I am representing a family right now, who are still in the grieving process of losing a family member to cancer. They are a family who doesn't have a lot of money, and now, because no one advised them properly on how to list beneficiaries on a life insurance policy, they are going to have to come up with the money to file a probate case, and in the end they may never get any of the money that … [Read more...]
Writing Your Own Divorce Story, Pt. 2.
A couple of years ago there was a story in the Dallas Morning News, entitled, "Bowing Out on Her Own Terms." It was a story about an artist, Betsy Davis, who developed Lou Gehrig's/ALS several years ago and was taking advantage of the newly passed California doctor assisted suicide law. It gave details of how this former artist was able to invite and spend a last glorious weekend with her … [Read more...]
Writing Your Own Divorce Story, Pt. 1
When I was a little girl, I stayed most days with my beloved grandparents while my parents worked. My memories with them include their prompting me to sing "I'm a Little Teapot" and twirl around dancing in their kitchen. They called me their "Pride and Joy." So, the day I walked in on their discussion where one of them said, "I think we need to get a divorce," is one of the strongest memories … [Read more...]
Coronavirus Fears and the Gray Divorce, Pt. 2
Why does Gray Divorce have its own category? In part 1 of this series, we reviewed the evolutionary factors that have gotten us as a society to this phenomenon known as the "Gray Divorce." So why does it have its own category? There are several reasons for that: People in the category of the "Gray Divorce" are typically Baby Boomers who want more out of life than just financial security; … [Read more...]
Coronavirus Fears and the Gray Divorce, Pt. 1
Even before the Coronavirus, our society has experienced a trend in divorces, primarily from people over 50--what is commonly called the "Gray Divorce." Now that the Coronavirus has emerged, that trend seems to be continuing and even increasing. Psychologists say that crises, such as a death in a family, either strengthens or weakens a relationship. So, in the case of the Gray Divorce, there … [Read more...]
Your Children’s Financial Literacy May Determine If They Get Divorced
Most of us learned about money management from our parents--whether they intended for us to learn from them or not. In a previous blog entitled, "Your (and Your Spouse's) Financial Philosophy May Determine Whether You Get a Divorce," I talked how different financial philosophies (and sometimes the lack of any financial philosophy) can cause a divorce. But when you think about it, all of our … [Read more...]
Collaborative Divorce Prevents Emotional Incontinence
Most of us don't think about having incontinence until we are older and even then we hope that won't be something we suffer from. I heard the word "incontinence" used in a new and quite accurate context today. I was reading one of the news advice columns today, this one by Carolyn Hax with the Washington Post, and she used the term "emotional incontinence" for someone who couldn't control … [Read more...]
Coping as Couples and Families During Coronavirus
Living in the same house can be difficult, but especially during the Coronavirus Being married or living in the same house with anyone can be difficult, especially when there is no break. Even the happiest of families are happier and functioning at their best when they have a little break from each other. But during the Coronavirus time, we are all just lucky to be healthy and together. How … [Read more...]
Five Financial Tasks Your Should Tackle Immediately*
Liz Weston, a Certified Financial Planner and regular national columnist on financial issues, called *"Five Financial Tasks You should Tackle By Year-End," at the end of 2019. As we are all considering what we need to do in the midst of the Coronavirus crisis, her article takes on new and more urgent wisdom. I am going over those tasks she discusses in a bit of different order in this blog, … [Read more...]
Your Living Will: End-of-Life Documents as Recommended by Dr. Magan Ranney on MSNBC
Magan Ranney, MD MPH, is a practicing emergency physician and Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Associate Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice. She has been a regular guest on MSNBC during the Coronavirus crisis. She is always a pleasant guest because, somehow, despite being in the trenches of this everyday and just today finding out, on the air, that one of her ER … [Read more...]
