(402) 346-1132
Does It Hurt or Help to be Nice in a Divorce?
Divorce does not have to be contentious. In fact, you could be making it harder for yourself (and your children) if you approach your divorce with revenge in your heart. Taking the high road is not always easy, but there are several reasons you may benefit from it:

You can save money.
If you and your spouse can be on good terms during your divorce, you will find it pays off. Not only will the process go a lot smoother for you emotionally, but you can also save money if you are able to stay out of court. Settlement is a less expensive and less time-consuming way for you and your ex to reach an agreement that will result in a divorce that both of you can live with.

You can get your fair share of assets.
Your marital estate includes all property, assets, debts, and liabilities acquired by both of you during the course of the marriage. It does not include property that you brought to the marriage, or that came to you via gift or inheritance. You and your spouse will need to compile a comprehensive list of all marital property and make decisions about who gets what, typically with the help of your respective attorneys. 

You can protect yourself financially.
One thing divorcing couples may not give much thought to is how a divorce will affect their individual credit scores. You and your spouse should get your credit reports from all three major credit reporting bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) and see if you can resolve any outstanding issues prior to your divorce. You will then need to cancel your joint accounts and open separate accounts. Any joint accounts that remain open means you will still share responsibility with your spouse for any outstanding debt.

You can make things easier on your kids.
Hopefully, both of you share a common goal of protecting your children financially and emotionally. Your concern for them needs to extend to putting the proper financial protections in place. While your spouse may be the current beneficiary of your life insurance policy, retirement plan, pension plan, or trust, this will probably change after the divorce is final. Both of you should work together on an estate plan that protects your children should something happen to either or both of you while your children are still minors. 

Determining whether to end a marriage is not an easy decision or one to be taken lightly. Your legal team at Koenig|Dunne is here to provide you with guidance and advice regarding this difficult decision and all of the decisions that you will face throughout the divorce process.
“So plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.” 

~ Jorge Luis Borges
Team Building Retreat!
In 2020, so many things look different - and that includes our annual Firm Retreat. This year we were able to gather safely and enjoy each other's company around a bon fire!

(Don't worry - we only removed masks for this photo)

May It Please the Court
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was sworn into the United States Supreme Court August 10, 1993. That same month, I moved out of my parents’ home and into my first college dormitory. That month, my dad made sure I had opened my first credit card to account for any emergencies. I walked into college with my future and possibilities ahead of me to work toward any career path that tempted me and with a full expectation of being equally treated alongside my male classmates. 

Little did I know at the time, that Justice Ginsburg, during the decade I was born, was working tirelessly as an ACLU litigator to pave the path for women to be treated equally under the law. Because of her work, I could have that credit card, I could pursue job opportunities, and it never had to occur to me that I would not receive the same full benefits as my male counterparts. I largely took for granted all the benefits of equality I now enjoyed because of her legal work. 
Coach's Corner
with Susan Ann Koenig
Sliding Standards, Shifting Lenses
Sales of sweatpants up. Sales of suits down. Standards are shifting. Selections from drawers and closets are simply not the same in our virtual and remote worlds. 

Expectations are different, too. Tardiness to a training, once taken as a sign of disrespect, now simply means Alex had to let their dog out to pee at the last minute. 

Logically we know that in the context of the coronavirus our ideas of how we must perform cannot remain the same. But it isn’t easy. We still want what we want when we want it and when we said Friday was the deadline, we meant Friday. 
Who is Koenig|Dunne?
For over 35 years, the Koenig|Dunne team has been helping people pick up the pieces of their life to make a new start. Bringing a family business back from the brink of financial ruin. Sheltering a child from the conflict of a custody battle. We do this work because its work we know matters.

Whether an amicable collaboration or lengthy litigation lies ahead, we’re the team who will empower you on your path to a better future, from start to finish. That’s a promise. We promise you – we will see you, hear you, and stand by you. Learn More
Guidance when you want it. Strength because you need it.
(402) 346-1132