Railroad Crossing Accidents The deaths of six people in a collision at a railroad crossing in New York has riders and transportation officials nationwide looking at the causes of the crash, as well as the potential risk of similar accidents in other parts of the country. According to data gathered by the Federal Train Administration (FTA), an average of 2,400 people are either killed or seriously injured in train-motor vehicle collisions at train crossings every year. Officials say that the … [Read more...]
Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
The Advantages of a Prenuptial/Postnuptial Agreement If you are considering getting married, but you have substantial net worth or children from a prior marriage, you may be concerned about the loss of your net worth in the event of a separation or divorce. A prenuptial agreement can help you ensure that you don't unnecessarily or unfairly lose your property, allowing you to focus on your relationship, instead of worrying about what you might lose. The Benefits of a Prenuptial Agreement The … [Read more...]
The Importance of Medical Directives
Why You Want to Have a Medical Directive If you are young and healthy, you may not think it's necessary to establish who will make medical decisions for you in the event of injury or illness. You may believe that setting up an advance medical directive is only for the old or the infirm. You are wrong. The reality is that tragedy can strike at any time, and can affect anyone. If you don't put a clear process in place to allow someone else to make your medical decisions when you cannot, you … [Read more...]
Dividing Retirement and Investment Accounts
The Distribution of Retirement and Investment Assets Upon Divorce One of the more challenging components of a divorce is often the division of debts and assets. Though much personal property can be easily allocated, and real estate is often sold or appraised at fair market value as a part of the settlement, dividing investment and retirement plan assets can be tricky. Retirement Plan Assets There are typically two ways that retirement accounts can be divided as part of a divorce: Pursuant … [Read more...]
Dividing Business Interests in a Divorce
Dividing Business Interests in a Divorce According to a recent federal report, nearly 4 million businesses in the United States are jointly owned and operated by spouses. Even when both spouses aren't involved in the ownership or operation of the business, a family business is generally considered a marital asset, subject to division when parties divorce. Experts say that the best way to protect yourself and your business in the event of a separation or divorce is to have a "business … [Read more...]