The pitfalls of a quickie divorce settlement.

There has been lots of speculation for months as to whether Katie Holmes and Jamie Fox are actually a couple. They have been spotted together on numerous occasions, but both camps have not commented. So what is really behind this hush-hush relationship? The National Enquirer has finally uncovered the reasoning behind this secret relationship. According to the National Enquirer, Katie Holmes’ divorce from Tom Cruise has some unique stipulations. For one, Katie signed a clause in her quickie divorce settlement that prevents her from embarrassing Tom in various ways. She is not allowed to talk about him or his belief in Scientology. She is even unable to publicly date another man for five long years after the divorce. These alleged stipulations may seem highly burdensome, especially due to the extreme length in time. With this in mind, I thought it would be beneficial to lay out 5 important things to think about before finalizing your divorce.

Top 5 Things To Look Out For Before Officially Signing Your Divorce Settlement:

  1. Plan Ahead!

Planning ahead is a crucial element to reaching a fair divorce settlement. It is important to analyze your family finances before filing for divorce so that you clearly know your financial situation before regretting the result based upon your lack of preparation and knowledge.

  1. Choose the proper lawyer wisely.

Do not settle for the first lawyer you consult with. There is no substitute for experience! Ask the tough questions. What percentage of your practice is devoted to the specific issues of my case? What results do you anticipate? What will be expected of me?

  1. DO NOT speed up a divorce settlement just to quickly close a chapter in your past.

Many people rush into divorce settlements too quickly to end a bitter chapter in their past. However, this is not a good idea, notably seen with Katie Holmes. Such a rushed divorce settlement can be a difference between a “comfortable retirement and a marginal one.”

  1. Cover all your bases.

Make sure all agreements are detailed and reflect what you would like out of the divorce and that the language of the divorce settlement agreement is not one-sided. All issues should be resolved in a fair and balanced manner. Make sure all issues are included in your settlement agreement. It is difficult and costly to return to court for modifications or additions to the executed agreement.

  1. Don’t be pressured into a resolution you sense is wrong. Take your time when making decisions.

Even when you’re feeling pressure from your spouse to move quickly on any decision you should still take the time to consider the reality of the resolution and whether it is right for you or whether there remain any alternatives. These are life altering decisions. Take the time thoroughly consider the entirety of the proposed resolution prior to finalizing your decision.

While we all naturally want difficult times in our life to pass rapidly, the impact of your decisions in your Family Law proceedings will have long term impact on your future. Take the time to consider your actions.

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