service members, and the Army and Marine Corps are both growing.
The Pentagon wants to cut the number of those forced to stay in service in half by mid-2010, and eliminate the policy altogether by March 2011. "I believe that when somebody's end date of service comes up, to hold them against their will, if you will, is just not the right thing to do," Gates said.
Such moves are in keeping with the new commander-in-chief and the first lady's views on fixing the military. Speaking at a Marine base last month, President Obama said he would work to improve pay, expand veterans' healthcare benefits and increase day care services and job training for military spouses.
"You and your families have done your duty," Obama told service members. "Now a grateful nation must do ours."
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
Ending 'stop loss' is just one example of how he has sought to heal an overstressed military.
By Gordon Lubold | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
Washington - After six years of war have almost worn down the military, Defense Secretary Robert Gates is trying to make the armed forces whole again.
In suspending this week an unpopular policy that required some soldiers to stay in the forces because their skills were needed in time of war, Mr. Gates is dismantling some of the policies that have caused hardship to the military.
Since the invasion of Iraq, many service members and their families have endured the mental and physical trauma of extended, back-to-back deployments. Divorce rates are high among the armed forces, and suicides are up.
Now, as the end of the war in Iraq draws closer, Mr. Gates see an opportunity to help put the military back at normal.
On Wednesday, Gates said the Pentagon was "breaking faith" with those soldiers who wanted to leave the service, but were forced to stay under the infamous policy known as "stop loss," called by critics a "back door draft."
"[Gates] seems to care about the people and he does seem to be addressing people issues in a way that his predecessor didn't," says Joyce Raezer, chief operating officer of the National Military Family Association in Alexandria, Va. But he has his work cut out for him, she adds.
"The suicide numbers, the divorce numbers, a lot of that is a result of the accumulation of years of multiple deployments, the family separations, and stress. It's going to take awhile to reverse some of those trends."
Last year, Gates ended a policy he had implemented himself that let the military deploy Army units for 15 months at a time; now, most deploying units return in 12 months or less. He has also pushed for more "wounded warrior" programs to take care of veterans. Recently, he discovered that there were two standards for evacuating the injured from Iraq and Afghanistan – a one hour deadline in Iraq versus two hours in Afghanistan – and pushed commanders to accelerate evacuation in the latter.
And last month, he ended a longtime ban on media coverage of the return of the bodies of soldiers at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, saying families should have the final say, not the Pentagon. He also offered to pay for families wanting to travel to Dover to receive their loved ones.
Gates visited Dover for the first time this month to witness the return of remains from Iraq or Afghanistan, boarding a parked plane alone to stand amid the flag-draped caskets. Asked about the visit at a news briefing Thursday, he said that it was "very difficult." Pressed further, he cut himself short to avoid being overcome with emotion.
"We need to do things that support the troops and their families," says says Geoff Morrell, Gates's press secretary. "Whether it's giving them force protection, or the tools they need to succeed, the medical care they deserve, or the respect they've earned."
In some ways, the military is stronger despite waging the longest war in American modern history. Recruiting and reenlistment are generally high, military pay is up 37 percent since 2002, and the US now has one of the best trained and most combat-seasoned force it may have ever had.
The Army is training its force with skills relevant to what soldiers are confronting, not just with deployments but to help families cope, says Master Sgt. Terry Easter, an infantryman who deployed to Afghanistan in 2003 and then to Iraq in 2006 for a 15-month tour.
"The training definitely has us smarter. It has us stronger, mentally, to accept what's going on," he says, adding that the Army is taking steps to "mitigate" the difficult circumstances that soldiers face.
But there is still work to be done. Most troops want more time at home between deployments – a period known as "dwell time." The Army and Marine Corps both aim for a period at home that is equal to about twice the amount of time deployed, but neither have achieved that yet. New deployments to Afghanistan will, for now, keep that a distant goal.
"I think [Gates's] heart is in the right place, I just hope the troops don't say 'it's over,' because it ain't," says Larry Korb, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank in Washington, who says the stop loss policy should have been lifted earlier.
The current circumstances have given Gates a chance to lift a policy that as of January had prevented more than 13,000 soldiers from leaving the service. The war in Iraq is winding down, the economy is helping retain service members, and the Army and Marine Corps are both growing.
The Pentagon wants to cut the number of those forced to stay in service in half by mid-2010, and eliminate the policy altogether by March 2011. "I believe that when somebody's end date of service comes up, to hold them against their will, if you will, is just not the right thing to do," Gates said.
Such moves are in keeping with the new commander-in-chief and the first lady's views on fixing the military. Speaking at a Marine base last month, President Obama said he would work to improve pay, expand veterans' healthcare benefits and increase day care services and job training for military spouses.
"You and your families have done your duty," Obama told service members. "Now a grateful nation must do ours."
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
Augusta Military Divorce Attorney - Gates lightens load for war-worn forces
Augusta Military Divorce Attorney - Gates lightens load for war-worn forces
Ending 'stop loss' is just one example of how he has sought to heal an overstressed military.
By Gordon Lubold | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
Washington - After six years of war have almost worn down the military, Defense Secretary Robert Gates is trying to make the armed forces whole again.
In suspending this week an unpopular policy that required some soldiers to stay in the forces because their skills were needed in time of war, Mr. Gates is dismantling some of the policies that have caused hardship to the military.
Since the invasion of Iraq, many service members and their families have endured the mental and physical trauma of extended, back-to-back deployments. Divorce rates are high among the armed forces, and suicides are up.
Now, as the end of the war in Iraq draws closer, Mr. Gates see an opportunity to help put the military back at normal.
On Wednesday, Gates said the Pentagon was "breaking faith" with those soldiers who wanted to leave the service, but were forced to stay under the infamous policy known as "stop loss," called by critics a "back door draft."
"[Gates] seems to care about the people and he does seem to be addressing people issues in a way that his predecessor didn't," says Joyce Raezer, chief operating officer of the National Military Family Association in Alexandria, Va. But he has his work cut out for him, she adds.
"The suicide numbers, the divorce numbers, a lot of that is a result of the accumulation of years of multiple deployments, the family separations, and stress. It's going to take awhile to reverse some of those trends."
Last year, Gates ended a policy he had implemented himself that let the military deploy Army units for 15 months at a time; now, most deploying units return in 12 months or less. He has also pushed for more "wounded warrior" programs to take care of veterans. Recently, he discovered that there were two standards for evacuating the injured from Iraq and Afghanistan – a one hour deadline in Iraq versus two hours in Afghanistan – and pushed commanders to accelerate evacuation in the latter.
And last month, he ended a longtime ban on media coverage of the return of the bodies of soldiers at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, saying families should have the final say, not the Pentagon. He also offered to pay for families wanting to travel to Dover to receive their loved ones.
Gates visited Dover for the first time this month to witness the return of remains from Iraq or Afghanistan, boarding a parked plane alone to stand amid the flag-draped caskets. Asked about the visit at a news briefing Thursday, he said that it was "very difficult." Pressed further, he cut himself short to avoid being overcome with emotion.
"We need to do things that support the troops and their families," says says Geoff Morrell, Gates's press secretary. "Whether it's giving them force protection, or the tools they need to succeed, the medical care they deserve, or the respect they've earned."
In some ways, the military is stronger despite waging the longest war in American modern history. Recruiting and reenlistment are generally high, military pay is up 37 percent since 2002, and the US now has one of the best trained and most combat-seasoned force it may have ever had.
The Army is training its force with skills relevant to what soldiers are confronting, not just with deployments but to help families cope, says Master Sgt. Terry Easter, an infantryman who deployed to Afghanistan in 2003 and then to Iraq in 2006 for a 15-month tour.
"The training definitely has us smarter. It has us stronger, mentally, to accept what's going on," he says, adding that the Army is taking steps to "mitigate" the difficult circumstances that soldiers face.
But there is still work to be done. Most troops want more time at home between deployments – a period known as "dwell time." The Army and Marine Corps both aim for a period at home that is equal to about twice the amount of time deployed, but neither have achieved that yet. New deployments to Afghanistan will, for now, keep that a distant goal.
"I think [Gates's] heart is in the right place, I just hope the troops don't say 'it's over,' because it ain't," says Larry Korb, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank in Washington, who says the stop loss policy should have been lifted earlier.
The current circumstances have given Gates a chance to lift a policy that as of January had prevented more than 13,000 soldiers from leaving the service. The war in Iraq is winding down, the economy is helping retain service members, and the Army and Marine Corps are both growing.
The Pentagon wants to cut the number of those forced to stay in service in half by mid-2010, and eliminate the policy altogether by March 2011. "I believe that when somebody's end date of service comes up, to hold them against their will, if you will, is just not the right thing to do," Gates said.
Such moves are in keeping with the new commander-in-chief and the first lady's views on fixing the military. Speaking at a Marine base last month, President Obama said he would work to improve pay, expand veterans' healthcare benefits and increase day care services and job training for military spouses.
"You and your families have done your duty," Obama told service members. "Now a grateful nation must do ours."
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
Ending 'stop loss' is just one example of how he has sought to heal an overstressed military.
By Gordon Lubold | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
Washington - After six years of war have almost worn down the military, Defense Secretary Robert Gates is trying to make the armed forces whole again.
In suspending this week an unpopular policy that required some soldiers to stay in the forces because their skills were needed in time of war, Mr. Gates is dismantling some of the policies that have caused hardship to the military.
Since the invasion of Iraq, many service members and their families have endured the mental and physical trauma of extended, back-to-back deployments. Divorce rates are high among the armed forces, and suicides are up.
Now, as the end of the war in Iraq draws closer, Mr. Gates see an opportunity to help put the military back at normal.
On Wednesday, Gates said the Pentagon was "breaking faith" with those soldiers who wanted to leave the service, but were forced to stay under the infamous policy known as "stop loss," called by critics a "back door draft."
"[Gates] seems to care about the people and he does seem to be addressing people issues in a way that his predecessor didn't," says Joyce Raezer, chief operating officer of the National Military Family Association in Alexandria, Va. But he has his work cut out for him, she adds.
"The suicide numbers, the divorce numbers, a lot of that is a result of the accumulation of years of multiple deployments, the family separations, and stress. It's going to take awhile to reverse some of those trends."
Last year, Gates ended a policy he had implemented himself that let the military deploy Army units for 15 months at a time; now, most deploying units return in 12 months or less. He has also pushed for more "wounded warrior" programs to take care of veterans. Recently, he discovered that there were two standards for evacuating the injured from Iraq and Afghanistan – a one hour deadline in Iraq versus two hours in Afghanistan – and pushed commanders to accelerate evacuation in the latter.
And last month, he ended a longtime ban on media coverage of the return of the bodies of soldiers at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, saying families should have the final say, not the Pentagon. He also offered to pay for families wanting to travel to Dover to receive their loved ones.
Gates visited Dover for the first time this month to witness the return of remains from Iraq or Afghanistan, boarding a parked plane alone to stand amid the flag-draped caskets. Asked about the visit at a news briefing Thursday, he said that it was "very difficult." Pressed further, he cut himself short to avoid being overcome with emotion.
"We need to do things that support the troops and their families," says says Geoff Morrell, Gates's press secretary. "Whether it's giving them force protection, or the tools they need to succeed, the medical care they deserve, or the respect they've earned."
In some ways, the military is stronger despite waging the longest war in American modern history. Recruiting and reenlistment are generally high, military pay is up 37 percent since 2002, and the US now has one of the best trained and most combat-seasoned force it may have ever had.
The Army is training its force with skills relevant to what soldiers are confronting, not just with deployments but to help families cope, says Master Sgt. Terry Easter, an infantryman who deployed to Afghanistan in 2003 and then to Iraq in 2006 for a 15-month tour.
"The training definitely has us smarter. It has us stronger, mentally, to accept what's going on," he says, adding that the Army is taking steps to "mitigate" the difficult circumstances that soldiers face.
But there is still work to be done. Most troops want more time at home between deployments – a period known as "dwell time." The Army and Marine Corps both aim for a period at home that is equal to about twice the amount of time deployed, but neither have achieved that yet. New deployments to Afghanistan will, for now, keep that a distant goal.
"I think [Gates's] heart is in the right place, I just hope the troops don't say 'it's over,' because it ain't," says Larry Korb, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank in Washington, who says the stop loss policy should have been lifted earlier.
The current circumstances have given Gates a chance to lift a policy that as of January had prevented more than 13,000 soldiers from leaving the service. The war in Iraq is winding down, the economy is helping retain service members, and the Army and Marine Corps are both growing.
The Pentagon wants to cut the number of those forced to stay in service in half by mid-2010, and eliminate the policy altogether by March 2011. "I believe that when somebody's end date of service comes up, to hold them against their will, if you will, is just not the right thing to do," Gates said.
Such moves are in keeping with the new commander-in-chief and the first lady's views on fixing the military. Speaking at a Marine base last month, President Obama said he would work to improve pay, expand veterans' healthcare benefits and increase day care services and job training for military spouses.
"You and your families have done your duty," Obama told service members. "Now a grateful nation must do ours."
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
Georgia Military Divorce Attorney - Wife divorcing ex-CEO: $43 million not enough
Georgia Military Divorce Attorney- Wife divorcing ex-CEO: $43 million not enough
By DAVE COLLINS – 21 hours ago
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A 36-year-old Swedish countess divorcing a former CEO says she cannot live on $43 million.
Marie Douglas-David, a former investment banker, says she has no income and needs her 67-year-old husband, George David, to pay her more than $53,000 a week — more than most U.S. households make in a year — to cover her expenses.
David stepped down last year as chief executive at Hartford-based United Technologies Corp. but is still chairman of the board and has an estimated net worth of $329 million. He and his wife accuse each other of extramarital affairs. Their divorce trial started Wednesday.
"I'm just very sad that we are where we are," Douglas-David said. "I hope we resolve this soon so everybody can move on with their lives."
David briefly took the stand Wednesday. Asked if his marriage is irretrievably broken, he simply answered, "Yes."
David and Douglas-David married in 2002, but the marriage was in trouble by 2004, court papers show. Amid a series of reconciliations, the couple signed a postnuptial agreement in October 2005 that would give her $43 million when they divorce.
Douglas-David wants the agreement invalidated. She accused her husband of coercing her to sign it by preying upon her fears of being divorced and childless. She's asking to be awarded about $100 million in cash and stock, plus $130,000 a month in alimony.
David is asking a judge to uphold the agreement and order Douglas-David to vacate their Park Avenue apartment but keep their properties in Sweden. His attorneys asked for a separate hearing Wednesday on the document's validity, but the judge declined.
Douglas-David has filed court papers showing she has more than $53,800 in weekly expenses, including for maintaining a Park Avenue apartment and three residences in Sweden. Her weekly expenses also include $700 for limousine service, $4,500 for clothes, $1,000 for hair and skin treatments, $1,500 for restaurants and entertainment, and $8,000 for travel.
At that rate, Douglas-David would burn through $43 million in less than 16 years. The Census Bureau estimates that the median U.S. household income in 2007 was just over $50,000.
Anne Dranginis, an attorney for David and retired Connecticut Appellate Court judge, predicted that Douglas-David will get much less money in the divorce if she doesn't accept the terms of the postnuptial.
In court papers, Douglas-David said she quit her job as an investment banker for Lazard Asset Management to travel and entertain with David, who still earns $1 million a year from United Technologies. While chief executive in 2007, David made nearly $27 million in salary and bonuses.
Douglas-David's legal team includes prominent New York divorce attorney William Beslow, who represented Mia Farrow in her child-custody suit against actor-director Woody Allen and Marla Maples in her divorce from Donald Trump.
United Technologies is the parent company of Carrier, which makes air conditioning units, and Otis Elevators. It also owns Sikorsky, which makes commercial and military helicopters, and Hamilton Sunstrand, an aerospace manufacturer that makes components for NASA's space program.
David is expected to return to the stand Thursday for several days of testimony.
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
By DAVE COLLINS – 21 hours ago
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A 36-year-old Swedish countess divorcing a former CEO says she cannot live on $43 million.
Marie Douglas-David, a former investment banker, says she has no income and needs her 67-year-old husband, George David, to pay her more than $53,000 a week — more than most U.S. households make in a year — to cover her expenses.
David stepped down last year as chief executive at Hartford-based United Technologies Corp. but is still chairman of the board and has an estimated net worth of $329 million. He and his wife accuse each other of extramarital affairs. Their divorce trial started Wednesday.
"I'm just very sad that we are where we are," Douglas-David said. "I hope we resolve this soon so everybody can move on with their lives."
David briefly took the stand Wednesday. Asked if his marriage is irretrievably broken, he simply answered, "Yes."
David and Douglas-David married in 2002, but the marriage was in trouble by 2004, court papers show. Amid a series of reconciliations, the couple signed a postnuptial agreement in October 2005 that would give her $43 million when they divorce.
Douglas-David wants the agreement invalidated. She accused her husband of coercing her to sign it by preying upon her fears of being divorced and childless. She's asking to be awarded about $100 million in cash and stock, plus $130,000 a month in alimony.
David is asking a judge to uphold the agreement and order Douglas-David to vacate their Park Avenue apartment but keep their properties in Sweden. His attorneys asked for a separate hearing Wednesday on the document's validity, but the judge declined.
Douglas-David has filed court papers showing she has more than $53,800 in weekly expenses, including for maintaining a Park Avenue apartment and three residences in Sweden. Her weekly expenses also include $700 for limousine service, $4,500 for clothes, $1,000 for hair and skin treatments, $1,500 for restaurants and entertainment, and $8,000 for travel.
At that rate, Douglas-David would burn through $43 million in less than 16 years. The Census Bureau estimates that the median U.S. household income in 2007 was just over $50,000.
Anne Dranginis, an attorney for David and retired Connecticut Appellate Court judge, predicted that Douglas-David will get much less money in the divorce if she doesn't accept the terms of the postnuptial.
In court papers, Douglas-David said she quit her job as an investment banker for Lazard Asset Management to travel and entertain with David, who still earns $1 million a year from United Technologies. While chief executive in 2007, David made nearly $27 million in salary and bonuses.
Douglas-David's legal team includes prominent New York divorce attorney William Beslow, who represented Mia Farrow in her child-custody suit against actor-director Woody Allen and Marla Maples in her divorce from Donald Trump.
United Technologies is the parent company of Carrier, which makes air conditioning units, and Otis Elevators. It also owns Sikorsky, which makes commercial and military helicopters, and Hamilton Sunstrand, an aerospace manufacturer that makes components for NASA's space program.
David is expected to return to the stand Thursday for several days of testimony.
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
Augusta Military Divorce Attorney - Corps V.I.P. Offers Soldiers Hope
Augusta Military Divorce Attorney - Corps V.I.P. Offers Soldiers Hope
BY ROBYN HEIRTZLER
CEDAR CITY - The need for treatment centers for soldiers is rising across the United States but Corps V.I.P. is working to fill that need starting in Southern Utah.
According to the Department of Defense, more than 1.6 million soldiers have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001. Approximately 30 percent of those veterans will experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and nearly as many will become alcoholics or binge drinkers. A high percentage will experience divorce and some will take their own lives.
These challenges are the result of the tragedies the soldiers have faced in combat, and they can last a lifetime.
Dr. Sid Young understands these issues well and has joined forces with Corps V.I.P. as director and consulting psychologist. Young has served since 1986 as a U.S. Army Chaplain assisting soldiers and families with reintegration. From November of 2003 to September of 2005 while in Germany, he greeted, briefed and counseled with more than 600,000 soldiers, earning him the title, "The chaplain."
Now Young will bring his skills to soldiers returning home through Corps V.I.P. Corps V.I.P is a non-profit organization founded in April of 2008 by Brandon Bateman and Tyson Olson. First pitched to Young by his friend, Brent Judd, Young knew he could not pass it up. It was the opportunity he'd been looking for to provide help to America's veterans.
Their mission statement sums it up best, stating, "The Corps V.I.P.'s mission is to restore an expression of gratitude to our military personnel for their selfless service to our country and to promote emotional well-being, positive growth relationships and healthy lifestyles for our American Veterans and their families."
"The transition from the combat environment to the community can be very difficult," says Young.
This transition impacts family relationships, divorce rates, depression, suicidal tendencies and anxiety disorders. In the past, these struggles were not addressed and many who returned home from wars, such as the Vietnam War, were left to face PTSD and other disorders largely on their own.
The effects of war on these soldiers have left them living with silent wounds that torment their memories. Young wants to help prevent that in today's returning troops as much as he's able.
"The Corps VIP recognizes the growing need for services to address the issues that arise from having a combat experience and are committed to addressing the emotional and spiritual needs of our soldiers and their families," states Corps V.I.P.
"We provide a wellness retreat package for service personnel and their families," says Young. "Each package offers a wellness retreat and provides a non-threatening environment to assess the mental, emotional and spiritual needs of the soldier and his or her family."
The retreats provide the skills needed to help with adjustments as soldiers return home. Skills are taught to enhance personal relationships, build trust and low self esteem, solve problems and improve communication through a six day all-inclusive retreat. These retreats are made possible through corporate and private sponsors to soldiers in southern Utah, but Corps V.I.P. plans to expand their reach.
Eventually Corps V.I.P. plans to have centers across the country to provide free support to service personnel everywhere. It's their way of saying "Thank you."
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
BY ROBYN HEIRTZLER
CEDAR CITY - The need for treatment centers for soldiers is rising across the United States but Corps V.I.P. is working to fill that need starting in Southern Utah.
According to the Department of Defense, more than 1.6 million soldiers have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001. Approximately 30 percent of those veterans will experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and nearly as many will become alcoholics or binge drinkers. A high percentage will experience divorce and some will take their own lives.
These challenges are the result of the tragedies the soldiers have faced in combat, and they can last a lifetime.
Dr. Sid Young understands these issues well and has joined forces with Corps V.I.P. as director and consulting psychologist. Young has served since 1986 as a U.S. Army Chaplain assisting soldiers and families with reintegration. From November of 2003 to September of 2005 while in Germany, he greeted, briefed and counseled with more than 600,000 soldiers, earning him the title, "The chaplain."
Now Young will bring his skills to soldiers returning home through Corps V.I.P. Corps V.I.P is a non-profit organization founded in April of 2008 by Brandon Bateman and Tyson Olson. First pitched to Young by his friend, Brent Judd, Young knew he could not pass it up. It was the opportunity he'd been looking for to provide help to America's veterans.
Their mission statement sums it up best, stating, "The Corps V.I.P.'s mission is to restore an expression of gratitude to our military personnel for their selfless service to our country and to promote emotional well-being, positive growth relationships and healthy lifestyles for our American Veterans and their families."
"The transition from the combat environment to the community can be very difficult," says Young.
This transition impacts family relationships, divorce rates, depression, suicidal tendencies and anxiety disorders. In the past, these struggles were not addressed and many who returned home from wars, such as the Vietnam War, were left to face PTSD and other disorders largely on their own.
The effects of war on these soldiers have left them living with silent wounds that torment their memories. Young wants to help prevent that in today's returning troops as much as he's able.
"The Corps VIP recognizes the growing need for services to address the issues that arise from having a combat experience and are committed to addressing the emotional and spiritual needs of our soldiers and their families," states Corps V.I.P.
"We provide a wellness retreat package for service personnel and their families," says Young. "Each package offers a wellness retreat and provides a non-threatening environment to assess the mental, emotional and spiritual needs of the soldier and his or her family."
The retreats provide the skills needed to help with adjustments as soldiers return home. Skills are taught to enhance personal relationships, build trust and low self esteem, solve problems and improve communication through a six day all-inclusive retreat. These retreats are made possible through corporate and private sponsors to soldiers in southern Utah, but Corps V.I.P. plans to expand their reach.
Eventually Corps V.I.P. plans to have centers across the country to provide free support to service personnel everywhere. It's their way of saying "Thank you."
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
Augusta Military Divorce Attorney - How Couples Stay Married During Deployments
Augusta Military Divorce Attorney - How Couples Stay Married During Deployments
by Anne-Marie Scali
Communication is key in any relationship but for the more than 287,000 military couples communicating across enemy lines, keeping the lines of dialogue open and honest can make or break a marriage [1]. Military couples face a unique set of circumstances that often times find them miles apart.
The average deployment ranges between 12-15 months while deployment extensions and redeployment are just as likely. With the military divorce rate [2] rising ever so slightly, Soldiers are speaking out about what it takes to stay strong amidst year long separations.
"All marriages have their good and bad times," explains Spc. Michelle Martinez of Clarksdale, Texas in a recent news article [3], "but if you and your spouse have faith, trust, and open communication, you have the keys for success." For Spc. Michelle Martinez, open communication meant discussing every aspect of her job and duty description prior to her departure to alleviate unanswered questions that might have otherwise surfaced.
But once a spouse is gone and conversations are hard to come by, it can grow increasingly difficult to stay strong. "Take pictures of yourself and your family to mail along with your letters to increase morale," suggests Sgt.1st Class Leroy J. Fontenot of Beaumont, Texas who has been married for 17 years and acts as a mentor for military newlyweds. "Seeing pictures helps keep you in touch," he adds.
Ultimately, the choice to stay positive and supportive during lengthy deployments must be made by both parties and when one falters, the other one must stay strong enough to see them though. Easier said than done, communication is made ever the more difficult when traditional methods of communication, like texting [4] and email, are not always possible.
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
by Anne-Marie Scali
Communication is key in any relationship but for the more than 287,000 military couples communicating across enemy lines, keeping the lines of dialogue open and honest can make or break a marriage [1]. Military couples face a unique set of circumstances that often times find them miles apart.
The average deployment ranges between 12-15 months while deployment extensions and redeployment are just as likely. With the military divorce rate [2] rising ever so slightly, Soldiers are speaking out about what it takes to stay strong amidst year long separations.
"All marriages have their good and bad times," explains Spc. Michelle Martinez of Clarksdale, Texas in a recent news article [3], "but if you and your spouse have faith, trust, and open communication, you have the keys for success." For Spc. Michelle Martinez, open communication meant discussing every aspect of her job and duty description prior to her departure to alleviate unanswered questions that might have otherwise surfaced.
But once a spouse is gone and conversations are hard to come by, it can grow increasingly difficult to stay strong. "Take pictures of yourself and your family to mail along with your letters to increase morale," suggests Sgt.1st Class Leroy J. Fontenot of Beaumont, Texas who has been married for 17 years and acts as a mentor for military newlyweds. "Seeing pictures helps keep you in touch," he adds.
Ultimately, the choice to stay positive and supportive during lengthy deployments must be made by both parties and when one falters, the other one must stay strong enough to see them though. Easier said than done, communication is made ever the more difficult when traditional methods of communication, like texting [4] and email, are not always possible.
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
Augusta Military Divorce Attorney - Military Divorces Are On The Rise
Augusta Military Divorce Attorney - Military Divorces Are On The Rise
by Tom Miller
Since September 2001, 20% of military marriages ended in divorce. In fact, 27,000 divorces took place in the US military in 2004. In that year, the officers were the hardest hit. The military put programs in place to try to assuage this issue and the divorce rate of officers has fallen in line with its historical average. That’s the good news. The bad news is that enlisted personnel are still getting divorced at an alarmingly high rate. And the really bad news is that women in the military are getting divorced at three times the rate of men.
Part of the rationalization behind the gap between the officer and enlisted divorce is life experience. Fresh officers tend to be older than beginning enlisted. They have to have a college degree (in all but a handful of cases) whereas the Army’s goal (which it misses) is to have 90% of enlisted personnel with a high school diploma. Pay is the next likely factor. Officers can earn a middle class after a few years of service. Enlisted troops earn what you would expect someone with a high school education to earn (unless they have seniority or highly specialized training). What’s more is that enlisted troops get a greater (percentage-wise) salary bump for getting married. This leads a lot of young troops into sham marriages (something the military is try to cut down on). And if every single military movie is to be believed, these young left-behind wives are sometimes tempted to stray. And not always with townies or fast-talking hustlers, many times other servicemen are involved. Also the military tries harder to retain officers. And is willing to go to great lengths to keep their support at home in place. It’s not terribly surprising to see why officer marriages tend to last longer.
The real conundrum is figuring out why women’s marriages are failing at such an incredibly higher rate than men’s. One theory is that the support groups that the military organizes are not designed for military husbands. And that they feel a little alienated receiving support. Whatever the case, it’s pretty important that concrete policies and programs get developed to keep these families together.
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
by Tom Miller
Since September 2001, 20% of military marriages ended in divorce. In fact, 27,000 divorces took place in the US military in 2004. In that year, the officers were the hardest hit. The military put programs in place to try to assuage this issue and the divorce rate of officers has fallen in line with its historical average. That’s the good news. The bad news is that enlisted personnel are still getting divorced at an alarmingly high rate. And the really bad news is that women in the military are getting divorced at three times the rate of men.
Part of the rationalization behind the gap between the officer and enlisted divorce is life experience. Fresh officers tend to be older than beginning enlisted. They have to have a college degree (in all but a handful of cases) whereas the Army’s goal (which it misses) is to have 90% of enlisted personnel with a high school diploma. Pay is the next likely factor. Officers can earn a middle class after a few years of service. Enlisted troops earn what you would expect someone with a high school education to earn (unless they have seniority or highly specialized training). What’s more is that enlisted troops get a greater (percentage-wise) salary bump for getting married. This leads a lot of young troops into sham marriages (something the military is try to cut down on). And if every single military movie is to be believed, these young left-behind wives are sometimes tempted to stray. And not always with townies or fast-talking hustlers, many times other servicemen are involved. Also the military tries harder to retain officers. And is willing to go to great lengths to keep their support at home in place. It’s not terribly surprising to see why officer marriages tend to last longer.
The real conundrum is figuring out why women’s marriages are failing at such an incredibly higher rate than men’s. One theory is that the support groups that the military organizes are not designed for military husbands. And that they feel a little alienated receiving support. Whatever the case, it’s pretty important that concrete policies and programs get developed to keep these families together.
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
Augusta Military Divorce Attorney - Britain's first divorce fair gets underway
Augusta Military Divorce Attorney - Britain's first divorce fair gets underway
An event dubbed Britain's first divorce fair is being staged to give newly single people access to services to move on in their lives.
Exhibitors at the Starting Over Show (SOS) included solicitors, mortgage advisers, life coaches and a "mystic housewife healer" offering spiritual help.
Event organisers hope the show will attract up to 1,000 people seeking help to regain their confidence from break-ups, including civil partnership splits.
The event, which follows on from other divorce fairs held in Europe, was produced by mother-of-three Suzy Miller following first-hand experience of a relationship breakdown.
Ms Miller, 44, from Forest Row, near East Grinstead, described the demise of her 10-year relationship in 2003 as the most painful and traumatic experience of her life.
But less than six years on, she said she is grateful to her ex-partner for ending their union.
He has since remarried another woman and they now effectively co-parent and live in the same village. The couple even turned up at today's show to support Ms Miller.
She said more than 140,000 UK couples divorce each year, and many thousands more co-habiting couples find themselves needing to extricate themselves from joint mortgages and lives.
"When I first broke up, it was horrible and I wanted someone to come to me and say that it would be bad for a while but then it would get better," she said.
"But what shocked me was that there was nothing really out there. I was seeing a lot of my friends going through the same as me and yet there was very little help available.
"There is a belief that if your relationship breaks up then it is a kind of failure. This show is about telling people that that is not the case and there is help out there.
"It is about bringing together experts who will help people get through a break-up in the best way possible. In some cases a break-up can be the catalyst for good."
The show also included a free financial surgery and pastors taking part in "letting go ceremonies" to help people reach closure in their past relationships.
In addition, the show attracted feng shui experts, which Ms Miller said were helpful in "clearing someone out of their life" and ridding their home of reminders of their ex.
Figures from the Local Government Association (LGA) last December found that nearly a fifth (17%) of local authorities have reported higher demand for relationship counselling since the economic downturn took hold.
Amid rising unemployment and house repossessions, 93% of councils said they had been providing more debt advice, and half highlighted extra demand for job counselling.
Ms Miller said the recession was triggering relationship splits but that she also believes financial problems do not necessarily have to spell the end if advice is sought early.
"People should realise that they can make it work," Ms Miller said. "It takes a lot of patience, a lot of courage but life is too short and sweet to live it unhappily."
The world's first divorce fair opened in Vienna, Austria, in October 2007, under the slogan New Beginning, which attracted about 500 people and 20 exhibitors including private detective firms and DNA laboratories offering paternity tests.
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
An event dubbed Britain's first divorce fair is being staged to give newly single people access to services to move on in their lives.
Exhibitors at the Starting Over Show (SOS) included solicitors, mortgage advisers, life coaches and a "mystic housewife healer" offering spiritual help.
Event organisers hope the show will attract up to 1,000 people seeking help to regain their confidence from break-ups, including civil partnership splits.
The event, which follows on from other divorce fairs held in Europe, was produced by mother-of-three Suzy Miller following first-hand experience of a relationship breakdown.
Ms Miller, 44, from Forest Row, near East Grinstead, described the demise of her 10-year relationship in 2003 as the most painful and traumatic experience of her life.
But less than six years on, she said she is grateful to her ex-partner for ending their union.
He has since remarried another woman and they now effectively co-parent and live in the same village. The couple even turned up at today's show to support Ms Miller.
She said more than 140,000 UK couples divorce each year, and many thousands more co-habiting couples find themselves needing to extricate themselves from joint mortgages and lives.
"When I first broke up, it was horrible and I wanted someone to come to me and say that it would be bad for a while but then it would get better," she said.
"But what shocked me was that there was nothing really out there. I was seeing a lot of my friends going through the same as me and yet there was very little help available.
"There is a belief that if your relationship breaks up then it is a kind of failure. This show is about telling people that that is not the case and there is help out there.
"It is about bringing together experts who will help people get through a break-up in the best way possible. In some cases a break-up can be the catalyst for good."
The show also included a free financial surgery and pastors taking part in "letting go ceremonies" to help people reach closure in their past relationships.
In addition, the show attracted feng shui experts, which Ms Miller said were helpful in "clearing someone out of their life" and ridding their home of reminders of their ex.
Figures from the Local Government Association (LGA) last December found that nearly a fifth (17%) of local authorities have reported higher demand for relationship counselling since the economic downturn took hold.
Amid rising unemployment and house repossessions, 93% of councils said they had been providing more debt advice, and half highlighted extra demand for job counselling.
Ms Miller said the recession was triggering relationship splits but that she also believes financial problems do not necessarily have to spell the end if advice is sought early.
"People should realise that they can make it work," Ms Miller said. "It takes a lot of patience, a lot of courage but life is too short and sweet to live it unhappily."
The world's first divorce fair opened in Vienna, Austria, in October 2007, under the slogan New Beginning, which attracted about 500 people and 20 exhibitors including private detective firms and DNA laboratories offering paternity tests.
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
Augusta Military Divorce Attorney - Marry for life, but divorce is OK
Augusta Military Divorce Attorney - Marry for life, but divorce is OK
Adele Horin
MARRIAGE is for life, right? Most Australians agree with the proposition. But most also think it is perfectly all right for unhappy couples to divorce, even if they have children.
The apparently contradictory attitudes emerged in a survey of 11,325 Australians, published in the latest Family Relationships Quarterly newsletter.
Roughly half the men (51 per cent) and women (56 per cent) agreed either strongly or moderately with the statement that "marriage is a lifetime relationship and should never be ended".
But an even bigger proportion of the same group (63 per cent of men and 70 per cent of women) thought it was "all right for a couple with an unhappy marriage to get a divorce, even if they have children".
Almost 30 per cent of the men and women endorsed both views - that marriage was "until death us do part" but divorce was an acceptable escape route.
Ruth Weston, principal research fellow at the Australian Institute of Family Studies and co-author of the study with Lixia Qu, thinks she understands the seeming contradiction.
"People believe you have to go into marriage thinking it is for life," she said. "They believe marriage should be a serious commitment. But they acknowledge the ideal may not pan out, hopes will be dashed, and as the course of the marriage unfolds, the ideal may need to be set aside."
The study shows only 24 per cent of Australians hold consistently anti-divorce views.
A higher proportion of women than men in all age groups clearly accepted divorce, and those in their 50s were more accepting of divorce than younger or older age groups.
Rejection of divorce was highest among teenage boys and men over 70. Ms Weston said the high rates of cohabitation in Australia might give the impression people no longer took marriage seriously. "Some people say marriage is just a piece of paper. But the study indicates people see marriage as a really important institution, but acknowledge that it doesn't always turn out all right."
A separate study shows that following their parents' divorce, children are unlikely to have a close relationship with their paternal grandparents.
Only 19 per cent of non-resident fathers said the relationship was "very close" between their own parents and their children. But in the wider community the vast majority of grandparents had close or very close bonds, according to the study of 5000 parents published in Family Matters, the journal of the Australian Institute of Family Studies.
Ms Weston said resident mothers were usually the gatekeeper of who children saw after divorce.
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
Adele Horin
MARRIAGE is for life, right? Most Australians agree with the proposition. But most also think it is perfectly all right for unhappy couples to divorce, even if they have children.
The apparently contradictory attitudes emerged in a survey of 11,325 Australians, published in the latest Family Relationships Quarterly newsletter.
Roughly half the men (51 per cent) and women (56 per cent) agreed either strongly or moderately with the statement that "marriage is a lifetime relationship and should never be ended".
But an even bigger proportion of the same group (63 per cent of men and 70 per cent of women) thought it was "all right for a couple with an unhappy marriage to get a divorce, even if they have children".
Almost 30 per cent of the men and women endorsed both views - that marriage was "until death us do part" but divorce was an acceptable escape route.
Ruth Weston, principal research fellow at the Australian Institute of Family Studies and co-author of the study with Lixia Qu, thinks she understands the seeming contradiction.
"People believe you have to go into marriage thinking it is for life," she said. "They believe marriage should be a serious commitment. But they acknowledge the ideal may not pan out, hopes will be dashed, and as the course of the marriage unfolds, the ideal may need to be set aside."
The study shows only 24 per cent of Australians hold consistently anti-divorce views.
A higher proportion of women than men in all age groups clearly accepted divorce, and those in their 50s were more accepting of divorce than younger or older age groups.
Rejection of divorce was highest among teenage boys and men over 70. Ms Weston said the high rates of cohabitation in Australia might give the impression people no longer took marriage seriously. "Some people say marriage is just a piece of paper. But the study indicates people see marriage as a really important institution, but acknowledge that it doesn't always turn out all right."
A separate study shows that following their parents' divorce, children are unlikely to have a close relationship with their paternal grandparents.
Only 19 per cent of non-resident fathers said the relationship was "very close" between their own parents and their children. But in the wider community the vast majority of grandparents had close or very close bonds, according to the study of 5000 parents published in Family Matters, the journal of the Australian Institute of Family Studies.
Ms Weston said resident mothers were usually the gatekeeper of who children saw after divorce.
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
Augusta Military Divorce Attorney - Divorce marked to market: Margaret Doyle
Augusta Military Divorce Attorney - Divorce marked to market: Margaret Doyle
By Margaret Doyle
LONDON (Reuters) - The Myerson divorce case in Britain makes compelling reading, as all rich bust-ups do. Regardless of whether the judges make Ingrid Myerson hand back 3.2 million pounds of her 11.1 million pound payout to compensate for the decline in her ex-husband's shares, she is a lucky woman.
Thanks to her divorce last year from fund manager Bryan who, as one half of Active Value Advisers, was the scourge of corporate UK, she is independently wealthy. Had the marriage survived, she would probably be -- like him -- worthless.
The lesson from the Myerson divorce is that wives who cede control of the family finances to their rich husbands will have to accept that marriage may be for poorer as well as for richer. If they do not want to risk their family's wealth being wiped out, they will have to take an interest in it.
Ingrid Myerson is a sculptor, and presumably claims as little financial nous as most artists. But this model of marriage -- where one party, usually the husband, makes the money and all the financial decisions -- remains surprisingly common among the rich. It is easy to see why.
Over the past few decades, pay for senior executives and financiers has rocketed. And the demands on them have soared too: in terms of hours, overseas postings, travel and general stress. So it made sense for the other party, usually the wife, to become a "trailing spouse" whose job it was to support her high-earning husband and keep the family show -- and the second homes and dogs and ponies -- on the road.
With such a lifestyle and largely absent husbands, it was hard for these wives to maintain any sort of career at the same time. And with millions being made, that trade-off seemed to make financial sense. Why would a wife bother to work when she was paid buttons compared with her husband's lavish pay and perks? And why should she get involved in the family finances when her financier husband was doing such a good job at it?
But these marital understandings are now being called into question. Because so many banking bonuses were paid in stock, there are few financiers whose wealth has not been hammered by the decline in financial stocks over the past year. Moreover, with governments taking stakes in banks across the world, bonuses are out of the question for the next few years.
Worse, many financiers took on a lot of debt, buying fancy houses on the never-never and using their stock and expected pay as collateral. But the value of property has been plummeting too. Now such families are not just worthless: they are worth less than nothing. And many are unable even to pay the interest on their home loans.
Working class women used to keep cash in a jar for a rainy day -- what some called "running away money". They understood the value of having some financial independence. But another group of women, who should have known better, do not.
This well-educated lot, often with MBAs, seem to have ignored what they learned in investment 101: don't put all your eggs in one basket. Instead, they are finding that their family's entire lifestyle: home(s), holidays and schools are all an unhedged bet on the future of the finance industry. Far wiser to have reined in their husbands' borrowing, and perhaps to have kept the job. They are now learning the lesson the hard way.
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
By Margaret Doyle
LONDON (Reuters) - The Myerson divorce case in Britain makes compelling reading, as all rich bust-ups do. Regardless of whether the judges make Ingrid Myerson hand back 3.2 million pounds of her 11.1 million pound payout to compensate for the decline in her ex-husband's shares, she is a lucky woman.
Thanks to her divorce last year from fund manager Bryan who, as one half of Active Value Advisers, was the scourge of corporate UK, she is independently wealthy. Had the marriage survived, she would probably be -- like him -- worthless.
The lesson from the Myerson divorce is that wives who cede control of the family finances to their rich husbands will have to accept that marriage may be for poorer as well as for richer. If they do not want to risk their family's wealth being wiped out, they will have to take an interest in it.
Ingrid Myerson is a sculptor, and presumably claims as little financial nous as most artists. But this model of marriage -- where one party, usually the husband, makes the money and all the financial decisions -- remains surprisingly common among the rich. It is easy to see why.
Over the past few decades, pay for senior executives and financiers has rocketed. And the demands on them have soared too: in terms of hours, overseas postings, travel and general stress. So it made sense for the other party, usually the wife, to become a "trailing spouse" whose job it was to support her high-earning husband and keep the family show -- and the second homes and dogs and ponies -- on the road.
With such a lifestyle and largely absent husbands, it was hard for these wives to maintain any sort of career at the same time. And with millions being made, that trade-off seemed to make financial sense. Why would a wife bother to work when she was paid buttons compared with her husband's lavish pay and perks? And why should she get involved in the family finances when her financier husband was doing such a good job at it?
But these marital understandings are now being called into question. Because so many banking bonuses were paid in stock, there are few financiers whose wealth has not been hammered by the decline in financial stocks over the past year. Moreover, with governments taking stakes in banks across the world, bonuses are out of the question for the next few years.
Worse, many financiers took on a lot of debt, buying fancy houses on the never-never and using their stock and expected pay as collateral. But the value of property has been plummeting too. Now such families are not just worthless: they are worth less than nothing. And many are unable even to pay the interest on their home loans.
Working class women used to keep cash in a jar for a rainy day -- what some called "running away money". They understood the value of having some financial independence. But another group of women, who should have known better, do not.
This well-educated lot, often with MBAs, seem to have ignored what they learned in investment 101: don't put all your eggs in one basket. Instead, they are finding that their family's entire lifestyle: home(s), holidays and schools are all an unhedged bet on the future of the finance industry. Far wiser to have reined in their husbands' borrowing, and perhaps to have kept the job. They are now learning the lesson the hard way.
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
Augusta Military Divorce Attorney -Life Goes on By
Augusta Military Divorce Attorney -Life Goes on By
By Jim Messer, LtCol, USMC, Ret.
The last column on prenuptial agreements generated many questions concerning divorce that revolved around universal, practical considerations that are not often discussed. To answer all the questions would be a full time job; however two of the most commons questions focused on pensions and credit ratings.
The majority of the questions centered on the military member's pension or retirement plan. The practical answer is that, in all probability, it will be divided between the parties pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; commonly referred to as a QUADRO.
One of many comments read as follows "Pre-nups" are extremely important especially in the way state courts "think" that their decisions are the best for each marital partner. Have you heard of the USFSPA - the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act? This federal law allows (but does not require) divorce courts to divide military retired pay as joint marital property in a divorce settlement. A well-read pre-nup will prevent a court from "taking" what solely and rightly belongs to the military retiree."
The USFSPA is a complicated piece of legislation that warrants more than a column in order to analyze and discuss.
Despite the varying interpretations of the USFSPA the commonly accepted practice in state courts is to divide the pension in equal parts between the former spouses. The only consistent qualifying factor seems to be that the court will generally require that the parties have been married for Ten (10) years while one spouse was on active duty.
One of many practical considerations to take into account is how to handle the share going to the non pension holder. This applies to both spouses. Remember that in this day and age, it is as likely that both parties will be members of the military. Basically, the share going to the other party will generally be exempt from the Ten (10) percent early withdrawal penalty to which the pension holder will be subjected. Therefore, unless you have other flexible funds or want to maintain an additional retirement resource, never agree to a provision in a divorce decree or QUADRO that requires your portion of the pension or retirement to be made payable to another qualified retirement plan. To do so would subject any emergency withdrawal you make to a Ten (10) per cent withdrawal penalty and restrict your ability to borrow based on these funds in the future. Strive to maintain any property received through the divorce in an unencumbered state so as to have it available as collateral for personal or commercial loans.
Another difficult scenario is recovering from a bad credit rating that results when the other spouse or his or her significant other runs up a jointly held credit card after separation or fails to payoff a credit card that was consigned to them by the Judge. Federal regulatory law and most state consumer protection acts require credit rating agencies or companies to accept the innocent spouse's written explanation of how the nonpayment issue came about. In other words, those companies that earn their money by rating creditworthiness must place one's written (not over the telephone) side of the story in their files. On this basis, the rating may be modified or, more likely, the potential creditor may make an in-house adjustment of its assessment of risk in extending an innocent, but adversely affected former spouse credit in a moderate amount.
Maintaining a healthy or even a nominal savings account balance along with a credit union account will show not only diversification, but will indicate the existence of multiple assets that will enhance your credit rating and provide collateral for contemplated future loans. Of course, the savings account interest rate will be less that stellar; however, the proverbial "bottom line" is that, just as in cashing a check, financial institutions are more likely to extend consumer credit to those who have accounts with them.
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
By Jim Messer, LtCol, USMC, Ret.
The last column on prenuptial agreements generated many questions concerning divorce that revolved around universal, practical considerations that are not often discussed. To answer all the questions would be a full time job; however two of the most commons questions focused on pensions and credit ratings.
The majority of the questions centered on the military member's pension or retirement plan. The practical answer is that, in all probability, it will be divided between the parties pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; commonly referred to as a QUADRO.
One of many comments read as follows "Pre-nups" are extremely important especially in the way state courts "think" that their decisions are the best for each marital partner. Have you heard of the USFSPA - the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act? This federal law allows (but does not require) divorce courts to divide military retired pay as joint marital property in a divorce settlement. A well-read pre-nup will prevent a court from "taking" what solely and rightly belongs to the military retiree."
The USFSPA is a complicated piece of legislation that warrants more than a column in order to analyze and discuss.
Despite the varying interpretations of the USFSPA the commonly accepted practice in state courts is to divide the pension in equal parts between the former spouses. The only consistent qualifying factor seems to be that the court will generally require that the parties have been married for Ten (10) years while one spouse was on active duty.
One of many practical considerations to take into account is how to handle the share going to the non pension holder. This applies to both spouses. Remember that in this day and age, it is as likely that both parties will be members of the military. Basically, the share going to the other party will generally be exempt from the Ten (10) percent early withdrawal penalty to which the pension holder will be subjected. Therefore, unless you have other flexible funds or want to maintain an additional retirement resource, never agree to a provision in a divorce decree or QUADRO that requires your portion of the pension or retirement to be made payable to another qualified retirement plan. To do so would subject any emergency withdrawal you make to a Ten (10) per cent withdrawal penalty and restrict your ability to borrow based on these funds in the future. Strive to maintain any property received through the divorce in an unencumbered state so as to have it available as collateral for personal or commercial loans.
Another difficult scenario is recovering from a bad credit rating that results when the other spouse or his or her significant other runs up a jointly held credit card after separation or fails to payoff a credit card that was consigned to them by the Judge. Federal regulatory law and most state consumer protection acts require credit rating agencies or companies to accept the innocent spouse's written explanation of how the nonpayment issue came about. In other words, those companies that earn their money by rating creditworthiness must place one's written (not over the telephone) side of the story in their files. On this basis, the rating may be modified or, more likely, the potential creditor may make an in-house adjustment of its assessment of risk in extending an innocent, but adversely affected former spouse credit in a moderate amount.
Maintaining a healthy or even a nominal savings account balance along with a credit union account will show not only diversification, but will indicate the existence of multiple assets that will enhance your credit rating and provide collateral for contemplated future loans. Of course, the savings account interest rate will be less that stellar; however, the proverbial "bottom line" is that, just as in cashing a check, financial institutions are more likely to extend consumer credit to those who have accounts with them.
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
Augusta Military Divorce Attorney - Ways to Have a Successful Marriage During Deployments
Augusta Military Divorce Attorney - Ways to Have a Successful Marriage During Deployments
3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
Story by LaToya Polk
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - Taking an oath and becoming an American Soldier is an important and demanding decision made by only one percent of the American population.
Many of these brave men and women who answer the call to duty are married and willingly volunteer to serve knowing deployment and separation from his or her spouse is inevitable. In today's military, the divorce rate is an outstanding 3.5% among more than 287,000 married troops in the Army. Married Soldiers from the 154th Transportation Company, 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade have set fine examples on how to keep marriages strong in the Army.
Many military married couples divorce because they do not take their future into careful consideration. It is critical that both husband and wife understand the realm of challenges their marriage will face before they exchange vows and marry into the military. Before a deployment, Soldiers must be open with their spouses about their job titles and roles to alleviate unanswered questions that might arise after their departure.
In today’s Army, deployments range from 12-15 months. It takes strong individuals to stay in a relationship knowing your spouse is thousands of miles away. A lack of trust in your spouse during their absence drastically increases the chance of divorces during deployment.
To have a successful marriage, trust must be absolute. You have to believe in your spouse and in your marriage, so you will not spend time worrying if your spouse is unfaithful. The military is ever-changing and one must be well rounded and supportive to help the partner cope, both deployed and at home, as these changes occur. Being supportive physically and emotionally is the best gift you can give your partner.
For many married Soldiers, such as Sgt.1st Class Leroy J. Fontenot of Beaumont, Texas, this deployment is not his first. He has been through the ups and downs, deployment extensions, and redeployment, and has found ways of empowering his relationship over time. Fontenot and others like him, who have been married more than 17 years, are mentors for newlyweds and for those who seek advice on maturity and patience. They all agree that writing letters is a great way to keep your spouse’s spirits high. Take pictures of yourself and your family to mail along with your letters to increase morale. Seeing pictures helps keep you in touch.
The morale, welfare, and recreation centers and many family-oriented programs have also helped to lessen strains by implementing various programs to facilitate communication.
The MWR is equipped with multiple phone and computer stations, movie centers, pool tables, and other fun-filled events, all free of charge. These not only help spouses keep in touch with one another, but they also provide an outlet for deployed spouses to relax. Your spouse on the home front can partake in various programs sponsored by Army Community Service. Participating in military groups, community activities, and becoming active in your Family Readiness Group can help in relieving your deployed spouse’s worries.
Making a marriage successful is not as easy as portrayed. Both partners must be supportive and willing to do whatever it takes to make the marriage work.
Spc. Michelle Martinez of Clarksdale, Texas, says, “As a couple, my spouse and I have a great relationship.” He gives so much support, he's patient and understanding. Before leaving she talked a lot about the deployment process, and she said that her husband understood that she wanted to better her life for her family. Open communication in essential. They discuss situations on every aspect of her job and performance. All marriages have their good and bad times, but if you and your spouse have faith, trust, and open communication, you have the keys for success. Marrying into the military is indeed a big step. If you are sincere with your spouse on your job and duty description, your spouse will more than likely be supportive and receptive of the challenges to come. The unity in your relationship will surely shape a successful marriage.
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
Story by LaToya Polk
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - Taking an oath and becoming an American Soldier is an important and demanding decision made by only one percent of the American population.
Many of these brave men and women who answer the call to duty are married and willingly volunteer to serve knowing deployment and separation from his or her spouse is inevitable. In today's military, the divorce rate is an outstanding 3.5% among more than 287,000 married troops in the Army. Married Soldiers from the 154th Transportation Company, 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade have set fine examples on how to keep marriages strong in the Army.
Many military married couples divorce because they do not take their future into careful consideration. It is critical that both husband and wife understand the realm of challenges their marriage will face before they exchange vows and marry into the military. Before a deployment, Soldiers must be open with their spouses about their job titles and roles to alleviate unanswered questions that might arise after their departure.
In today’s Army, deployments range from 12-15 months. It takes strong individuals to stay in a relationship knowing your spouse is thousands of miles away. A lack of trust in your spouse during their absence drastically increases the chance of divorces during deployment.
To have a successful marriage, trust must be absolute. You have to believe in your spouse and in your marriage, so you will not spend time worrying if your spouse is unfaithful. The military is ever-changing and one must be well rounded and supportive to help the partner cope, both deployed and at home, as these changes occur. Being supportive physically and emotionally is the best gift you can give your partner.
For many married Soldiers, such as Sgt.1st Class Leroy J. Fontenot of Beaumont, Texas, this deployment is not his first. He has been through the ups and downs, deployment extensions, and redeployment, and has found ways of empowering his relationship over time. Fontenot and others like him, who have been married more than 17 years, are mentors for newlyweds and for those who seek advice on maturity and patience. They all agree that writing letters is a great way to keep your spouse’s spirits high. Take pictures of yourself and your family to mail along with your letters to increase morale. Seeing pictures helps keep you in touch.
The morale, welfare, and recreation centers and many family-oriented programs have also helped to lessen strains by implementing various programs to facilitate communication.
The MWR is equipped with multiple phone and computer stations, movie centers, pool tables, and other fun-filled events, all free of charge. These not only help spouses keep in touch with one another, but they also provide an outlet for deployed spouses to relax. Your spouse on the home front can partake in various programs sponsored by Army Community Service. Participating in military groups, community activities, and becoming active in your Family Readiness Group can help in relieving your deployed spouse’s worries.
Making a marriage successful is not as easy as portrayed. Both partners must be supportive and willing to do whatever it takes to make the marriage work.
Spc. Michelle Martinez of Clarksdale, Texas, says, “As a couple, my spouse and I have a great relationship.” He gives so much support, he's patient and understanding. Before leaving she talked a lot about the deployment process, and she said that her husband understood that she wanted to better her life for her family. Open communication in essential. They discuss situations on every aspect of her job and performance. All marriages have their good and bad times, but if you and your spouse have faith, trust, and open communication, you have the keys for success. Marrying into the military is indeed a big step. If you are sincere with your spouse on your job and duty description, your spouse will more than likely be supportive and receptive of the challenges to come. The unity in your relationship will surely shape a successful marriage.
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington is an Augusta GA divorce lawyer & Georgia Military Divorce Lawyer Augusta Georgia domestic mediator. She is an Augusta military divorce lawyer, GA child custody attorney , and Augusta Georgia child support attorney. She offers mediation for divorce, child custody, and child support.
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