We don’t need a professional psychologist to confirm the chaotic reign of emotions during divorce.

As reported by Jennifer Wallis, the vice president of Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Central Oklahoma, credit becomes a tool in the war against peaceful separation.

One of her clients‘ ex-husband has destroyed her credit during the finalization of their divorce buy failing to uphold his agreement to pay the credit card companies.

He couldn’t pick a better time too, considering she now needs to establish her own financial identity. Yet, due to his sabotage, bad credit will burden the process of obtaining the confidence of mortgage companies, auto loans, and insurance companies.

To ensure your post-divorce credit status, Bankrate lists five ways.

Create a Budget

Ann Estes, president of the Atlantic and Heartland regions for ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions, says “You’re moving from a dual-income household to a single-income budget.” The only way to recover from the change is to make difficult financial decisions.

On top of the new budget should be the calculation of an affordable new house with taxes, insurance, and utility bills accounted for.

Know Your Debt and Credit Lines

Pull up a credit report to see the accounts you and your spouse opened, nothing which    are individual, joint, or authorized.

An individual account means sole responsibility for the debt. A joint account means your spouse shares responsibility in the payment. An authorized account means the account is under one individual’s name who allows the other to use card without responsibility for the balance.

Remove Authorized Users 

There’s nothing worse than being required to pay off your ex-spouse’s shopping spree bill at the Home Depot. To avoid this fate, review your credit report for the authorized user accounts, and then call the credit card issuer to ask for the name to be removed.

It’s also important to remove yourself as an authorized user because it can factor into your credit score.

Separate Joint Accounts

“Many people don’t understand that a divorce decree doesn’t change the contract you have with your lender,” says Rod Griffin, director of public education at Experian. “The only way to remove yourself (from a joint account) is going through the lender.”

He recommends paying off the accounts and closing them before the divorce but an alternative is to transfer them into individual ones.

To do so, transfer the balance of one credit card to another that is in a sole person’s name and close the joint account. Alternately, you can also refinance a mortgage under one name.

If splitting the accounts becomes too difficult, divide the responsibilities of the joint debt according to what works best for your situation. For instance, the person who lives in the house pays the mortgage and the person who gets the car pays the auto loan.

Keep Watch Over Joint Accounts

Ask your lender to send you a copy of the account’s statement each money, even if your spouse has been responsible.

You could also pull a free credit report from a different agency every four months to confirm all accounts are being paid on time. Through AnnualCreditReport.com, federal law allows you to request a free one every 12 months.

If your spouse isn’t making the payments, find a divorce attorney. The court will likely force your spouse to pay the legal fees and reimburse any pocket expenses if the creditor tails you.

For more information, check out: Fox Business

Victims of domestic violence often don’t know they’re being subjected to abuse until it seems too late to escape. Statistics show violence is the reason stated for divorce in 22% of middle-class marriages and worldwide studies prove that divorces involved in domestic violence are dwindling. This drop can be linked to the availability of divorce resources in a modern age such as the list assembled below. However, it is not enough and these sites are determined to narrow down the number of domestic violence cases to zero.

I compiled the following list of the Top 5 Domestic Violence sites to help you get the help you need for yourself or a loved one:

1. The National Domestic Violence Hotline –  The Hotline provides 24-hour support for everyone affected by domestic violence and as the only one in the nation with access to more than 4,000 shelters and domestic violence programs across the United States, help is a sure thing.

2. Abuse Sanctuary - This site understands abuse isn’t just a physical thing but  also an emotional and psychological trauma. They say knowledge is the greatest power; well, with daily updates on the psychology of abuse, this asylum is sure to empower you.

3. New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence - As the only statewide domestic violence coalition in New York, it is the driving catalyst in the development of hundreds of programs throughout the state for abused women and children.

4. Safe Horizon - The mission of the nation’s leading victim assistance organization is to move “victims of violence from crisis to confidence” and with their 57 programs located throughout the five boroughs of New York City, any client can be rest assured they would be soon looking over the horizon.

5. Edwin Gould Services for Children and Families - Founded in 1927, Edwin Gould defined the company’s mission as “…to reach directly the needy children of the present generation and contribute to their health, physical and educational development until they can be returned to a proper home environment or can be self-supporting…” Almost 85 years later, they’re still producing success stories.

There are a number of things that pave the path to separation or divorce, and new studies suggest “the time you’re spending on the roads and rails” can be added to the list. Tamara Mitchell from CBS says, “If you’ve got a case where both parents are working and one parent has to commute and travel more and the other stay at home parent has to work and take care of the children, that’s trouble.”

What can married couples do to stop the commute from killing their marriage? Experts explain, “not enough space can be just as stressful,” so working at home is not the answer. Divorce lawyer Alayne Katz even says, “Telecommuting is a greater problem than driving long distances.”

Experts have yet again presented a potential problem with no definite answers.

If you would like free consultations concerning divorce, call our office today: (866)830-2064.

Read the full article here: CBS

A strange fact: Although New York State doesn’t permit same sex marriage, New York court’s will divorce same sex couples.

Our New York divorce lawyers have the experience needed to handle your same sex divorce effectively.  Gay and lesbian divorce is not permitted in many states, and New York court’s have just begun to hear such matters.

If you and your partner were validly married or entered a civil union elsewhere, New York courts will issue you a divorce.

Same sex marriage and divorce is a cutting edge  area of the law that is still developing.  Our law firm has handled many same sex New York divorces successfully.  It is important that you have an experienced New York same sex divorce lawyer on your side to help you through the difficult process of divorcing your partner.

Contact our same sex divorce lawyers to learn about how we can help you get an affordable New York gay divorce by contacting us toll-free at (866) 830-2064.

Negotiating favorable divorce settlements is an art form.  It takes a high degree of skill and experience to perfect.  A lawyer entering a divorce negotiation not only needs to have a mastery of the law but needs to be skilled in the art of negotiation.  Hiring the right attorney to represent you through divorce negotiations can potentially save you thousands of dollars in your divorce.

A good negotiator can negotiate directly with your spouse if he or she has not yet retained an attorney.  If your spouse has hired an attorney, then you definitely want to have an attorney of your own to negotiate directly with the opposing attorney.  Remember, your spouse’s lawyer represents them not you.  They have their vest interest in mind, not yours.  Don’t fall for a smooth lawyer who claims that he or she has your best interest in mind too.  This is not only a lie, but is unethical…

Having a divorce lawyer on your side during any negotiation process is a plus.  An attorney can be persuasive and achieve results that you didn’t even know were possible.  There is no guarantee that your lawyer will be able to achieve the exact results that you desire, but you certainly will have a better chance at achieving such results with him or her on your side.

A good negotiator can potentially convince your spouse:

• that an uncontested divorce is the best way to go
• to pay you spousal maintenance to avoid a costly contested divorce
• that a compromise is necessary regarding child custody and visitation
• that you should receive a certain asset to avoid costly litigation
• that your spouse should take responsibility for a certain liability or debt thereby releasing you from such responsibility
• that you and your spouse are better off reaching an agreed upon settlement outside of court than leave the results up to the court

If you think that your impending divorce could benefit from having a negotiating lawyer on your side, please call our toll-free number (866) 830-2064 to schedule your free divorce consultation now…

I get phone calls every day where a woman or man calls with the following type of story.  I hate getting these calls.  Not because we choose not to represent them, but because I tell them the truth, the harsh reality of New York divorce law, and the truth really sucks… (pardon my language, but its true)

Monique gets served with divorce papers from her husband Tommy’s attorney.  She reads the uppercase words explaining the documents: SUMMONS WITH NOTICE.  The papers go on to state that Tommy is alleging that Monique abandoned him and treated him in a cruel and inhuman manner.

Wait a minute… “He abandoned me!” she exclaims outloud.  “Cruel and what, total b.s.” she thinks.

Tommy had just agreed with Monique that their most affordable option would be to get an uncontested divorce.  Now, unknown to Monique, Tommy’s mother is footing his divorce attorney bill and is encouraging him to “protect himself.”

Monique finds herself in a situation which is all too common.  Tommy hasn’t been giving her any money since he took off last October. She can’t afford the average contested divorce attorney retainer of $4,500.00.  If she doesn’t respond Tommy will get a default judgment against her and she will lose all her legal rights.  The clock is ticking…

Monique finds our law firm’s number on Google by typing in “affordable uncontested divorce ny.”  She sets up a free consultation and the first thing she wants to know is what she should she do.  Does she qualify for an uncontested divorce?

This is the situation that I hate.  The harsh reality is:

• her divorce was filed against her in a contested manner
• she needs to come up with the money to hire a contested divorce attorney
• we might be able to help her, but her divorce will not cost the usual $499 that we charge for an uncontested divorce
• her husband is likely looking to screw her at every turn and she needs legal representation to protect her rights
• she needs a lawyer in order to file an Order to Show Cause for Pendente Lite Relief to request that the court order Tommy to pay her spousal support and pay her attorney’s fees

If it is in any way possible, we try to work with you if you find yourself in this situation and cannot afford a contested divorce attorney’s retainer fee.

Unfortunately, whether your divorce is contested versus uncontested is not your choice alone.  Your spouse must be on board…

If you are in a similar situation, please call our law office for your free divorce consultation to learn how we can help you in an affordable manner. (866) 830-2064.

Our law office continues to strive to make the legal system accessible to you, regardless of your current financial situation.  With the economy putting the hard press on all of us, I try to be as flexible as possible.  Not everyone needs to get divorced has the same financial flexibility as Tiger Woods or John Edwards whose names have recently been scattered across divorce news.

Our uncontested divorce rate starts at just $499 and is one of the most reasonable divorce fees in all New York State.  Our usual payment plan option for our already affordable uncontested divorce package is that we accept 50% up front and require the remainder before we officially file your divorce documents with the court.

If you feel that your situation is deserving of a more flexible payment plan, by all means let us know.  We are willing to work with you within limits.  Again, we will just hold off on officially filing your divorce documents until we are paid in full.

These arrangements allow us to put food on our families’ tables while giving you the leeway to so the same.  Everyone is happier this way.

If you are not sure if you can afford a New York uncontested divorce, contact our law office at (866) 830-2064 to set up your free divorce consultation today…

My law office, the Law Office of David Centeno PLLC, is not your average law firm.  That is, we are not your average antiquated brick and mortar firm (i.e., we don’t keep a storefront).  We have discovered a way to use today’s technology to make the legal system more accessible to you.  This is how we offer you such affordable New York divorce services…

Over the last few days I have received numerous phone calls from potential clients who at first seem excited about the affordable divorce prices that we are able to offer.  “Wow, that’s like $2,500 less than I have been quoted,” one exclaimed.

Yet, when the question arises regarding setting up an appointment to physically come meet me, I explain that we only offer phone or internet teleconference consultations.  “Okay, goodbye…” one woman said right before I heard the click as she hung up the phone!

This also occurs around payment options.  I explain that we accept all major credit cards via PayPal (today’s longest-standing, most reputable internet payment company).  I am always amazed when people say “No, I want to meet you in person and physically hand you a check.”  Please mail us a check or pay us online, but again, we don’t have a brick and mortar storefront to meet in.  This is how we give you such affordable rates.  (Sorry for being repetitive, but I am trying to make a point.)

When I ask people why they demand meeting in person, I am usually met with some vague fear about doing business online.

The problem with meeting me in person is that this would cost you extra money.  Money for a law office, money for a consultation, and money for the cookies and coffee we would offer you in the waiting room to be hospitable…

I do understand those in our technologically savvy generation who have been instilled with the fears of “doing business online.”  I wouldn’t want to give my credit card payment to any Tom, Dick or Harry over the Net, yet I argue that we are neither Tom, Dick nor Harry.  We are a law firm.  We are attorneys licensed to practice law by the state of New York.  We would not risk losing our valuable licenses just to rip someone off for $499.  That would be insane.  Plus, we offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

Personally, I bank online, purchase items online, have hired attorneys online, and communicate with friends and clients online.  Our society is increasingly based online.

Taking the lead from society, our law office is predominantly online.  We advertise online, get found by most of our clients online, accept payments online, teleconference with clients online via Skype, receive faxes and voicemails online.  I like to think of our law office as more resembling the law offices of the future, rather than the uptight Big 10 law firms (some of which I have worked for in the past, YUCK!).

The year is 2010.  It sounds reminiscent of a futuristic space movie of sorts.  The internet has allowed our society great freedom.  In doing so, it has eliminated the need for brick and mortar office fronts.  Because I don’t have to pay the overhead costs of a traditional office, I am able to pass that savings onto my clients.  This is how we are able to offer such affordable divorce services to you.

My law firm caters to those people who understand that today’s technology is the single factor which allows us to offer such amazing prices.  If you found us online because you need our help, please don’t let our online way of doing business deter you from hiring us.  We offer what few New York lawyers can:  affordable divorce representation, while maintaining the quality you demand and deserve.

If you want to meet face to face, lets do it over Skype!  Saves us both time, and as they say, “Time is money.”

Contact our divorce law office to set up your free divorce consultation now by calling (866) 830-2064…

Celebrity Dennis Hopper has filed for divorce in Los Angeles from his fifth wife, Victoria Duffy.  The fact that Dennis Hopper is yet again getting divorced is not necessarily news worthy, but this time Dennis has really earned his reputation: he filed for divorce from his deathbed while suffering with prostate cancer.

Although on his deathbed, Hopper is seeking joint custody of the couple’s six year-old daughter, Galen Hopper. The 73-year-old actor-director is also offering to pay spousal support to Duffy.

You would think that after five failed marriages and fourteen years of marriage this time around Dennis would try something new.

One thing is certain, Dennis Hopper is still paying far too much for his divorces.  Celebrities, because of their wealth and fame, almost always pay a premium when it comes to divorce.  Fortunately, if you are contemplating divorce you don’t have to pay the outrageous attorney fees that Dennis is burdened with if you find an affordable divorce attorney.  You will save even more if you qualify for an uncontested divorce.

Our law office offers free divorce consultations.  Learn how you can save thousands of dollars on your divorce and not be stuck in the position that Dennis Hopper currently is in.

Searching for the right NY divorce attorney for you is a daunting task, especially with all the hype that’s out there on the web.  To get a sense of what I’m referring to, just Google “NY divorce specialist” and you will be inundated with a long list of lawyers and law firm that claim to “specialize” in NY divorce law.

The problem is that advertising as a “divorce specialist” is an ethical violation of Part 1200 – Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 7.4 which provides that:

[a] lawyer or law firm shall not state that the lawyer or law firm is a specialist or specializes in a particular field of law …

Under the Rules of Professional Conduct, lawyers may ethically state that they “concentrate” in an area of law which represents the majority of their practice.  Lawyers may also also state which areas their practice is limited to, if any.  But using the word “specialize” is an ethical violation that may result in disciplinary actions against the attorney advertising in such a way.

A New York lawyer who represents themselves as family law or divorce specialists either knows about this rule and is consciously disregarding it or is completely oblivious of their blatant violation.  Either way, this is a bad sign.  It should raise red flags for you during your search.  Anyone who is breaking rules or ignorant of them probably won’t amount to what I would call a “good” lawyer.  If they are making this mistake or simply don’t care, this is probably indicative of how they will represent you in your divorce: making serious mistakes or simply not caring about whether they violate the rules.

Choosing the right divorce lawyer for you is a difficult process.  You are an individual with personal needs and not every divorce lawyer will or should be a good match for you.  One way to make the process a little easier is to sift out the obvious bad choices by avoiding lawyers who either:

• know they are violating ethical rules and don’t care or
• who simply don’t know.

My NY divorce law practice concentrates solely on divorce law.  Feel free to contact us to set up your free New York divorce consultation.