Divorce Mediation for Entrepreneurs: Ensuring a Balanced Business Valuation
Melissa Gragg Melissa Gragg

Divorce Mediation for Entrepreneurs: Ensuring a Balanced Business Valuation

For business owners facing divorce in New York, mediation offers a practical alternative to contentious court battles. Mediation, combined with expert business valuation, can be instrumental in achieving a fair and equitable settlement. Learn how the valuation process integrates with mediation to support divorcing business owners.

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Mediation Strategies for High-Net-Worth Divorces
Melissa Gragg Melissa Gragg

Mediation Strategies for High-Net-Worth Divorces

Mediation has become an increasingly popular option for resolving disputes in high-net-worth divorces. It offers a more private, cost-effective, and less adversarial alternative to litigation. However, the complexity of these divorces requires careful consideration and a specialized approach to ensure both parties achieve a fair outcome.

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Why It's Important to Stay Financially Savvy in Your Marriage—Even if You're Happily Married
Melissa Gragg Melissa Gragg

Why It's Important to Stay Financially Savvy in Your Marriage—Even if You're Happily Married

If you're a happily married woman, the idea of understanding your household finances might seem unnecessary, or even overwhelming. But here’s the reality: Whether you’re blissfully wed or in a high-conflict divorce, not knowing what’s going on with your money can leave you in a vulnerable position. And this doesn't just apply to women—whether you're in a same-sex marriage, a partnership, or a stay-at-home dad, it’s crucial to have a handle on your finances.

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The Evolution of Divorce Agreements: Creativity Beyond the Courtroom
Melissa Gragg Melissa Gragg

The Evolution of Divorce Agreements: Creativity Beyond the Courtroom

Divorce proceedings are traditionally known for their stringent legal parameters and often contentious nature. However, a trend is emerging on Hello Divorce’s platform that illustrates a significant shift in how individuals approach these arrangements. With the increasing preference for settling divorces out of court, they’re witnessing the birth of innovative and creative agreements that reflect the nuanced needs of modern relationships, particularly when it comes to pets, living arrangements, and privacy.

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Navigating the Sunset of Tax Provisions: A Business Owner's Guide
Melissa Gragg Melissa Gragg

Navigating the Sunset of Tax Provisions: A Business Owner's Guide

Learn more on the 2017 tax overhaul's impact on business owners, focusing on the crucial sunset of key provisions in 2025. Learn about the changes in corporate tax rates, depreciation, deductions, and the estate and gift tax exemption. Understand the significance of these reforms for your business and estate planning, and get expert insights on navigating the potential tax implications as we approach the sunset deadline. Stay informed and prepared with our detailed analysis and strategic advice for business owners facing the upcoming tax landscape shift.

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Exploring the Key Differences Between Divorce Mediation and Divorce Litigation
Melissa Gragg Melissa Gragg

Exploring the Key Differences Between Divorce Mediation and Divorce Litigation

Navigating through a divorce can be emotionally taxing and legally complex. As couples contemplate the end of their marriage, they often face the crucial decision of how to proceed with the divorce process. Two common approaches are divorce mediation and divorce litigation, each with its own set of procedures, benefits, and considerations. In this blog post, we'll delve into the fundamental differences between divorce mediation and divorce litigation, helping you make an informed choice that aligns with your unique circumstances.

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Uncovering Financial Fraud in Divorce, Step-by-Step
Melissa Gragg Melissa Gragg

Uncovering Financial Fraud in Divorce, Step-by-Step

If you suspect financial fraud during divorce proceedings, the first step is to conduct a thorough review of financial statements and records. By scrutinizing bank statements, tax returns, business financials, and credit card statements, you can identify discrepancies or irregularities that may indicate fraudulent activity.

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Understanding Financial Investigations in Divorce: Confidentiality, Fraud, and Legal Implications
Melissa Gragg Melissa Gragg

Understanding Financial Investigations in Divorce: Confidentiality, Fraud, and Legal Implications

In the midst of a divorce, financial matters often become a focal point of contention between spouses. From income and cash flow discrepancies to potential fraud and hidden assets, navigating the complexities of financial investigations can be daunting. In this blog, we'll explore how forensic accounting professionals work with divorcing couples to uncover financial discrepancies, maintain confidentiality, and navigate legal implications.

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Maximizing Business Value: Key Elements to Consider Before Selling
Melissa Gragg Melissa Gragg

Maximizing Business Value: Key Elements to Consider Before Selling

Are there other key elements that business owners should consider when planning to sell their business and aiming to get maximum value? The answer is a resounding yes. Selling a business is a complex process that requires careful planning and strategic decision-making. In this article, we'll delve into the critical factors that business owners should take into account to optimize the value of their business before putting it on the market.

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Recognizing Financial Abuse: Understanding Its Different Forms
Melissa Gragg Melissa Gragg

Recognizing Financial Abuse: Understanding Its Different Forms

Financial abuse is a pervasive and often overlooked form of domestic abuse that can have devastating consequences for victims. Understanding the different forms of financial abuse is crucial for recognizing the signs and taking action to protect yourself or someone you care about.

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How to Start Uncovering Hidden Assets During a Divorce
Melissa Gragg Melissa Gragg

How to Start Uncovering Hidden Assets During a Divorce

Are you suspecting that your spouse might be hiding assets? It's a common concern, and being proactive about uncovering any potential hidden assets is crucial to ensuring a fair division of property. While it may seem like a daunting task, there are steps you can take on your own to start looking for hidden assets.

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Enhancing Business Value: The Power of Predictability and Sales Continuity
Melissa Gragg Melissa Gragg

Enhancing Business Value: The Power of Predictability and Sales Continuity

In the dynamic world of business, factors that contribute to a company's value go beyond just its products or services. One crucial aspect that significantly enhances a business's worth is its ability to instill predictability into its operations. This predictability is achieved through recurring revenue, well-defined sales processes, and clear client acquisition metrics.

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Why do we have to hire 2 experts? Do we have to pay for both?
Melissa Gragg Melissa Gragg

Why do we have to hire 2 experts? Do we have to pay for both?

Most of the time both people will hire an attorney and an expert to testify to the value of the business and potentially develop alimony and child support scenarios for the court. Unfortunately, many times this results in one expert value in the business really high and another expert value in the business really low. This is because there are times when the judge, we'll see 2 experts who have extensive backgrounds and who appear to know what they're doing or maybe it's just a really complicated business, and the judge believes that both experts have reasonable values.

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Divorce Frequently Asked Questions: Valuation Mediation
Melissa Gragg Melissa Gragg

Divorce Frequently Asked Questions: Valuation Mediation

Many clients or prospective clients come to me asking the same type of questions. Whether you're navigating property division, grappling with income and expenses, or contemplating alimony, I want empower you with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions throughout the divorce process.

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Divorce Mediation & Mortgage: Financial Documents, Business Valuations and Mortgage Tips
Melissa Gragg Melissa Gragg

Divorce Mediation & Mortgage: Financial Documents, Business Valuations and Mortgage Tips

Melissa Gragg, a business valuation expert and mediator, collaborates with Emile Flowers, a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP), to provide valuable insights and guidance on the financial aspects of divorce. Whether you're considering divorce or in the midst of the process, understanding the necessary documentation and financial implications is vital for a smoother transition.

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