Divorce & TaxesEstate Planning Services

When getting a divorce, filing taxes may be the furthest thing from your mind. However, many tax issues arise when spouses or parents separate or divorce, which has the potential further complicate the already stressful dissolution of marriage process. When structuring a marital settlement agreement, Deirdre O'Brien is aware of divorce & taxes issues so that one or both parties will not get stuck with substantial taxes and related penalties.

Filing Your Yearly Taxes When Getting a Divorce.

When filing taxes you are required to choose a tax filing status. You can choose to file as single, married (filing either a joint or separate return), head of household. When filing, you are required to report all of the income that you earned on your own. Given that both you and your spouse are responsible for any tax liabilities or penalties should you file a joint return, it may be wise to consider filing separately. It's important to note that the tax filing status is determined by the status you had on December 31st of that fiscal year. Thus, it is often ideal to ensure that your divorce is finalized by the end of the year, in order to avoid penalties that may come as a result of the married filing separately tax status.

Important Facts About Taxes During or After Divorce.

A large complication that may arise as result of divorce & taxes is the issue of who will get to claim the dependency exemption. For those who fall under a certain tax bracket, these exemptions can typically be claimed by the parent who has physical custody of the children. In addition, child care expenses can often be used as a deduction on the custodial parents' taxes. You must have your dependent's social security numbers in order to claim them on your tax form, however, so be sure to have that information on hand when preparing your return.

Another important fact about taxes during or after a divorce is that spousal support may be able to claimed as a deduction by the paying spouse. It's best to consult with an attorney to find out how to deal with divorce taxation, so that you are aware of how the tax laws affect you.

Hiring an Attorney to Handle Divorce Taxation Issues.

There are a plethora of issues that can arise as a result of taxes during a divorce or immediately following the dissolution of a marriage or domestic partnership. The Law Offices of Deirdre O'Brien can assist you in order to make filing your taxes a less frustrating process. Given that the tax laws are always changing, having an attorney to help you navigate through the often complicated task of completing tax returns, especially when going through such a major life change as a divorce, can result in greater tax benefits and advantages.

Attorney O'Brien is always willing to work with your accountant or will recommend an accountant if you need one.