On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in divorce on Friday, June 5, 2015.
Divorce among celebrities provides endless fascination. Not only do we feel as if we know them, but the money, glamour and sometimes infamy combine to make watching their courtroom activities irresistible. But you can sometimes learn a few things in the process.
The rumor mills are all atwitter at the prospect of a divorce involving Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner. The couple is attracting interest as one of Hollywood’s “power couples” and because of the reported $150 million at stake should they decide to dissolve their marriage.
One report indicates they want to complete their divorce prior to their 10-year wedding anniversary. For many couples, this could be a mistake, as divorcing before you have been married 10 years could affect elements of your property settlement and could negatively affect your ability to claim a share of your partner’s Social Security.
And in the case of alimony, one of the factors considered is the length of the marriage.
These are unlikely to be of much concern to Affleck and Garner, as with $150 to work with, and both with substantial earning capacity still in front of them, worries over Social Security benefits are probably not at the forefront of their financial concerns.
For most people in Columbia, however, this should be an important concern, along with any other elements of their marital property that are retirement accounts, pensions, 401ks or any retirement investment property.
Now, divorce can be a chaotic time in your life and it may be difficult to keep your emotions in check and deal with the minutia of issues like the allocation of retirement account payments that you may not see for 30 or 40 years. However, it is necessary, and your divorce attorney can help and see that these accounts are properly dealt with in your property settlement.
Source: marketwatch.com, “Why Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck shouldn’t rush into divorce,” Joe Lucey, June 2, 2015
