Resolved to Move Forward
Through planning and preparation, Liebmann Family Law helps clients get to the other side of divorce and “enjoy living your new life.”
Begin with the end in mind. This truism applies to any complex process, including divorce.
From the moment one—or both—of the partners in a marriage considers walking away from the union, the building blocks should already be in place. As Jeffrey A. Liebmann sees it, anyone considering divorce should begin making plans to move forward and preparing to face the difficult decisions ahead long before the formal process gets underway.
“As someone begins a divorce, it is important that he or she thinks about the end of the process,” says Liebmann, an attorney who has led Liebmann Family Law for more than a decade. “Right from the outset it is important to figure out, with your attorney, a clear understanding of your goals. Having those lists and plans will make the entire process much less stressful for you and your children.”
Among the big questions to consider: “Where am I going to live after the divorce? How will I fund the purchase of a new home if that is an option? What will the child custody schedule look like?”
“If you have a game plan, when it pertains to finances, selling your home, child custody, and other issues, it makes the process so much more seamless and oftentimes less expensive,” Liebmann adds. “All of these questions need to be answered along the way. The more you go into the process flying blind, the more this process becomes stressful, ambiguous, and uncertain. You don’t want to find yourself being stuck with temporary housing while you look for a new place to live.”
Dealing With It
The current global health crisis has muddied already troubled waters for some families, especially when it comes to determining custody arrangements. For example, what if Mom and Dad decide to live in different school districts? In other cases, spouses who are going through the divorce process are living together longer than they otherwise would, to minimize expenses and avoid having to house hunt during a less than ideal time.
Liebmann recommends seeking out not only a capable family law attorney, but also a financial planner. This individual can provide expert guidance on your position, financially speaking, once the final settlement is in place.
“Your age is always an important factor, so you have to determine if it is worthwhile cashing out retirement assets as opposed to taking equity from the house at settlement of the divorce,” Liebmann says. “Attorneys know the answers to these questions, but we also trust the people who do this as their life’s work.”
Some people may come to realize that divorce may be in their best interests—either because of abuse, infidelity, or simply because they have different goals than their partner—but still choose to delay the inevitable; they prefer not to “upset the applecart” until a self-imposed deadline, such as when the children are grown and settled in their own lives. Even so, Liebmann suggests fear of the unknown is the biggest factor that prevents someone from taking the next step of separation and divorce.
“New clients come in here terrified, shaking and crying about the uncertainty of their future,” he says. “People crippled with fear will say, ‘Jeff, tell me I will be OK after this.’ Fear has a part in settling this. It can often be difficult for an attorney to make sure that clients are making decisions based on the right motivating factors.”
Approximately 25 percent of his clients are involved in “healthy separations” where they have a schedule worked out for the kids and don’t want to fight about them, and another 25 percent fight about almost everything, especially the children. One parent may feel that he or she is not getting enough time with the children, whereas the other parent is getting too much.
For some clients, Liebmann recommends engaging in co-parenting counseling or custody programs available through reputable websites. These programs help parents keep track of shared responsibilities such as daycare, school schedules, doctors’ appointments, extracurricular activities, and more.
“Not everything is an event for contention between the parties,” he explains. “You live with the results of this divorce, so whether or not you get one or two percent more of the estate may not hold the same weight as whether or not you can be civil and be in the same room for your son or daughter’s high school graduation, or wedding, with your ex-spouse.”
If there are no children in the marriage, or if the children are grown, a divorce can be less complicated because money issues can often be easier to resolve than those involving progeny. That’s not always the case, however. Liebmann’s advice: “Fight for what’s important, but don’t sweat the stuff that you can’t control.”
As Liebmann sees it, once the divorce process has come to an end, it’s time to put the past in the rearview mirror and prepare for a new beginning.
“Divorce can be very difficult to get through, and some people have a tough time for a while afterward,” he says. “Most people accept it, move on, and have fun. It’s about getting out there, to enjoy living your new life.”
About Liebmann Family Law
Liebmann Family Law has been building on its considerable experience and knowledge in family law and other related legal matters for more than a decade. Led by Jeffrey A. Liebmann, the firm’s legal team has extensive courtroom and litigation experience, as well as a background in complex property division issues, custody disputes, and support and alimony issues.
The firm has represented a broad cross-section of the community, in all aspects of their family law issues, both in successful negotiations, settlements, and inside the courtroom, if necessary.
The firm’s legal team—Liebmann and two fellow attorneys, David J. Sowerbutts and Mindy J. Snyder, aided by four legal assistants—takes pride in thoroughly explaining legal policies, procedures, and ramifications every step of the way, and navigating positive outcomes. In fact, when needed, any one of three attorneys can step in and handle a client emergency, as well as answer any questions that may arise throughout a case.
Liebmann Family Law
The Atrium
4 Terry Drive, Suite 4
Newtown, PA 18940
(215) 860-8200
Photograph by Allure West Studios
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, February 2021.
