|
Resource Links
General
Website Search Tip
Because the
internet changes daily, consider typing in key divorce words such as
"divorce mediation", "child custody", "child support" along with the name of
your state to get state-specific information.
Your Divorce Advisor Newsletters
LEGAL INFORMATION
How To
Learn the Laws in Your State
- Consult a
knowledgeable family lawyer on an hourly basis
- Visit your local
law library, public library, or law school library
-
Martindale-Hubbell,
a legal publication which lists lawyers by geographic area and specialty
also contains a digest of each state's laws. These books can be found at
most local libraries as well as law libraries and online
- Check the
internet A huge database of legal topics can be found at Cornell Law
School's
legal research site
-
Direct links to the law of each of
the 50 states
- Many local bar
associations and court clerk's offices maintain a list of state-specific
and local resources, as well as not-for-profit divorce assistance
organizations
- Consult with
your local Legal Aid society
- Beware of
well-meaning friends and family who have gone through a divorce who offer
you advice. Their information could be inaccurate, outdated, or
inappropriate for your situation.
Legal Self-Help & Research
The premier self-help law site is run by
Nolo Press, a company dedicated for the past 28 years
to helping individuals navigate the sometimes murky waters of the law. Find
do-it-yourself kits for things such as divorce and estate planning, and a
comprehensive site on many topics. Nolo press is known for its accuracy, and
its products are typically very trustworthy.
A huge database of legal topics to help with your
research can be found at
Cornell Law School's great legal research site. They
also have
direct links to the law
of each of the 50 states.
A comprehensive site with links to attorney and
legal-research-oriented topics is
All Law.com
Check out your lawyer at
Lawyers.com, a site sponsored by Martindale Hubbell,
the nation's leading directory of lawyers. Attorneys are listed by specialty
and geographic area, among other choices. Because Martindale is a paid
subscription service, however, many smaller firms aren't listed.
Computerized Databases
You can use computerized databases such
as Lexis and Westlaw, but they are
expensive.
Some libraries may offer this service as well as CD Roms such as LawDesk to
search the names of lawyers, judges, and witnesses. Simply type the person's
name into the search field, and see if their name appears in any cases. You
can then read that judge's decisions, or cases in which the attorney was
involved.
DIVORCE INFORMATION
Useful
Divorce Websites
www.divorcenet.com DivorceNet is the Internet's largest
divorce resource, offering state-specific articles, an online community and
a nationwide directory of divorce lawyers, mediators and financial
professionals.
www.divorcehq.com Divorce Headquarters is a source
for divorce issues including alimony, child support, child custody,
visitation, separation agreements, financial, divorce attorneys, divorce
mediators, divorce services, free child support calculator, and more.
www.divorcecentral.com Divorce Central offers help,
support, and information, and the opportunity to communicate with others who
are in various stages of decision-making, mourning, mediating, settling,
litigating, and just plain "dealing' with divorce.
www.divorcecare.com Divorce Care provides you with
resources to help you deal with the pain and emotions of a divorce. It
offers information about local support groups and advice on looking forward
and rebuilding your life.
www.divorceinfo.com Divorce Info is a very
comprehensive site with a lot of information on divorce in very simple
language. This site covers the legal and emotional aspects of divorce.
Because the website has a lot of information, I found that going to the site
map [http://www.divorceinfo.com/sitemap.htm] is a lot easier to quickly
navigate through what the site has to offer.
www.divorcedirectory.com Divorce Directory offers a broad range of
national and local based services on the web. This site also includes
informative statistics and articles on divorce.
Divorce Source : The Divorce Source website gives
resources, fee based divorce tools, and state based information.
www.supportscan.com: Support Scan offers a
calculation program on-line to calculate child and temporary spousal
support. ($15.00 for the first three calculations and $5.00 each after
that). It creates reports you can view or print to predict proper levels of
support. It is certified by the California Judicial Council and is
admissible in all California family law courts
Useful California Divorce Sites
If you are getting divorced in California, you should be aware that
California has its own specific laws and procedures. The following websites
are helpful in understanding California law and how they apply to your
divorce.
www.divorcesupport.com/laws/california.shtml
This link will take you to a one page summary of California divorce laws.
www.divorcelawinfo.com/states/ca/california.htm This website offers
links to California court forms, resources, and information about California
divorces.
Preparing to Divorce in
California
The Peace Talks Mediation Services www.peace-talks.com, the office of
Diana Mercer, co-author of Your Divorce Advisor, has a website with a
lot of helpful information on California Divorces. It is a great source for
information regarding the process of divorce.
Dealing with Conflict
Conflict before, during and after a divorce is inevitable. Yet, if the
conflict continues, you will never be able to reach an agreement. This
helpful article tells us what we should keep in mind when facing conflict
and arguments.
Public
Records Databases
Public records database search charges
pay-as-you-go.
www.1800ussearch.com offers a background-oriented
public records search (such as where someone's lived, and whether they lived
with someone else) for $20-$40
Criminal Records database search:
costs $25-$45
Sources
Resources is an online investigation services,
which, for a fee, will find out almost anything on almost anyone, including
sending an investigator in person to check land records or court documents.
You can also try public records database, asset,
and people searches through a number of other sites
Finding People
You can find the name and address of the person
behind the phone number with online reverse telephone directories,
including:
www.reversephonedirectory.com
The United States Post Office offers
a zip code directory which works
well for finding a specific address from partial information.
You can also use computerized
databases such as Lexis and Westlaw
(available online, for a fee. Some libraries may offer this service free of
charge) and CD Roms such as LawDesk to search the names of lawyers, judges,
and witnesses. Simply type the person’s name into the search field, and see
if their name appears in any cases. You can read that judge’s decisions, or
cases in which the people specified were involved in.
Credit Reports
|
Credit Reports
Experian, NCAC,
PO Box 2106
Allen, TX 75013-2106
(800) 397-3742
www.experian.com |
Trans Union
PO Box 403
Springfield, PA 19064-0390
(800) 916-8800
(800) 888-4213
www.transunion.com |
Equifax
PO Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
(800) 685-1111
www.equifax.com
|
MEDIATION
What is Divorce Mediation?
http://www.peace-talks.com/what.html
Comparing the Costs of Divorce: Keeping
the Cost Down in Divorce Proceedings
http://www.peace-talks.com/compare.html
FAQ about Divorce Mediation
http://www.peace-talks.com/faqs.html
How To Find A Mediator
If you are located in the Southern California
area, please give Peace Talks Mediation Services a call. Peace Talks
Mediation Services is the mediation office of Diana Mercer, co-author of
Your Divorce Advisor. Please contact us at
mediator@peace-talks.com or (310) 301-2100
If you are not in Southern California, there are several mediator
organizations that can refer you to a local mediator in your area:
The Association of Conflict
Resolution is a national professional organization
dedicated to enhancing the practice and public understanding of conflict
resolution. They offer “referrals' for mediators in your area.
The Southern California Mediation
Association is a local organization to which offers
referrals for mediators in the Southern California area.
Preparing for Divorce Mediation
http://www.peace-talks.com/appointment.html
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Credit Cards
You will want to double check that
all your joint credit card accounts are closed, and for $40
www.myfico.com will give you a credit report from
each of the 3 credit reporting agencies along with tips on how to improve
your credit score.
You’ll also want to check
www.myfico.com before you apply for a loan.
Helpful Financial Calculators
How much will your savings be worth
in 10 years? How much must you put aside now for your children’s college
education? How can you figure out a budget? How long will it take to pay
off your debt? Financial calculators can help you figure out all of this in
a matter of minutes. Below are several of the best and most comprehensive
financial calculator sites.
www.money.com
www.quicken.com
www.smartmoney.com
http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/calculators/calculator.htm
http://www.dinkytown.net/
Retirement Plans or 401(k)
Pension Appraisers
is a national pension appraisal and Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO)
drafting firm. For a reasonable cost, they can do a pension appraisal or
draft your QDRO paperwork.
IRA's
Find the pros and cons of Roth IRA’s at
www.rothira.com
Stocks & Other Investments
You can use these sites to keep track of your investments, and to get
up-to-the minute values on your stocks and mutual funds
www.excite.com provides easy access to stocks and
investments, and permits you to personalize a portfolio online.
www.investor.msn.com is a comprehensive money
management site focused on stocks and investments
Top sites
for stock brokers and online trading can be found at
Schwab,
Harris Direct,
e-Trade, Morgan Stanley
and
Value Line, one of the
top companies devoted to stock analysis. Find bond information at
www.investinginbonds.com.
You can use these sites to estimate the current values of your stocks,
bonds, and mutual funds. Use the history features to decide which are worth
keeping, which are worth giving up, and which need to be sold.
For
tracking and selecting mutual funds, try
www.morningstar.com,
the ratings people,
www.fundsinteractive.com,
and
www.forbes.com/funds.
To know when to sell, try Fund Alarm, at
www.fundalarm.com.
Financial Planning and Financial Planners
Decipher
financial terms and learn the basics of financial planning at
www.ivillagemoneylife.com
Your divorce financial settlement needs to be more than 50/50 or fair
according to the law. It needs to be the best decision for you and your
future family, taking into consideration investment priorities as well. We
suggest that you see an accountant or financial planner as part of your
divorce.
We can
refer you to a local accountant or financial planner by calling our office
at (310) 301-2100
The Institute for Divorce Financial
Analysts
also has referrals of certified analysts that you can look for by zip code,
city, or state.
Another source for finding a financial planner would be through the
Association of Divorce Financial Planners website.
Their members practice in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and
Massachusetts.
Taxes, Taxes, Taxes
Start with the source itself the The IRS has a
surprisingly easy-to-use and straightforward site. You can download forms,
search advise sections, and even e-mail questions.
Other useful tax planning and tip sites include
www.taxcut.com, and
www.turbotax.com/taxcenter, and
www.willyancey.com
Online Loans and Banking
Find just about every personal finance topic on
www.bankrate.com, from car loans, credit cards,
mortgages, and money market funds.
Check out the best rate for
mortgages in all 50 states at
www.bestrate.com
Apply for mortgages online at
www.e-loan.com and
www.quickenmortgage.com
Citibank's Online Bank is a full service, online bank,
providing loan information and financial calculators.
Real Estate Sites
Online sites may be helpful in determining an estimate of your house's
value, but always seek out a qualified appraiser before you make any final
decisions about your divorce.
Get a ball
park value of your home at
www.owners.com
Find that new house at www.homegain.com,
www.coldwellbanker.com
or
www.realtor.com, and
figure out how to buy it with help from
Nolo Press's site by
searching "buying a house". Check out the neighborhood at www.houseandhome.msn.com
Arrange
your move and notify the post office and your magazine subscriptions of your
new address with
Monster Moving
Asset Searches
Many asset searches charge a fee for their services. Be sure to inquire
about the fees prior to utilizing such services. Because online businesses
are difficult to monitor, be very wary. Neither the authors
nor the publisher of Your Divorce Advisor endorse or encourage the use of
such services. If you decide to use a service and would like to provide
feedback (positive or negative), we'd love to include it on our site. If you
have other suggestions for sites you've used, we'd love to hear them. E-mail
us at
mediator@peace-talks.com.
That said, the most reputable
and reasonably priced service around seems to be
Choice Point, which has access to many public records
databases. Contact them on the web or phone (888) 333-3365
Automobiles
The Kelly
Blue Book is the standard source for valuing automobiles.
Government Information
Social Security Administration:
www.ssa.gov You can use this site to check you and
your spouse’s social security benefits and estimate your retirement income.
IRS Internet Address:
www.irs.ustreas.gov/prod/cover.html
Estate
Planning
Your Divorce will make you and your
spouse’s wills obsolete! Make a new
estate plan as soon as you are able.
Peace Talks Mediation Services, the
mediation office of Diana Mercer, co-author of Your Divorce Advisor
can refer you to a qualified local estate planning attorney. Give us a call
(310) 301-2100 or email us at
mediator@peace-talks.com.
Get a referral to a qualified estate
planning lawyer at the official web site of the
American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Double
check your pick at
Lawyers.com to see if she or he is listed with
Martindale Hubbell, the leading publisher of legal directories. Lawyers are
listed by geographical area and specialty.
Prepare for your appointment with this estate planner by using
the forms and tips on
Rushforth.org
Don't forget
Nolo Press's do-it-yourself estate planning kits and
information.
INSURANCE INFORMATION
Health Insurance
If you have health insurance through your spouse’s employer, you’ll be
eligible to stay on that coverage at your own expense (or your spouse’s
expense) for up to 35 months through COBRA coverage. The problem is that
COBRA coverage is typically very expensive. You may want to shop around for
health insurance before finalizing your divorce. Our office can recommend
you to an insurance broker if you’ll give us a call. You can also check
www.healthinsurancefinders.com, a web site that helps
people shop for health insurance.
Life Insurance
Find reasonable life insurance quotes through
www.reliaquote.com,
www.intelliquote.com, or
www.insure.com
You can get a quote on line at
www.accuquote.com and on numerous other web sites as
well as through insurance brokers. Amica Life Insurance has also recently
dropped their rates for level term insurance. You can contact them at
www.amica.com or (800) 234-5433.
BOOKS
There are several divorce books on the market that are filled
with helpful tips, information, and insight. Of course, Your Divorce
Advisor, is terrific, but there are also some other great books on the
subject. Here are few of our favorites:
For Adults
 Your
Divorce Advisor: A Lawyer and a Psychologist Guide You Through the Legal and
Emotional Landscape of Divorce, by
Diana Mercer and Marsha Kline Pruett. Fireside, 2001 www.yourdivorceadvisor.com
 Getting
Divorced Without Ruining Your Life: A Reasoned, Practical Guide to the
Legal, Emotional and Financial Ins and Outs of Negotiating a Divorce
Settlement, by Sam Margulies.
Fireside, Revised and Updated Edition 2001
 Using
Divorce Mediation: Save Your Money & Your Sanity,
by Katherine E. Stoner. Nolo, 2nd edition 2004
 Divorce
& Money: How to Make the Best Financial Decisions During Divorce
by Violet Woodhouse and Dale Fetherling.
NOLO, 7th edition 2004
For
Children
 Dinosaurs
Divorce: A Guide For Changing Families (Paperback)
by Marc Brown and Laurie
Krasny Brown. Marc Brown, Reprint Edition 1988
 It's
Not Your Fault, Koko Bear: A Read-Together Book for Parents & Young Children
During Divorce by Vickie Lansky and
Jane Prince.
Book Peddlers,1998
For
Parents
 Mom's
House, Dad's House: Making Two Homes for Your Child
by Isolina Ricci.
Fireside, Revised Edition 1997
EMOTIONAL LIFE OF THE TODDLER
by Alicia F. Lieberman,
Free Press, Reprint Edition 1995
DIVORCE AND PARENTING SUPPORT
Therapists
If you are in the Southern California area, the Peace Talks Mediation
Services office can refer you to several local therapists who have been
recommended to us by clients, who we’ve studied with, or who we know
professionally. Please email us at
mediator@peace-talks.com or give us a call at (310)
301-2100 if we can provide you with this information.
Also, you may want to look on the California Association of Marriage and
Family Therapists' referral website.
The Family and Marriage Counseling
Directory will also provide you with referrals for marriage and family
counseling therapists in your local area.
Divorce Support Groups
Divorce support groups have been growing in popularity. They are often
offered at your local church or community center. One of the oldest divorce
support groups in the Los Angeles area is Divorce Dialogue.
Divorce Dialogue is a support group for men and women who are separated,
divorced, or considering either.
Parenting Classes/Groups
The Early Childhood Parenting Center located in Los Angeles runs six
different types of parenting groups, with the goal of promoting parenting
skills and increasing the joys of parenting.
If you don’t live in the Los Angeles
area, go to www.gocitykids.com which provides various resources for
parents and children in specific areas.
www.breakthroughparenting.com. The Breakthrough
Parenting program equips parents with the tools to effectively communicate
and create healthy relationships with their children.
www.uptoparents.org This organization has created an
online interactive game for parents to take a timeout from their conflict to
consider 100 Commitments they could make to their children in periods of
conflict and stress. Children have critical needs during times of high
stress, such as a divorce. Parents can effectively meet those needs when
they arm themselves with the knowledge and tools necessary to protect their
children. On this site, the 'life jackets'
section has great articles for parents with children.
Domestic Violence
The American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence
has developed two brochures on developing a safety plan, one for adults, and
one for children.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES AND CUSTODY SITES
Custody Planning
The Parental Plan Checklist
found on the Peace Talks Mediation Services website, will help you to get a
comprehensive idea of what Parental Plans should cover.
Also, you will be able to view a
Sample of a Parental Plan here.
Also, read about what to expect and keep in mind when the Custody of Your
Child or children will be a contested issue in your divorce here.
The Peace Talks Mediation Services
website also has a helpful chart to organize Holiday Parenting Schedules.
Also included are
helpful tips in creating this plan.
An insightful article in helping
parents to deal with the sense of loss when your child or children leave to
visit the other parent, can be found here.
Create
your own calendar with
www.MyEvents.com, an
internet calendar which you can create and use online. It's easy to navigate
and includes lots of graphics, which makes it fun to share with your kids.
Printouts make it easy to keep everyone's schedule straight.
You may
also wish to check out the
Children's Rights Council,
dedicated to maintaining parental contact between divorced parents and their
children.
College Planning
Help your child shop
for schools at
Princeton Review, the
test prep company.
Kaplan also has a
decent site.
Learn more
about different colleges, SAT and ACT prep, financial aid, and scholarships
here. Register for the SAT's at
College Boards On-Line.
Comprehensive financial aid information can be found at
www.finaid.org. This
site also includes tips for maximizing your eligibility, financial
calculators and loan comparisons.
If the
financial aid numbers are too daunting, investigate scholarships at
www.fastweb.com
Find the
Free Application for U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid here.
ATTORNEYS
Attorneys (Los Angeles Area)
We, at Peace Talks, have a good referral list of attorneys and can make
a recommendation based on what you need. Please call (310) 301-2100 or
email us at
mediator@peace-talks.com
so that we may be able to provide this information to
you.
Attorney Referral Organizations
and Attorney Associations
Los Angeles County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Panel: (213) 627-2727
Beverly Hills Bar Association (310) 553-4022
American Bar Association Family Law Section : This
website is for the national organization for family lawyers.
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers: This
website is a good source for finding the most experienced litigation
attorneys.
Low Income Divorce Services
Levitt and Quinn Family Law Center, LLC (213) 482-1800
Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law:
(213) 388-7515
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles:
(323) 801-7989
Sources
Forbes Magazine, Fall 1999
Your Divorce Advisor, Fireside, this site updated 8/2005
|
