Barry Finkel and Angela Neave (on right in image beneath YMCA caption) support Safe Swim.

Fort Lauderdale family law attorneys Barry Finkel and Angela Neave of B. Finkel P.A., appeared in Weston Lifestyles magazine as they took time out from the divorce and family law practice to support the YMCA of Broward County (Florida) Safe Swim Happy Hour along Las Olas Boulevard.

The event was created to support drowning awareness initiatives, which serve more than 7,000 children each year. According to the YMCA, children as young as six months of age can be taught to swim – and no child is too old to start learning.

“In South Florida, pools, lakes, canals and the ocean are fixtures on the landscape and our daily lives,” Finkel said. “It’s important that adults support these causes, and everyone takes the time to make sure children are safe in or near the water.”

A recent Wall Street Journal article on the place of prenuptial agreements among Baby Boomers — and others looking to protect existing assets — raises important questions.

As the article stated, “Baby boomers looking to protect their assets are increasingly turning to prenuptial agreements — legal contracts drawn up before a marriage that dictate what happens to assets in the event a couple should part ways, either by divorce or death.”

An interesting point about Baby Boomers who lost significant assets accumulated throughout a long career is that second marriages tend to bring up the subject, especially if one party has significant assets and adult children to whom they intend to leave their estate.

Pre-Nups are hopefully not the first time a couple talks about money and finances and how they plan to handle these items during the marriage, but it will certainly get the ball rolling. Discussing everyone’s assets, debts and what will stay with whom will allow for everyone to formulate realistic expectations about finances during the marriage.

In fact, money problems are one of the leading causes of divorce. In fact, Mexico, cleverly requires couples to declare separate or community property on their marriage license. This forces the couple to discuss at the time of applying for the license how they plan to handle finances of the marriage. If one party insists on separate property and the other does not agree, he or she then can determine whether they intend to apply for marriage or not.

The U.S. could learn from this practice.

Pre-nups generally are drafted for people with money. Because of their usefulness in starting the discussion about marital finances, pre-nuptial agreements should almost be required by states issuing marriage licenses.

Another point about pre-nuptial agreements: if the law changes after the fact, a carefully crafted pre-nup may not protect certain provisions because of the change in law. A pre-nup will not shield an asset after a change in the law.

If you have any questions about how a pre-nup can protect your assets or your family’s inheritance, contact a family law or divorce attorney before you say, “I do.”

Yet, experts continue to offer advice and counsel. The Diane Rehm Show on National Public Radio yesterday devoted an hour to the topic. The segment, entitled “Starting Over After Late-Life Divorce,” included interviews with Andrew Cherlin, a Professor of Sociology and Public Policy at Johns Hopkins University and author of “The Marriage-Go-Round: The State of Marriage and the Family Today”; Janice Green, a family law practitioner in Austin, Texas, and author of the book, “Divorce After 50: Your Guide to the Unique Legal and Financial Challenges”; and Abigail Trafford, a journalist, columnist, and former health editor at “The Washington Post” and author of “Crazy Time” and “My Time.”

The piece focused on how “many long-term married couples are making the decision to go their separate ways — possibly for another two or three decades.” The hour explored “the unique challenges and opportunities of late-life divorce.”

The lesson: As people live longer, late-stage divorce should not be such a surprise — and often comes with less acrimony. But planning remains important to ensuring everyone’s rights are protected.

There are many options when it comes to saving for the expense of college, including prepaid college programs, 529 plans, other qualified tuition plans, or other investment or savings vehicles such as custodial accounts and trusts.

But as a South Florida divorce attorney and family law practice, we’ve learned there’s more to college plans. In this article, I look at how divorce affects the family’s college savings plans. Read more here in College Savings Plans – DadsDivorce.com.

According to a new book and its review on MSN, “Whether you are happily married now, or hoping to be one day, there’s one topic you’d probably rather not think about: divorce. Yet, most of us know at least one wedded couple who has split up. And then there’s that ominous 50 percent statistic, which often scares us into believing that a marriage’s survival is as subject to chance as whether a coin will flip heads or tails.”

The MSN writer spoke with licensed marriage and family therapist Shannon Fox and divorce attorney Celeste Liversidge, who authored the book Last One Down the Aisle Wins: 10 Keys to a Fabulous Single Life Now and an Even Better Marriage Later. In the story, they offer guidance on the seven worst deeds a divorcing couple can commit…

Read the entire article here.

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by my peers for this award,” said Neave, an associate at The Law Firm of Barry I. Finkel P.A. [ insert link www.bfinkelpa.com ]. “Receiving such an award is never about the award itself. It’s about the work that helped me gain the recognition. That’s where my focus lies – on achieving positive outcomes for my clients.”

Neave works closely with each client. She seeks to identify and analyze the issues and strategies vital to a successful outcome. A native of Southern California, Neave graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). She earned her Juris Doctor from the Southwestern University School of Law. Neave decided to pursue the practice of law with a single goal in mind: To become a family and divorce lawyer focused on helping those facing the difficult challenges of failed marriages and a confusing legal system.

“Angela brings a special blend of empathy, understanding and cool legal thinking to every client’s situation,” said Barry Finkel, principal with the Fort Lauderdale law firm. “It’s a testament to her abilities and ongoing success that she has been recognized by those in the field and the publishers of Super Lawyers.”

At the Finkel Law Firm, Angela’s practice is predicated on the notion that the post-divorce family still must exist – despite its new form. Though custody issues are important and can be hotly contested, parents are counseled to remain mindful that they will continue to “co-parent” their children into adulthood. Both parents are encouraged to remain active and to welcome the other parent’s full participation. Both mother and father are expected to treat each other with respect during and after a divorce, especially when in the presence of children and their impressionable young minds.

From the beginning, children’s issues have been important to Angela. Since 2004, she has been involved with V-Day, a world event created to raise awareness and funds toward ending domestic violence against women and girls. She recently co-chaired for Legal Aid Service of Broward County’s For the Public Good fundraiser held. The event raised $124,000 – more than any previous year. All funds raised are earmarked for child-related cases, including school issues and foreclosures if children are involved, for example.

She also has teamed up with other Fort Lauderdale attorneys to speak for and develop a legal component for Women In Distress, a state-funded women’s shelter and rehabilitation program for victims of domestic violence and their children.

Neave was selected by Super Lawyers using a rigorous, multiphase process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with third-party research. She was evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel.

They seemed like the model couple. They’d lived a life together that many married (and, honestly, divorced) people seemingly can only dream of. Of course, they’d had tragedy and illness. But they have money. They raised their children. They enjoyed politics at the highest echelon of the American system. They were ready to coast into their Golden Years – together.

Al & Tipper Gore in happier times.

The Wall Street Journal wrote how the Gores “have spent virtually their entire adult lives in the public eye and they have done it together. They presented themselves as a package,” the Speakeasy columnist wrote, “and the idea of their brand was sealed with a public kiss on the stage of the Democratic Convention in 2000.”

Then, in a not-too-uncommon and increasingly modern occurrence, they split.

Marriage therapists who work with older couples aren’t as surprised as the rest of us seem to be. We’re living longer. Many have the security of dual-income economics to now enjoy life apart. And desires that were stifled in deference to the family unit are more easily pursued and fulfilled once the nest has emptied. Therapists told the Journal, “…they’re less willing to spend their last decades with someone who leaves them unfulfilled. At the same time, working wives are less dependent on husbands for financial support, and husbands have Viagra and other new incentives to find other romances.”

Call it “the New Biology” – and the New Economics. Nothing has gone wrong. People are more robust in their later years, and they have just grown apart. People in their 50s, 60s, even their 70s are unwilling to go without – whether “without” means sexually, being personally fulfilled, or enjoying a more active lifestyle.

We’re seeing this in our family law practice, too. The most common warning signs are:

- Increasingly frequent disagreements. Not knock-down, drag-out arguments. They might even be amicable. It’s just that things are seen differently.

- One or both are miserable in the marriage. Satisfaction is gone. As needs change, so, too, do the dynamics of the relationship.

- Sex is unfulfilling – if it’s there at all.

- Free time might be spent with friends – or just in different rooms of the house.

For late-stage couples, equitable distribution of assets presents its own unique issues. Significant tax consequences may be involved. With the Gores, Al is earning income from book royalties and speaking fees. Tipper can expect to split those proceeds. While the source may be different, actively-employed, high net worth couples may have similar financial issues. Assets, property and income will need to be equitably divided.

Many family law attorneys attempt to treat late-stage marriage like a “normal” divorce. The non-working spouse may claim permanent alimony. Asset distribution – and the tax implications – may be more dramatic for both. This could require the involvement of a financial planner or tax advisor skilled in such cases.

Though the dollars may be less, even middle-income couples have concerns. Assets, retirement plans or pensions must be divided. Real estate has to be sold – or equitably shared. Credit card debt has to be addressed. And with earning capacity gone from those already in retirement, you’ll now be providing for two households.

The goal – for high net worth or middle income families – is to minimize the tax implications before getting on with your new life.

Watch and learn how this important element of family law may affect Ms. Bullock and other adoptive families facing divorce.

“It depends on what stage the adoption is in,” Finkel told the Daily News. “It may be that he would have certain rights to that child, depending on where the adoption process is at this point.”

Click here read the entire story online.  Or click here to download a copy.

If James makes timesharing or custody claims down the road, Bullock and her attorneys could have another argument: His fitness as a parent, Finkel told the Daily News.

“And there is nothing to stop her from arguing in court that Jesse may be unfit or that there may be other reasons why he is not equipped to meet the needs of the child,” Finkel said.

Watch as she highlights some of the trends — and warnings — related to social media like Facebook, texting and other applications.