The Mitchell Hayes Blog

Financial Freedom

By Wendy Hayes

People of all walks of life find themselves in financial difficulty. No matter what you do for a living we all need a backup plan. That backup plan should include a back up career path and enough money to cover us through an emergency or change in circumstance. In our ever-changing world, you never know…

Why You Need A Divorce Team

By Wendy Hayes

People often ask why they should hire Mitchell Hayes (Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™) and an attorney.  Divorce is a very stressful time.  It may be helpful to have a therapist or counselor to help you with your emotional needs.  Allowing a therapist to help you with the emotional aspects will help you to treat the other aspects of…

Ten Financial Things Your Spouse May Not Disclose

By Team Mitchell Hayes

While reading the article by Catey Hill for Marketwatch below, I confess that I associated with item number four and know others that have experienced many other items on the list.  I worked for a man 25 years ago that shared with me that one secret to marital bliss was the way he and his wife managed their…

How I Became A Parent To My Parent

By Wendy Hayes

I never thought that I would become my mother’s parent. The story began when my parents married in the 1950’s. For the time period, our family life was typical of middle class America. Dad worked and Mom took care of the four children and the home. Dad was the picture of health until he fell victim…

Family Mediation Versus Litigation

By Team Mitchell Hayes

Sally Clark has written a wonderful article explaining mediation versus litigation.  Sally Clark is a trained direct child consultant qualified to speak to children where appropriate as part of the mediation process. Open a newspaper in early January and there are lots of articles about how this month is a divorce lawyer’s mecca. The media predictably…

Getting Divorced After Fifty

By Team Mitchell Hayes

Utilizing a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) can keep the costs of your divorce lower by helping you arrive at an equitable financial agreement. The CDFA can also help you to budget for 20 years out so that you will understand the impact of the settlement. Jane Bryant Quinn writes that: Families and friends are…

Older Americans' Breakups Are Causing A 'Graying' Divorce Trend

By Team Mitchell Hayes

Over time, many couples get very busy with raising children, running a home, building careers, and pursing their interests.  If you have been married for a long time, chances are that your interests are not the same as your spouses.  For some, once the children are grown and gone the link to their spouse is…

Family Court Rules That You Can Serve Someone With Legal Papers Over Facebook

By Team Mitchell Hayes

Talk about airing your dirty laundry in public.  Can you imagine being served via social media?  Lily Hay Newman writes that in the case noted below, the Judge has granted permission for a man to serve his ex-wife via Facebook because he has unsuccessfully exhausted all other efforts.  We can easily see this spreading to other social…

FAQs about Qualified Domestic Relations Orders

By Team Mitchell Hayes

If you and/or your spouse have a pension plan or a defined benefit plan, you will need a QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order) if the non-employee is to receive any of the proceeds as part of your divorce settlement.  The following is a list of facts from the US Department of Labor regarding Qualified Domestic…

Don't Take Your Divorce Personally

By Team Mitchell Hayes

Many people going through a divorce paint their ex-spouse as a monster. The reality is that the divorce is normally painful for both although perhaps in different ways.  Walking a mile in the other persons shoes can be a good reminder of this.  By following the The Four Agreements: Be Impeccable With Your Word Don’t…