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The ABCs of Dealing With Domestic Violence

Domestic violence was a part of my family's life for years. When I made the decision to leave with my children, I had to rely on the law to provide the protection we needed. Sometimes, the system does not work as fast as we want. I soon learned that going at it alone without any guidance caused significant delays. I created this blog to help others who are seeking legal means to deal with an abusive ex. By making the right moves, it is possible to get the necessary protections in place so that you can also live a happier and healthier life.

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The ABCs of Dealing With Domestic Violence

Make Sure That You And Your Spouse Are Both Listed As Owners Of These Things

by Gina Hill

Estate planning can be an ideal time to consider not only the value of your assets but also who is the rightful owner of each of them. Regardless of how you want your assets divided up in the event of your passing, it's likely that you want everything you own to go to your spouse should you die first. Couples can run into issues when one of them dies, and important possessions aren't listed in both of their names. Even if you are leaving these assets to your spouse, he or she can save time and legal expenses by already being listed as a co-owner. Here are three specific things to address in this regard.

Your House

Many couples are listed as co-owners of the home in which they live, but this is surprisingly not always the case. Perhaps you bought your house before you were married, and your spouse later moved in with you. In this scenario, the house will likely be in your name — and unless you bothered to change it, your spouse won't be listed as a co-owner. Make sure to get this small but important detail changed as soon as possible so that your spouse won't face any difficulties in the event of your death. Think about any other houses or properties that you own, too, whether it's a cottage in your name, a condo that you use as a rental property, or a piece of land that you're holding onto as an investment.

Your Vehicles

It's also important to list your spouse as a co-owner of your vehicle. In many families, it's common for one spouse to own one vehicle and the other spouse to own another vehicle. However, for the same reasons that co-ownership of your house is important, it's a good idea to update the vehicle ownership papers so that you and your spouse are each listed as owners. Do this for not only your main vehicles, but also any recreational vehicles that you may own, such as a boat, motorhome, or others.

Your Bank Accounts

You should also talk to any banks that you deal with to ensure that your spouse's name is added as a co-owner of every account that you have. Many couples don't think to do so, and the surviving spouse is left with considerable financial headaches after his or her spouse's unexpected death — especially if the spouse handled most of the family's money. Your checking, savings, and credit card accounts should all be in both names -- don't forget to also do the same for any investments that you have. Your estate planning attorney can guide you through this process, making sure that you don't miss anything.

For more information, check out a website like https://www.linskylaw.com.

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