California Divorce and Real Estate

04/28/2024

The website for this group has changed to www.califdivorceandre.com

PLEASE CHECK IT OUT AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!!!

CALIFORNIA DIVORCE & REAL ESTATE TOM SEBRING Expert Divorce Mortgage PlanningWelcome! I'm Tom Sebring, your guide through the intricacies of divorce mortgage planning. With over 20 years of experience, I offer personalized solutions and expert advice to navigate life's transitions with confidence. L...

08/07/2023

07/11/2023

YOU DON’T NEED TO GO THROUGH DIVORCE ALONE!

SADDLEBACK CHURCH
Saddleback offers a 13 week Divorce Care group designed to help you work through the emotional pain of divorce. Our Divorce Care leaders are those who have healed from the impact of divorce and can minister to those who have just completed the walk.
The Divorce Care Workshop uses the video-based curriculum called Divorce Care, offering a structured process that facilitates healing from divorce. This is a 13-week group that involves teaching and group discussion. The cost is $20 per person and includes workbook materials.
https://saddleback.com/care/supportgroup/divorce-care
MARINER’S CHURCH
Come to experience healing from past pain and rebuild hope for a thriving future with others who are recovering from the effects of separation or divorce. Each week, a speaker will share their knowledge and experience to help us navigate divorce as a community dedicated to pursuing relational health.
https://www.marinerschurch.org/irvine/care/workshops-support-groups/
ST. ANDREWS CHURCH
In this workshop, they say, “You can go through a divorce or you can grow through it.” No matter how close or distant the divorce experience is for you, you’ll find both the lecture topics as well as the support and understanding of others dealing with similar issues to be tremendously helpful in making one of life’s most difficult adjustments. These sessions are designed for those who are dealing with the finality of a terminated marriage, rather than the possibility of reconciliation. $40 for pre-registration.
http://www.sapres.org/ministries/support/divorce-recovery/
MEETUP SUPPORT GROUPS
https://www.meetup.com/topics/divorcesupport/us/ca/orange/

03/05/2022

IS DIVORCE MEDIATION A BETTER WAY TO GO?
I think the answer is “Yes” if specific conditions are met:
The parties need to be informed about the law surrounding their settlement deal points
The parties need to be able to communicate well
The parties need to be respectful of each other
Neither party can intimidate the other party
And both parties need to be able to compromise
That’s a tall order.
Colleen O’Neil, MSW, M.Ed, Mediator, Therapist, Educator, podcast host of Mediation and Beyond, was our guest on the Amicable Divorce Expert podcast this week with host Judith M. Weigle. Colleen is a mediator extraordinaire in that she will shut down a mediation if she sees a power imbalance between the parties, or if she sees that one or both parties are misinformed about their legal rights. Not all mediators will do that. But it’s in the best interests of the parties to wait until there’s an even playing field so that the negotiations are done in the most thoughtful manner possible, and with what we call “informed consent”, meaning that if the parties make settlement decisions that are not totally equal, they are doing it knowingly, that they are relinquishing their rights to an even distribution of assets. Or, sees that decisions are made with many assets that have different tax implications once divided, creating an unequal distribution of assets within the tax consequences post settlement.
There’s so much to consider for the parties when engaging in mediation. But the starting point is always the ability of the parties to want to communicate in a respectful way, along with the understanding that divorce is a compromise. Mediation is not a replica of court. The mediator is not going to make decisions for the parties. The mediators are there to help move the conversation forward in ways that the parties themselves can’t do. And mediators can help with creative brainstorming. But mediators cannot stop people from lying, from arguing, or from engaging in disrespectful behavior towards one another.

02/11/2022

How NOT to Celebrate Valentine’s Day Alone Unless you are truly masochistic, doing any of these things by yourself on Valentine’s Day will only throw you into a depression .

Watching a romantic movie.

Listening to romantic music, sad music, or any songs dealing with heartbreak (i.e. 99% of all country songs).

Going out to dinner alone.
Hanging out at home alone while feeling sorry for yourself.
Going anywhere or doing anything that reminds you of your ex.
Stalking your ex and his/her new squeeze on social media.
Just being on social media and viewing a news feed that’s stuffed with sappy Valentine’s Day memes.

Spending your evening thinking about how happy your ex is, or what s/he is doing with someone else tonight.
Wandering through the Valentine’s Day aisle of any grocery or drug store.

Getting drunk and then texting your ex.

12/08/2021

HERE IS A CHECKLIST FOR WHAT PAPERWORK YOU NEED TO HAVE AVAILABLE
• Name, Date of Birth, Social Security Number & Address of You & Your Spouse
• Proof of State Residency
• Employer Information (Name, Length of Employment, Pay Stubs)
• Contact Information
• Prenuptial/Postnuptial Agreement
• Separation Agreement
• Custody Agreements
• Child/Spousal Support Agreement
• Health Insurance (Partners & Children)
• Wedding Details/Marriage License
• Domestic Partnership Certificate
• Spousal Attorney Name
• Children’s Birth Certificates
Real Estate & Asset Documentation
• Mortgage Statements/Lines of Credit
• Copy of the Grant Deed
• Market/Property Value Appraisals
• Final Escrow Statement From Close of Escrow/Settlement Statement
• Home Purchase Price
• Form 2119—Sale or Exchange of Principal Residence
• Refinance Documents
• Tax Assessor Statement
• Rental Property List
• Vacation Property Information
• Homeowners’ Insurance Policies
• Marital Property Inventory
• Non-Marital Property Inventory
• Automobile Title/Registration & Insurance Policies
• List of Personal Property (Jewelry, Antiques, Art, Boats, Vehicles, Trailers, Collectibles, Etc.)
• Intellectual Property Records (Licensing Agreement, Royalty, Copyright, Trademark, Etc.)
Financial Information
• Monthly Budget Worksheet
• Lifestyle Expenses List
• Employee Pay Stubs for You & Your Spouse
• Three Years of Joint Tax Returns
• Checking/Savings/Credit/Other Deposit Account Statements
• Children’s Bank Account Statements
• List of Safety Deposit Box Contents
• Tax Refunds
• Life & Disability Insurance Policies
• Homeowners & Auto Insurance Policies
• Stocks, Bonds, Investments & Mutual Funds
• Stock Purchase Plans
• Stock Options
• Retirement Information (Pension, 401(k), Mutual Funds, IRAs)
• Unsecured Notes/Accounts Receivable
• Severance/Early Retirement Records
• Inheritance/Trust Statements
Debt & Credit Records
• Student/Educational Loans
• Taxes Owed
• Spousal Support
• Child Support
• Loans (Home, Auto, Etc.)
• Credit Cards & Balance Statement
• Credit Report
• List of Other Debts
Business Information
• Self-Reported Income/Business Tax Forms
• Corporate or Partnership Taxes
• Five Years of Business Financial Statements
• Income, Expenses, Balance Sheet
• Partnership Agreements
• Corporation Formation Documents
• Stock Shares/Member Interest
Estate Planning
• Wills/Living Wills
• Powers of Attorney
• Durable Powers of Attorney
• Advance Health Care Directives
• Certification of Trust
Additional Documentation
• List of Marital Issues (Infidelity, Drug Abuse, Etc.)
• Temporary Orders (Restraining Orders, Temporary Maintenance, Child Custody, Visitation)
• Criminal Records
• Correspondence With Spouse
________________________________________
As you prepare for separation, build a divorce team to ensure the most equitable division of assets. Find legal, financial, real estate, and mental health professionals here!

12/07/2021

Some of my clients' recent quotes:

"I don't understand why this divorce is taking so long!"

"My spouse is accusing me of dragging out our divorce for no reason. But the truth is, I'm trying! I just can't get my lawyer to DO what s/he is supposed to do!"

"I'm supposed to be going to mediation next week but I have no idea how it works, what I'm supposed to bring, or what I'm supposed to do. I'm trying to get an appointment to talk with my lawyer, but s/he never calls me back!"

Our team of experts answer these questions, and more, at no cost! Call us at 949-466-5568

12/05/2021

If you need the information to find out what's next with your home, give us a call. Free information, and if we don't know the answer we will refer you to an expert that does. 949-466-5568