At Spencer Morrey's home, there are two constant sounds: his dad, Craig, murmuring, "You're okay, Spence. You're okay, buddy," and the sound of a machine clearing the toddler's airway.
What do you need to know about the couple's divorce filings - and what to ignore
If 84-year-old Bob Sievers of Pacific Palisades, Calif., had his way, Congress would scrap the estate tax altogether when it considers an Obama administration proposal on the future of the controversial tax. As co-owner of a lumber business for 40 years, Sievers built his wealth from scratch and paid taxes on his earnings every step of the way.
When Les and Anna Glowacz made an estate plan five years ago, they felt confident they'd be able to pass a sizable chunk of assets to their offspring. But after the economy went south, "everything changed," says Anna, 55, a pharmacist.
The action follows an attempt to reconcile with his wife of 13 years, Robin Wright Penn
Vermont's House and Senate voted Tuesday to override the governor's veto of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in the state.
For the past year, Donna Chamberlain has worked at a fuel center here in Virginia's Roanoke Valley. It pays roughly half of what her old job did, but after being out of work for 14 months, she feels lucky to have it.
Vermont Gov. James Douglas announced Wednesday that he plans to veto a bill that would grant same-sex couples equal rights in marriage, if the bill reaches his desk.
Kimora Lee Simmons wins sole custody – and a new car for the kids every three years – in a divorce settlement
Lisa and Bruce Brown are fortunate enough to have plenty of assets to protect. Foremost of these is their children: The Browns are the proud parents of four-year-old Emma, and they have another baby on the way. The Oakland couple also have considerable assets of the financial variety. Thanks to diligent saving and smart property investments, the Browns have a net worth of nearly $2 million.
At Spencer Morrey's home, there are two constant sounds: his dad, Craig, murmuring, "You're okay, Spence. You're okay, buddy," and the sound of a machine clearing the toddler's airway.
What do you need to know about the couple's divorce filings - and what to ignore
If 84-year-old Bob Sievers of Pacific Palisades, Calif., had his way, Congress would scrap the estate tax altogether when it considers an Obama administration proposal on the future of the controversial tax. As co-owner of a lumber business for 40 years, Sievers built his wealth from scratch and paid taxes on his earnings every step of the way.
When Les and Anna Glowacz made an estate plan five years ago, they felt confident they'd be able to pass a sizable chunk of assets to their offspring. But after the economy went south, "everything changed," says Anna, 55, a pharmacist.
The action follows an attempt to reconcile with his wife of 13 years, Robin Wright Penn
Vermont's House and Senate voted Tuesday to override the governor's veto of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in the state.
For the past year, Donna Chamberlain has worked at a fuel center here in Virginia's Roanoke Valley. It pays roughly half of what her old job did, but after being out of work for 14 months, she feels lucky to have it.
Vermont Gov. James Douglas announced Wednesday that he plans to veto a bill that would grant same-sex couples equal rights in marriage, if the bill reaches his desk.
Kimora Lee Simmons wins sole custody – and a new car for the kids every three years – in a divorce settlement
Lisa and Bruce Brown are fortunate enough to have plenty of assets to protect. Foremost of these is their children: The Browns are the proud parents of four-year-old Emma, and they have another baby on the way. The Oakland couple also have considerable assets of the financial variety. Thanks to diligent saving and smart property investments, the Browns have a net worth of nearly $2 million.
The once bitterly feuding couple "amicably resolved" their differences, Rodriguez's lawyer says
The ex-SNL star says they split just six weeks after their wedding due to "irreconcilable differences"
Former Gov. James E. McGreevey will not have to pay alimony to his ex-wife, a judge ruled Friday in granting the couple a divorce after a tumultuous eight-year marriage that crumbled publicly when McGreevey acknowledged he was a "gay American"
Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey will not have to pay his ex-wife alimony, a judge ruled Friday in granting the couple's divorce.
The government has intercepted $842 million in economic stimulus payments for 1.5 million Americans who have skipped out on child support obligations, student loans or tax bills.
When Susan Harris divorced her husband of five and a half years last December, she got the apartment, extra closet space and the covers all to herself.
Heather Mills, the estranged wife of Paul McCartney, was granted nearly £25 million ($50 million) in her divorce proceedings with the former Beatle, she said Monday.
Paul McCartney and his estranged wife, Heather Mills, returned to a London court Monday for the second round of their high-profile divorce.
The battle between Paul McCartney and his estranged wife, Heather Mills, for his estimated $1.6 billion fortune looks likely to stretch into a second week.
Police officers, firefighters and paramedics who responded to Britney Spears's home last week will testify at her custody hearing on Monday, a source tells PEOPLE.
Actor Timothy Busfield's wife of 19 years, Jennifer, has filed for divorce, legal documents filed Monday in Los Angeles show.
Hulk Hogan's estranged wife Linda is seeking half of the couple's more than $9.5 million in assets, including a share of the value of their Bel Air mansion.
Britney Spears will not be videotaped for her pending deposition, L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon ruled Friday morning.
Britney Spears has regained temporary visitation rights of her two sons, her attorney said Sunday.
Britney Spears has lost visitation rights for now with sons Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, according to a court document released Thursday.
We told you last week about a report by Genworth Financial that found a disproportionately large percentage of mortgages made to African American and Hispanic home buyers were high-cost subprime loans. Here's how you can protect yourself from credit discrimination.
Britney Spears "just wants to be a mom," her lawyer, Laura Wasser, said Friday - adding, "I believe this is a frustrating time for her."
Her return appearance at the MTV Video Music awards left Britney Spears' comeback up in the air. But the pop star seems intent on putting to rest her custody issues with her ex, Kevin Federline.
Despite recent sightings of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown that appeared to show the divorced couple on good terms, the pair have less-than-complimentary things to say about each other in court documents related to custody of their 14-year-old child, Bobbi Kristina.
Ryan Phillippe has filed a legal response to soon-to-be ex-wife Reese Witherspoon's divorce claim, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE.
Facing pressure from the state's top court, the New Jersey Legislature voted Thursday to give gay and lesbian couples the rights and privileges of marriage, while using the term "civil unions" to describe the partnerships.
Former Beatle Paul McCartney has vowed to "vigorously" defend himself against allegations of mistreatment allegedly made by his estranged wife, former model Heather Mills.
NEW YORK (AP) -- The MTV Music Video Awards are about to get a dose of Jack Black.
Jeff Timmons of '90s boy band 98 Degrees has been arrested on charges of drunken driving and driving without a valid license, Brevard County sheriff's officials said.
Tax season is no one's favorite, but it can be particularly onerous if you're newly divorced or separated.
rb where Tom, 34, and his soon-to-be ex, Stephanie, live about two miles apart. The weekend has been the sort that divorced dads dream of. His youngest, Reagan, turned four, and Tom threw the party at his place. He bought too much cake and candy. Stephanie even showed up. And, for a moment, with Reagan poised to blow out her candles, in a home across from where they all used to live, Tom almost forgot the turmoil of the past year--the fights, the pulmonary embolism and, oh yeah, the divorce, which is just weeks from being finalized. Under the settlement, Tom and Stephanie share equal custody of their daughters, but the girls are due at their mother's at seven. "It's excruciating," Tom says. "I didn't want this to happen." ...
On a recent Sunday evening, Tom Flynn buckles his two daughters into his SUV and heads to the home of the woman he still calls his wife. It's a short drive through South Riding, Va., the D.C. subur...
Making plans to preserve your assets in case of a divorce may not be very romantic. But with half the population headed for divorce court after a trip down the aisle, it's not such a bad idea.
Jane Chen was a well-paid Wisconsin anesthesiologist. But at the age of 43, she decided to stay home with her three school-age children.
The wedding bells are ringing. It's June, the busiest month for weddings.
After the 27-year marriage of Brenda and James Mani ended, a court ordered Brenda to pay James $610 per week in spousal support. But Brenda strenuously objected.
Kimbra Martin tracked her ex-husband across the country for 10 years in search of child support payments for their only son.
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Anyone who has seriously contemplated or entered into marriage knows one thing: nobody comes without baggage.
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - You've really been looking forward to getting married except for one niggling detail: your partner has asked for a prenuptial agreement.
When President Bush announced his support for a constitutional amendment defining "marriage as a union of a man and woman as husband and wife," he hinted that state legislatures could define "legal arrangements other than marriage" for same-sex couples.
Dear Armchair Millionaire: Our daughter recently got engaged and will be married this winter. We have been wondering about when a prenuptial agreement might be called for. Any guidance on this issue? -- Miami Dad
Nobody likes to think about it. But the more effort you put into estate planning now, the better off your loved ones will be when you're gone.
If there's one man who understands the business of breakups, it's Raoul Felder. In 38 years as a divorce lawyer he has represented big names such as Robin Givens, Rudolph Giuliani, and the wives (y...
Kelly Noonan, 33, an account executive for an insurance investigation firm in Middletown, Conn. grew up believing that her financial life wouldn't start until she got married. After all, that's how...
Think about the difference between a valuable piece of financial advice and a valuable financial strategy. Advice takes you from A to B; it's what helps you reach a light in the near distance. Stra...
In a perfect world you would segue effortlessly from a lifetime of work to a comfortable retirement. And when you died, your fortune would amply provide for your spouse and eventually flow to your ...
Ben Franklin may have been right about most things. But ironically, death taxes--those steep federal levies that erode your wealth as it passes from one generation to the next--can be avoided or at...
Few financial dreams are as cherished as the one of leaving something "to the kids"--not to mention the grandkids. But a desire to enrich your progeny after you're gone may obscure an important fac...
Once upon a time, a good corporate wife was to be seen and not heard. She was to make sure nothing, but nothing, came between her man and his work. She was to shield him from the tedious and distra...
Pop quiz for couples: the front-page, multimillion-dollar divorce between GE Capital CEO Gary Wendt and longtime wife Lorna proves that a) stay-at-home spouses of corporate big shots need to fight ...
After reading the first stories in this special report, you're probably revved up by the idea that you can accumulate enough assets to provide all the money you'll need in retirement. But to really...
What's new in estate planning? Glad you asked. Congress is talking about lifting the number of tax-free dollars you can give away during your lifetime from $600,000 to $1 million, the tax bite on f...
Jane Markey, 45, a state appeals court judge in Grand Rapids, had never before felt an emotion quite like this one. But last September, as she and her lawyer husband Curt Benson, 37, prepared for a...
What's scarier--contemplating your own demise or paying a lawyer $125 or more an hour to prepare for it? Neither option is inviting, which probably explains why about 70% of American adults don't b...
When your soul finally slips over the Great Divide, will your worldly goods pass equally smoothly to your heirs? If you have an up-to-date will, you have every reason to believe the answer is yes--...
It's one of those worries that dance on your chest in the wakeful wee hours of the morning. For Mary and Claudio DeBaggis of Mercerville, N.J., the watershed event was the birth of their twins, Mic...
Conservative legislators in a growing number of states want to make it tougher to file for divorce largely in order to help the couples' children. This year 12 states (Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, I...
DIVORCE AIN'T pretty. There's anger. There's grief. And there's the need to move on. You can move to a new town, settle into a new business, surround yourself with a whole new group of friends. And...
Only members of the polo set need concern themselves with estate planning, right? Wrong. Start totting up the value of your house, pension, investment portfolio and personal effects, and you'll pro...
NOW IT can be told: The storybook marriage of the century is almost certain to end in divorce this year.
THE JOB of passing the wealth you've accumulated to the people you want to receive it, once a fairly simple procedure, has lately become a twisted fabric -- a woof of good intentions too often warp...
Thanks to the letters we receive from Money readers and our newsletter subscribers, plus the calls to our radio show, we know what personal-finance topics are on most people's minds today. Here are...
To Maurice Tempelsman, her friend and companion of some 15 years and an executor of her will, she left a Greek alabaster head of a woman. To her children, Caroline and John, she left $250,000 apiec...
THE UNITED STATES is the world's divorce mill, and in this decade, sadly, a lot of us are going to be headed for Splitsville. During the 1990s the Bureau of the Census reckons that somewhere betwee...
For most of her 23 years of marriage Marilyn Svee, 44, never balanced a checkbook, paid her own bills or thought about stocks and bonds. She didn't even have a credit card in her own name. She didn...
YOU HAVE ARRIVED in Heaven, the ultimate 19th hole, where there's ample time for post-mortems. A hard charger on earth, you have sought out your own kind, a group of angels in a cloudy corner who a...
Maybe you've seen one of the dozens of newspaper ads placed by lawyers and financial planners urging you to attend special no-charge seminars where you'll hear about the wonders of living trusts, w...
In planning their estates, Terry and Patty MacEwen of Dayton had to solve two problems. First, Terry, 41, and Patty, 37, wanted to make sure that their legacy would be kept safe and managed properl...
When it comes to a will, all too many people act as if they'll get around to drafting it sometime soon -- just before they die. Like stock market timers, however, they forget one important thing: d...
FAMILY MATTERS The stories that follow in this section expand on the role of wills and trusts in your estate planning. 110 Trusts That Protect Your Family 117 How to Pay Zero Estate Taxes 126 Writi...
Keeping your wealth in the family gets more complicated with each passing year. Indeed, recent changes in the tax laws have made some folks less concerned about the Pale Rider than about the tax co...
In Money Helps (March) in providing an answer to a question about IRA assets in a divorce settlement, you may be mistaken. Internal Revenue Code Section 408(D)(6) and IRS Letter Ruling 8649053 both...
Spend a moment answering these questions: If you died tomorrow, would your family know what they should about your finances? Would they know how you want your estate divided? Would they know your w...
Guardianship is not inevitable even if you eventually become incapacitated. But to stand a chance of sidestepping court supervision, you must draft a solid estate plan with a lawyer's help before i...
When her 18-year marriage unexpectedly broke up two years ago, Mary Gillilland, 43, was thrown into an emotional maelstrom that left her little energy to worry about the economic repercussions of h...
Jane Fox, 41, faced an ocean of financial troubles when she and her husband agreed to part five years ago. She and her two daughters, Anna, then four, and Katherine, 1, resettled in a small, 3 1/2-...
IT'S STRANGE but true: about seven of 10 adults have life insurance, but only a third have wills. The most plausible explanation for such faulty forward planning is that insurance is sold and wills...
NO MATTER HOW successful an investor you are, you still can't take it with you. But the long bull market in stocks and real estate means that you may have more to leave behind than you thought. In ...
Of all the possible threats to your family's wealth, from inflation to bear markets to natural disasters, only one is certain to occur: your death. So while estate planning may not be the most plea...
To protect your assets from taxes and the fees and traumas of probate, you should first master the terms that are basic to estate planning. Here is a glossary culled from the special report:
Who would actually want to die without a will? Your financial plan, no matter how carefully crafted, would be forgotten, your assets would be disposed of according to a rigid legal formula, and you...
The American divorce rate keeps rising, and yet we hear less than we used to about certain themes long associated with divorce. We are less likely to hear the word ''alimony,'' for example. Nor is ...
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