When Jeremy Howe and Kristy Garside represent a party in a divorce action, we often are met with unrealistic offers from opposing counsel or we want to put forth a fair and realistic offer grounded on facts and not emotion. Our use of Family Law software allows us in cases to present clear projections of the current and future budgets of the persons with accurate future tax computations. The result is a more accurate picture of the possible economic consequences of an offer or counter-offer.
Similarly, when Nancy Johnson-Gallagher and Jeremy Howe of “Partners In Mediation” mediate cases, they use Family Law Software in most of the mediations. The software serves the important purpose of pointing out the true and complete economic position of the couple. Most often, one or both of the mediating couple do not have a clear picture of their economic reality. If the other party or the mediator(s) show that reality, they can be seen as “siding” with the other person (who does understand their reality) or as trying to defeat the desire of the other to be divorced.
More importantly, the software allows your mediators or your lawyer to manipulate all variables to determine which solution is the best solution:
- What is the effect of alimony on their taxes?
- Can we convert some property division into alimony within the IRS rules?
- What difference does it make if mother or father takes the dependency exemption(s)?
- Is the proposed property division fair?
- Did the division of the assets take into account the tax consequences of the asset division?
- What long-term financial effect will the offers have on the individuals?
All of these questions can be answered through use of the software and in many divorces and mediations, the software information has been the key to showing our clients the “bottom” line regarding their future budget and their future estates.
Another distinction between our attorneys and others is our “goal-oriented” approach. Much like mediating, we assist our clients to understand their rights, but we also help them consider their long term goals in order to improve their lives after divorce.
In our cases, we bring our legal knowledge (Jeremy Howe, Kristy J. Garside, and Susan E. Brassard) and our therapy experience (Nancy Johnson-Gallagher, LICSW when mediating) into the room with our Family Law Software, and we have found that our method is cost-effective and that the parties are in a better position to negotiate or mediate, if they are not working in a vacuum. Similarly, a divorcing client can accept a solution if he or she can see the present and future effect of an offer on them personally. In all cases, we offer our clients or the mediating parties the option of validating the data with their own accountant. We submit that we can help clients through the difficult divorce process better through our use of Family Law Software and how we approach the issues.
