Money and Finance - Experts and Resources

Share Your Story, Make Some Money

Posted to by First Wives World on Thu, 03/11/2010 - 9:19am

Calling all Divorcees!

Occasionally we come across opportunities for FWW readers to share their unqiue divorce stories with the media, and receive financial reimbursement in the process. Below is an opportunity we thought was worth checking out:

Top women's magazines and newspapers in the UK are looking for women who would like to share their inspirational stories for real life features.

Have you overcome tragedy or adversity in your life?
Have you recovered from your marriage break up in an unusual way?
Or found love again in an unexpected manner?
Or did your Ex leave you for a family member of friend?

Whatever your real life story is, we would love to hear from you. All stories must be true, you must be willing to be named and pictured and we only deal mainly with stories from the UK. You could also earn up to £1000 (~$1500 US) and all stories will be dealt with in a sensitive manner.

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Yours And Mine: Couples Divorcing from Shared Finances

Posted to by Amanda Lockhart on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 10:00am

Is there anything more laborious than all of the logistical BS you have to take care of when you get divorced? It’s not bad enough that your marriage ended and you have a bazillion unanswered questions about your future swirling in your head. Now you have to actually concentrate and get your finances figured out, separate your accounts, set up your own legal and financial identity — the list goes on.

Well, according to an interesting piece in U.S. News and World Report, fewer people are having to navigate that whole logistical minefield. The number of married couples who have at least two checking accounts is on the rise. The idea of his and her checking accounts is a growing trend especially among divorced people as they go into second marriages. And it makes sense in a lot of instances.

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Do You Really Think Mel Gibson is Bothered by Giving His Wife $400 Million?

Posted to by Jill Brooke on Tue, 04/14/2009 - 3:17pm

There is something poignant and symbolic that Robyn Gibson, the loyal, dutiful wife of actor Mel Gibson, chose Easter weekend to file divorce papers after 28 years of marriage. With Easter representing resurrection, maybe this is a new beginning for her.

When she met her husband, then a struggling Australian actor, she was a 24-year-old dental assistant. While he was on locations around the globe filming movies for months at a time, she fulfilled an important part of their partnership. She was home raising seven children, a massive job that includes keeping meticulous schedules that rival many CFO’s spreadsheets.

There’s the doctors appointments, the after school activities which require shuttling kids to and from ballet to hockey practices, a job that needs to be planned with Swiss-like efficiency, and the expectation that somewhere along the line a child will forget a sneaker or stick and call Mom to have it delivered.

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Countess Her Blessings

Sordid details emerge in David divorce

Posted to by Debbie Nigro on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 5:48pm

I am going to call the outcome of the divorce case in the news between the 36-year-old Swedish Countess and the 66 year-old CEO with countless millions. She should countess her blessings that her $36 million in United Technologies stock is still worth that much. She should also have no problem finding a new guy who doesn't have a problem being dragged to bed against his will, one complaint from her now ex-CEO hubby.

Married in 2002, it took only two years for Marie Douglas-David to start cheating on George David with a strapping Swedish swordsman (say that three times fast). Poor George hired a PI, finds out it's true, and files for divorce. She uses sex to get him back.

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Man Who Lost Millions to Madoff Sues Ex-Wife

Wants divorce settlement to be renegotiated

Posted to by Jill Brooke on Fri, 02/06/2009 - 10:34am

Some divorced husbands complain that their wives made-off with their money, but now a man is simply blaming Madoff.  Yes, Bernie Made-off with Everyone's Money is the reason that Steven Simkin is asking that his divorce settlement be renegotiated.

The Manhattan attorney said the money he gave his ex-wife Laura Black was partly based on the $5.4 million invested with Madoff.

"It remains only fair and equitable for Laura to shoulder her share of that harm," Simkin claims in court papers.

However, some lawyers think that he will have a tough time getting his money back. The cheater in this case is not a spouse.

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Ellen Barkin to Star as Divorced Cougar in New HBO Series

Posted to by Jill Brooke on Mon, 02/02/2009 - 11:46am

Ellen Barkin is showing women how divorce can be mined for hilarious and profitable material. The star of "Sea of Love," who traveled through turbulent waters in her high-profile divorce from billionaire businessman Ron Perelman, has just signed a deal with HBO. Gotta love that. (Though Perelman most likely won't).

In the pilot, which was steered by Ann Blanchard (one of the forces behind FWW's own Hot Flashes), Barkin stars as a woman who struggles to find her sea legs after being tossed and turned through her divorce. Not only does she find new horizons but a new love too — and, yup — he's a young hunk.  

Shauna Cross is writing the pilot and describes Barkin's character as someone who is "in her early 50s whose life explodes suddenly. Her nerve and life experience allows her to tell the world to go screw itself, and they love her for it."

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Housing Crisis Complicates Debbie Matenopoulos Divorce

Posted to by Jill Brooke on Wed, 01/28/2009 - 9:22am

Marital homes are not only assets but increasingly sources of dueling divorce battles. And here's a doozy that was reported in People.

Debbie Matenopoulos's estranged husband says their marital house is now only worth $4.3 million and not $8 million, and she better sell or he'll stop supporting the Los Angeles' home's upkeep.

In court documents, Jay Faires, 45, an L.A. music executive who makes $37,500 per month before taxes, is demanding that the E! Entertainment host, 33, either help pay the mortgage, agree to refinance, or move out and sell the home, according to his filing.

Furthermore, pulling the rug from under her, he says they both lived beyond their means and she had better adapt to a new reality.

He also says he's floored by all the expenses that he has to pay compare to her.

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