Carolyn Goodman

Attorney At Law

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Tips from a DC Divorce Attorney: Negotiating a Separation Agreement with Your Spouse

By Carolyn Goodman

Finding the Right DC Divorce Attorney to Help You Negotiate Your Divorce or Separation Out of Court

If you are thinking about separating or have already done so, reaching a negotiated DC divorce settlement is usually a better approach than seeking the court’s assistance to decide on a resolution of the issues. You maintain control over the outcome, and you and your spouse can each have a say in what you want in a settlement.

Negotiating a settlement agreement is less expensive and usually shorter than the court process.

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Filed Under: Divorce, Divorce Lawyer, Separation Agreement

DC Divorce Lawyer: Frequently Asked Questions

By Carolyn Goodman

DC Divorce lawyer Carolyn Goodman answers questions about separation and how marital property is divided in divorce.Photo of research books that a DC Divorce Attorney might use

How long do I have to be separated to work on a Separation Agreement or Marital Settlement Agreement?

There is no requirement to be separated for a specific period of time to work on a Marital Settlement Agreement. You can start work on settling the issues resulting from your marriage as soon as you separate (even if under the same roof).

How long do I have to be separated to file for a divorce?

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Filed Under: Divorce, Divorce and Division of Property, Divorce Lawyer

Uncontested Divorce in DC: How Is Property Divided?

By Carolyn Goodman

What is an Uncontested Divorce in DC?

Photo of homes in DC - Uncontested Divorce DC How is Property Divided

Understanding what an Uncontested Divorce actually is will help you as you move forward.

It is best for both you and your spouse to reach a settlement if possible and file for a simple Uncontested Divorce in Washington, DC. Be aware that even though you and your spouse may have kept all of your finances separate, such as your bank accounts, retirement accounts, and credit card accounts, the balances may still be considered marital property and/or marital debt. This can be confusing. It is a common assumption that if everything you have is separately titled and you have no joint accounts that you each leave your marriage with what is in your sole name.

The law looks at property differently.

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Filed Under: Divorce and Division of Property, Divorce Lawyer, Separation Agreement, Uncontested Divorce

Understanding DC Legal Separation and Divorce

By Carolyn Goodman

Getting a Divorce or Separation in DC: Should I File in DC Court or Settle Out of Court?

I am asked often by potential clients whether they should file in the court immediately rather than try to settle separation and divorce issues out of court. In other words:

TO FILE OR NOT TO FILE IN DC: THAT IS THE QUESTION!

It is always best if you can reach a settlement related to the issues arising out of your marriage. Filing a court case before you have attempted to settle the issues out of court is more expensive, time-consuming, and a more emotionally difficult path to reaching a resolution.

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Filed Under: Divorce, Divorce Lawyer, Separation Agreement

Uncontested Divorce in DC

By Carolyn Goodman

I am contacted often and asked how to file for an Uncontested Divorce in DC.

It is important to first decide whether your DC divorce is truly uncontested.

Even though you and your spouse may be friendly and everything is amicable, if you have any assets that accumulated during your marriage, even if you have kept most or all of your finances separately titled, you may still need to have a Separation and Property Settlement Agreement (Marital Settlement Agreement) to be sure you are protected in the future.

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Filed Under: Divorce, Divorce Lawyer, Separation Agreement, Uncontested Divorce

DC Divorce and DC Prenuptial Agreements

By Carolyn Goodman

Enjoy listening to a recent SiriusXM radio interview in which I speak about a variety of family law issues such as DC Divorce and DC Prenuptial Agreements.

I touch on topics such as DC Uncontested Divorce, DC Contested Divorce, DC Prenuptial Agreements, and an assortment of other issues, including information about documents to have in place before you marry.

There is also a discussion about negotiating settlements rather than spending a great deal of family funds on going to court where you may lose control of the outcome of your situation.

There is also a discussion about having a Prenuptial Agreement in place so you can work out how you will deal with your family finances once you are married. In addition, the interviewer suggested that it is best to speak with a family lawyer/divorce attorney so you know what your rights are and what documents you should have.

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Filed Under: Divorce, Divorce Lawyer, Prenuptial Agreement, Separation, Separation Agreement, Uncontested Divorce

Do I Need A Divorce Lawyer?

By Carolyn Goodman

As a Washington, DC divorce lawyer, a question I often hear is “Do I need a divorce lawyer?”

Even if you and your spouse agree on how to settle all the issues in your marriage, it is still very important that you be aware of all of your rights in order to protect yourself in the future.

It is best to have an attorney advise you as you negotiate a settlement with your spouse or have an experienced DC divorce lawyer negotiate a settlement on your behalf. It is in your best interest to have an attorney draft a Separation Agreement for you.

This will help you in the future because you will then be sure that all issues are taken care of and that nothing will crop up in the future that will cause disagreements between you and your spouse.

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Filed Under: Divorce, Divorce Lawyer

Article Categories

  • Child Support
  • Cohabitation Agreement
  • Custody
  • Divorce
  • Divorce and Alimony
  • Divorce and Annulment
  • Divorce and Division of Property
  • Divorce Lawyer
  • Legal Separation
  • Prenuptial Agreement
  • Prenuptial and/or Postnuptial Agreement
  • Same-Sex Divorce
  • Separation
  • Separation Agreement
  • Uncontested Divorce

Practice Areas

  • Child Support And Custody Law
  • Family and Divorce Law
  • Prenuptial And Postnuptial Agreements
  • Separation Agreements
  • Filing For An Uncontested Divorce
  • Filing For a Contested Divorce
  • Divorce And Family Law Blog

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Practice Areas

  • Child Support And Custody Law
  • Family and Divorce Law
  • Separation Agreements
  • Prenuptial And Postnuptial Agreements

Questions And Answers

Your current situation has probably generated many questions. Here are some short answers to questions you may have about Divorce, Separation Agreements, Property Division, Child Custody and more.

Recent Blog Posts

  • Ten Things to Include in Your Prenuptial Agreement
  • 4 Things You Need to Know About Joint Custody in Washington, DC
  • DC Divorce-What You Need to Know About Dividing Property
  • What You Need to Know About DC Prenuptial Agreements

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