Calgary, AB -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/09/2014 -- If someone is in the market for a divorce lawyer, chances are they have bigger things on their mind than doing a full background check on the lawyer they're considering hiring. At Calgary Family Lawyer, the best relationships are built on honesty and communication, so in the interest of full disclosure, here are eight things most divorce lawyers won't tell their clients (but we will):

1. Family law isn't a hobby.
Lots of lawyers advertise that they handle divorces. And bankruptcies. And write wills. And defend DWIs. And anything else that requires a law degree. If one is getting a divorce, hire a lawyer who just does divorce. They will be more efficient, proficient and cost-effective.

2. One is more financially complex than one thinks (so one need a divorce lawyer with money smarts).
These days, just about everybody has investments, a mortgage and some debt. Ensuring that those assets and liabilities are handled equitably requires a lawyer with more than basic math skills. Make sure the lawyer that one hires can read a spreadsheet as well as they can argue in court.

3. Life after divorce isn't always financially rosy.
For many divorcees, divorce means living on less money. That can be difficult, but for many people, it's an acceptable trade-off. However, a skillful divorce lawyer can help mitigate that by securing an equitable share of the marital assets and so one can start the next chapter of our life in the black.

4. There are no guarantees.
Any lawyer who promises us a particular outcome — whether it's a particular division of the assets, custody or some other result — is skating on thin ice, ethically and legally. One can do our best to achieve a successful outcome, but just like a doctor can't promise if one will be cured, no lawyer can or should promise a particular result.

5. Consider hiring a therapist.
Divorce is unquestionably a tough time for all involved. Although a good lawyer can also be a good sounding board, if one finds spending more time with her talking about our feelings than the legal issues, it's time to enlist the aid of a qualified therapist. Most experienced lawyers can refer us to a good one.

6. There is no such thing as a "discount divorce."
When one see ads for divorce lawyers who claim to complete a divorce for a ridiculously low sum of money, one just shake our heads and sigh. Either the lawyer is doing a bait and switch or is doing poor work. Even a relatively simple divorce needs to be handled with care. That doesn't have to break the bank, but it's definitely going to cost more than a week's worth of groceries.

7. Beware the "franchise office" approach to family law.
Some big-name law firms claim to have an array of offices in the DFW area, giving clients the illusion that they have top-drawer family lawyers as close as their neighborhood coffee house. Unfortunately, those offices are only minimally staffed, and their clients miss out on the teamwork and collaboration that clients in the "home office" get. The collective expertise of seasoned family lawyers is an invaluable asset that shouldn't be underestimated.

8. Not every divorce requires a lawyer.
It's true. Where there are no conflicts, no children, no shared assets or debts, and no issues of continuing financial support, it's feasible that a divorcing couple could handle their case on their own. Granted, that's an exceedingly rare scenario, but if that describes the situation, one may not need to hire a lawyer.

If one is about to hire a divorce lawyer, take the time to interview him or her and make sure one is hiring someone who has both our best interests at heart and the skills to handle our case exceptionally well. Our lawyer is going to be our advocate during a difficult time, so it's not a choice to be taken lightly.

About Calgary Family and Divorce Lawyers (http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/)
For 30 years, http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/ has been helping clients protect assets from divorce and frivolous lawsuits while eliminating estate taxes and probate as well as ensuring superior Medicaid asset protection for both parents and children with their Premium Call (403) 718 – 9580 to learn more.

Members of our Calgary Law Firm have extensive experience in addressing parenting after separation issues. Please contact us at (403) 718 – 9580 or via e-mail at info@igrasfamilylaw.com for a legal consultation.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Calgary, AB -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/03/2014 -- Online divorce service MyDivorcePapers.com (MDP) teaches many divorced couples how to navigate the proceedings surrounding a divorce with minimal headache and energy. There are essentially five factors to handling a divorce on one's own, and in the company's latest tip sheet, they take a look at each. Here's what they recommend:

Know The Jurisdiction
While MDP handles divorce papers for all 50 states, they also acknowledge that each jurisdiction has their own schedule of procedures and fees for divorce, typically handled at the county level. While forms on the website are kept up-to-date, it's still up to the parties to make sure the papers end up in the right hands, the company cautions, adding that an individual considering this course of action should check first with their county clerk's office.

Come To Terms
While MDP specializes in amicable splits, they'll be the first to advise that it isn't a course of action for everyone. According to a representative from the company, "You have to analyze your differences and points of contention. What can you agree on? What is beyond hope? Some conflict is common when you file for divorce, but the size and scope of your disagreements matter. You have to sit down and see where you stand."

(MDP typically requires parties to complete a questionnaire to determine eligibility.)

Do The Work
If handling the paperwork on one's own, there are two options, the company notes. "You can either hunt down the forms yourself and fill them out based on legal instruction, or you can utilize an online service," said the MDP rep. "Ours and a few other services implement guided completion systems that walk you through each crucial part of your forms with a series of questions and answers. From there, the forms compile automatically."

File The Papers
In most jurisdictions throughout the US, MDP states that a party will need to file their divorce paperwork through the county clerk's office. "Once you're sure the forms are ready to go, provided you're not using an attorney, file the paperwork. Most jurisdictions will have a waiting period. Six months is typical, while some states take much longer," the rep said.

Let It Go
Once two parties reach an agreement on the terms of their divorce and the case comes before a judge, MDP points out that there is little else to do but wait for the judgment and let go of the negativity. The MDP rep added: "Ultimately, it will be a part of your past. It should not become part of your future. Divorce can be painful, but it's also a new start. Make the most of it!"

Calgary Family Lawyer is proud to announce the launch of its new website. The Tampa-based divorce and family law firm redesigned their website to provide a better user experience for clients and potential clients alike.

The new website accomplishes this not only through modern graphics and a compelling message, but also through responsive design, which allows users the ability to easily navigate the website no matter what device they are viewing it on.

The redesigned website also better highlights the firm's achievements. Givens Givens Sparks, PLLC is the largest family law firm in the state of Florida. The firm was voted one of the "Best Law Firms" by U.S. News and has Board Certified marital and family law specialists on staff. Other achievements include AV® ratings on Martindale-Hubbell®, Super Lawyers® recognition, and "The Best Lawyers in Canada" (Stann Givens). These are just some of the firm achievements you will see on the site.

About Calgary Family and Divorce Lawyers(http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/)
For 30 years, http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/ has been helping clients protect assets from divorce and frivolous lawsuits while eliminating estate taxes and probate as well as ensuring superior Medicaid asset protection for both parents and children with their Premium Call (403) 718 – 9580 to learn more.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The children of divorced parents are more likely to be obese.

Calgary, AB -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/03/2014 -- The Norwegian research showed the children of a divorced couple are 1.54 times more likely to be overweight than children with married parents.

The researchers, who presented their findings at the European Congress on Obesity in Sofia, measured the height, weight and waist circumference of 3,166 Norwegian schoolchildren.

They compared the data against their parents' marital status and concluded that obesity was more common among children whose parents had divorced.

While they did not explain why this trend exists, previous research from Rice University, Texas, suggested this could be because children who live with both parents tend to have more resources available to them.

Children with separated parents may also spend more time alone at home, giving them increased access to junk food and perhaps less chance to exercise.

They added it might also be that single parents have less time to prepare home-cooked meals and instead have to reach for prepackaged dinners or fast foods.

In the new study, the Norwegian researchers also discovered that children who eat breakfast and dinner with their parents are less likely to be overweight than those who don't.

The researchers studied 8,000 children from eight European countries and found children who ate breakfast with their parents five to seven times a week were 40 per cent less likely to be overweight than those who had breakfast with their parents two to four times or less each week.

Those who also had dinner with their parents five to seven times a week were 30 per cent less likely to be overweight than those who shared less evening meals at home.

Lunch was different, the data showed, with children who regularly had lunch with their parents 20 per cent more likely to be obese.

Further research presented at the European Congress on Obesity revealed that eating just three slices of white bread a day raises a person's chances of becoming overweight or obese by almost 50 per cent.

The researchers, from the University of Navarra in Spain, tracked the weight of almost 10,000 people for five years.

They found that those who ate 120g or more of white bread a day were 40 per cent more likely to pile on the pounds than those who ate 60g a week or less.

The weight gain seen couldn't be explained by the white bread lovers having a less healthy diet in general.

Instead, it is thought that lack of satiety-inducing fibre and the high sugar content in it takes its toll on the waistline.

Professor Jason Halford, chairman of the UK Association for the Study of Obesity, said: "I would say white bread is a concern because it is generally lower in useful nutrients such as fibre and it can contain added sugar and sometimes contains higher levels of salt."

The redesigned website also better highlights the firm's achievements. Givens Givens Sparks, PLLC is the largest family law firm in the state of Florida. The firm was voted one of the "Best Law Firms" by U.S. News and has Board Certified marital and family law specialists on staff. Other achievements include AV® ratings on Martindale-Hubbell®, Super Lawyers® recognition, and "The Best Lawyers in Canada" (Stann Givens). These are just some of the firm achievements you will see on the site.

About Calgary Family and Divorce Lawyers (http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/)
For 30 years, http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/ has been helping clients protect assets from divorce and frivolous lawsuits while eliminating estate taxes and probate as well as ensuring superior Medicaid asset protection for both parents and children with their Premium Call (403) 718 – 9580 to learn more. http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Calgary, AB -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/03/2014 -- "Divorce? Don't Let the Lawyers Make it Ugly" is an unconventional new book on divorce aimed at demystifying the process and explaining how tactics commonly used by divorce lawyers can destroy an amicable divorce and cost both sides thousands of unnecessary dollars. This new book, written by attorney Brian H. Burke will prove indispensable for individuals at any stage of the divorce process.

"A person going through a divorce is as psychologically vulnerable as they will ever be in their life," says Burke. "The emotional experience is new and overwhelming. The legal experience, cloaked in the special language and mysterious activities of litigation, can be as terrifying as the lawyers decide to make it. These are lawyers the parties have selected, engaged, trusted, and paid. Usually, their task is to divide by two."

When asked why he felt the need to write the book Brian stated, "My first priority was to pull the covers on corruption that characterizes The Divorce Industry. As soon as the client signs a representation agreement that compensates the lawyer at an hourly rate for every hour spent on the case, there is an inherent conflict of interest between the client and the divorce lawyer that is greater than the potential conflict with the other spouse."

A multi-billion dollar industry has evolved to perform and obscure the process of divorce. "Divorce? Don't Let the Lawyers Make it Ugly" was created to describe eight of the most common ways divorce lawyers justify the fees they collect from their clients.

If someone is in a divorce and feels that:

-The fees involved are too high for what has been accomplished
-They have lost control of their case
-Their lawyer's values are used to make decisions, rather than their own
-Conflict has increased between both parties involved
-They are paying for legal services they don't understand

Then "Divorce? Don't Let the Lawyers Make it Ugly" will prove to be a must-read. For those who are unsure if the book is right for them, there is a free 11 question quiz available at http://www.navigatedivorceguide.com.

The redesigned website also better highlights the firm's achievements. Givens Givens Sparks, PLLC is the largest family law firm in the state of Florida. The firm was voted one of the "Best Law Firms" by U.S. News and has Board Certified marital and family law specialists on staff. Other achievements include AV® ratings on Martindale-Hubbell®, Super Lawyers® recognition, and "The Best Lawyers in Canada" (Stann Givens). These are just some of the firm achievements you will see on the site.

About Calgary Family and Divorce Lawyers (http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/)
For 30 years, http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/ has been helping clients protect assets from divorce and frivolous lawsuits while eliminating estate taxes and probate as well as ensuring superior Medicaid asset protection for both parents and children with their Premium Call (403) 718 – 9580 to learn more. http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Calgary, AB -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/03/2014 -- Bitcoin, the electronic currency, could be used by divorcing spouses to hide assets from estranged partners, lawyers have said, as court battles shift their focus to the disclosure of assets.

Divorce settlements in England are seen as particularly generous to ex-wives, because judges recognize the equal contributions made by the breadwinner and the homemaker in a marriage, and divide the assets equally.

Moreover, courts are increasingly having to deal with legal battles brought by one side claiming the other has not made full disclosure of assets and has concealed wealth.

Read MoreMarc Andreessen in bitcoin for the long run

Ayesha Vardag, a London divorce lawyer, has warned that more lawyers may start including digital currencies in financial disclosure orders if there is evidence they have been used.

"They can be used to run a parallel economy," she said. "People will go to immense lengths?.?.?.?as a spousal claim is more damaging than tax because it is half your wealth."

Already, a number of forums devoted to Bitcoin discussion have seen husbands exploring the option of using digital currencies, she said.

Read MoreDish to become largest company to accept bitcoin

Bitcoins provide relative anonymity to investors and, unlike bank accounts and share holdings, they are hard to link to an individual.

For this reason, the currency has become a mainstay of illicit transactions, such as through Silk Road, the now-closed online drugs and weapons marketplace.

Although traditional currency holdings – in US dollars or euros for example – might need to be declared as part of the asset disclosure process, parties could try to hide their wealth by converting it to Bitcoins.

Unscrupulous spouses could also transfer the currency quickly and almost anonymously between online wallets, hiding their wealth in the hands of friends, perhaps outside of the jurisdiction, to avoid discovery and enforcement.

Frank Arndt, head of international family law at Stowe Family Law, said that he expected Bitcoins could become an asset to be disclosed in divorce cases.

Read MoreSchiff now sellinggold for bitcoins

"Husbands are becoming more and more creative in terms of what they do to reduce their wealth and the courts are struggling to catch up. It's just like when the internet started and it was difficult for courts to catch up," he said.

Steven Philippsohn, a fraud and asset recovery lawyer at PCB Litigation, said he had not seen any cases of people hiding their assets using digital currencies but believed that court orders of asset disclosure might soon include them. "Court orders in this country are very extensive and it's inevitable it will happen... orders for disclosure have incorporated new areas like Facebook and Twitter," he said.

Courts in California are beginning to issue search and discovery orders of assets that include digital currencies such as Bitcoin.

More from the Financial Times:

NCAand FBI disrupt global malware network
Rebels attack border post in east Ukraine
Payrises for senior bankers hit 10%

Last November, the District Court for the Eastern District of California issued a discovery order in a trademark infringement case involving Entrepreneur Media. It ordered the disclosure of financial statements from the defendant including any use of digital banking services such as Bitcoin.

Ms Vardag said there was no reason a similar disclosure order could not be obtained from the English courts.

Read MoreDisney child star roils Bitcoin Foundation

Michelle Young was awarded a £20m lump sum last year after divorcing her husband Scot Young. Mr Young had claimed he was penniless and could not afford to pay anything. She alleged he was worth millions.

Mr Justice Moor noted that Mr Young was said to be hiding very considerable assets and found he had "misled the court as to his finances to a very significant extent" and failed to disclose assets.

The Supreme Court also ruled last year that Yasmin Prest, the former wife of Michael Prest, an oil trader who was worth £37.5m in 2011, could receive millions of pounds of property assets from three offshore companies, despite the fact they were set up as distinct legal entities by her former
husband.

About Calgary Family and Divorce Lawyers (http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/)
For 30 years, http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/ has been helping clients protect assets from divorce and frivolous lawsuits while eliminating estate taxes and probate as well as ensuring superior Medicaid asset protection for both parents and children with their Premium Call (403) 718 – 9580 to learn more.

Members of our Calgary Law Firm have extensive experience in addressing parenting after separation issues. Please contact us at (403) 718 – 9580 or via e-mail at info@igrasfamilylaw.com for a legal consultation. We are here to help.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Can a business be the victim of identity theft? The answer is yes. Calgary Law Firm explains how this happened.

Calgary, AB -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/03/2014 -- Identity theft is a form of stealing someone's identity in which someone pretends to be someone else by assuming that person's identity, usually as a method to gain access to resources or obtain credit and other benefits in that person's name.[1][2] The victim of identity theft (here meaning the person whose identity has been assumed by the identity thief) can suffer adverse consequences if they are held responsible for the perpetrator's actions. Identity theft occurs when someone uses another's personally identifying information, like their name, identifying number, or credit card number, without their permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.

Can a business be the victim of identity theft? The answer is yes.

On Wednesday, May 28, 2014 our office discovered that a self represented litigant opposing one of our clients has appropriated various derivative domain names of "igrasfamilylaw" and our firm's logo. This impostor is attempting to actively mislead our clients, potential new client, colleagues, service providers, members of the legal community and the public on the World Wide Web and on various social media sites including but not limited to LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter by passing himself off as representing our Law Firm.

The sites and social media pages are in no way affiliated with Igras Family Law, Calgary Family Lawyers & Mediators, Waldemar Igras, Barrister & Solicitor or his legal team. Any advice from or internet posting associated with these impostor account do not reflect the views of our Firm nor should they be interpreted as legal advice, information or communication with our office.

Please note that only the .com domain name, namely http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com and e-mails ending with @igrasfamilylaw.com come from our Calgary Family Law Firm and its members.

For more information on this issue please contact info@igrasfamilylaw.com or by calling (403) 718 – 9580.

The redesigned website also better highlights the firm's achievements. Givens Givens Sparks, PLLC is the largest family law firm in the state of Florida. The firm was voted one of the "Best Law Firms" by U.S. News and has Board Certified marital and family law specialists on staff. Other achievements include AV® ratings on Martindale-Hubbell®, Super Lawyers® recognition, and "The Best Lawyers in Canada" (Stann Givens). These are just some of the firm achievements you will see on the site.

About Calgary Family and Divorce Lawyers (http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/)
For 30 years, http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/ has been helping clients protect assets from divorce and frivolous lawsuits while eliminating estate taxes and probate as well as ensuring superior Medicaid asset protection for both parents and children with their Premium Call (403) 718 – 9580 to learn more.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

As a general principal when making decisions with respect to children the Court and other professionals such as Arbitrators, Mediators, Parenting Coordinators and Dispute Resolution Officers are obligated to make decisions which are in the “best interest of the child”.

Calgary, AB -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/02/2014 -- What does the term "best interest of the child" mean? There is no standard definition and each case turns on its own facts. Generally speaking however, in determining what is in the best interest of a child the Courts and other professionals must ensure the greatest possible protection of the child's physical, psychological and emotional safety and consider all the child's needs and circumstance. In addition the Court will consider some or all of the following factors:

The child's need for stability taking into consideration the child's age and stage of development;

The history of care for the child;

The amount of time the child has spent with the parents after separation and what post separation status quo exists;

Communication and the ability of the parents to co – operate on the issues affecting the child;

Access and parenting time of the parent that the child does not live with;

The child's cultural, linguistic, religious and spiritual upbringing and heritage;

The pans proposed for the child's care and upbringing;

Family violence and its impact on safety and wellbeing of the child and other family members;

The nature and strength and stability of the relationship of the child with each parent;

The ability of each parent to care for and meet the needs of the child; and

Depending on the child's age, the child's views and preferences to the extent that it is appropriate to ascertain them. This may entail Legal counsel for the child or a psychological assessment or intervention.

A Judge, Justice or other professional may have very wide discretion in how to apply the above noted factors to each individual case.

About Calgary Family and Divorce Lawyers (http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/)
For 30 years, http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/ has been helping clients protect assets from divorce and frivolous lawsuits while eliminating estate taxes and probate as well as ensuring superior Medicaid asset protection for both parents and children with their Premium Call (403) 718 – 9580 to learn more.

Members of our Calgary Law Firm have extensive experience in addressing parenting after separation issues. Please contact us at (403) 718 – 9580 or via e-mail at info@igrasfamilylaw.com for a legal consultation. We are here to help.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Calgary Family Lawyer divorce and family law firm, recently launched a new, redesigned website.

Calgary, AB -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/28/2014 -- Calgary Family Lawyer is proud to announce the launch of its new website. The Tampa-based divorce and family law firm redesigned their website to provide a better user experience for clients and potential clients alike.

The new website accomplishes this not only through modern graphics and a compelling message, but also through responsive design, which allows users the ability to easily navigate the website no matter what device they are viewing it on.

The redesigned website also better highlights the firm's achievements. Givens Givens Sparks, PLLC is the largest family law firm in the state of Florida. The firm was voted one of the "Best Law Firms" by U.S. News and has Board Certified marital and family law specialists on staff. Other achievements include AV® ratings on Martindale-Hubbell®, Super Lawyers® recognition, and "The Best Lawyers in Canada" (Stann Givens). These are just some of the firm achievements you will see on the site.

About Calgary Family and Divorce Lawyers (http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/)
For 30 years, http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/ has been helping clients protect assets from divorce and frivolous lawsuits while eliminating estate taxes and probate as well as ensuring superior Medicaid asset protection for both parents and children with their Premium Call (403) 718 – 9580 to learn more.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

It's never too late for marital bliss, but the clock's ticking for Hollywood icon George Clooney to secure his premarital assets.Calgary Family Lawyer explains why.

Calgary, AB -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/21/2014 -- As news about George Clooney's engagement to prestigious British attorney Amal Alamuddin made entertainment news headlines around the world as described by USA Today (1), the conversation around this topic is turning to what the future may hold for this fabulous couple. The Belfast Telegraph reported on reactions from Stacy Kiebler, a former professional wrestler who was previously romantically linked to Clooney. Kiebler was not too happy to learn about the engagement news (2).

According to The Guardian, Clooney was dining in Malibu with his beautiful fiancee when fellow actor Edward Norton stopped by the couple's table (3) and learned about the engagement, which took place as the actor celebrated his 53rd birthday in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Fox News confirmed the announcement with a congratulatory statement from Clooney's father (4), and remarked that this is the actor's second attempt at marriage.

"We're going to hear more about this engagement and the possibility of a prenuptial agreement as the wedding date gets closer," comments http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/. Igras Family Law is a Calgary Law Firm dedicated exclusively to the practice of Family and Divorce law . He continues: "This is similar to the buzz surrounding the wedding plans of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt; a lot of media attention has been focused on their reported prenuptial agreement and their desire to keep their wealth separate," explains Calgary Family and Divorce Lawyers, who is referring to the advice, according to The Guardian, Jolie gave to fellow Hollywood star Johnny Depp earlier this year (5).

"While the intentions of prenuptial agreements may seem clear, the actual results are often not what couples expect; Prenups have pro's and con's. Legal history shows us that media magnate Rupert Murdoch lost quite a bit of wealth after his 1999 divorce, and he had a prenuptial agreement." Calgary Family and Divorce Lawyers is referring to Murdoch's divorce from Anna Torv, who received $110 million in cash and the rights to more than $1 billion in News Corp. stock, which she promptly and kindly assigned to her children through a series of irrevocable trusts (6).

"Let's not forget about Barry Bonds' divorce; his prenup was questioned and challenged in various California courtrooms as the battle was brought all the way up to the Supreme Court of California. It prevailed in the end, but it took years and a million dollars in legal fees to do so." Here Calgary Family and Divorce Lawyers is referring to the Major League Baseball legend who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants. Bonds nearly struck out on his separation from Susann Branco; his prenuptial agreement had to be certified as voluntary by the Supreme Court of California six years after the divorce was filed (7).

"Clooney has a few things to consider before going into this marriage. He is in his 50s, he has amassed a considerable fortune a top Hollywood A-lister, and this is his second run at life as a married man. He is also getting married to a top-notch attorney, one of the brightest legal minds in England. Instead of a prenup, he should be looking into something a bit more sophisticated such as an irrevocable trust to protect and control the most critical parts of the fortune he has made as an actor, producer and director," explainsCalgary Family and Divorce Lawyers.

"There is something about life imitating art with Clooney's engagement. Through his work as a Hollywood actor, he has come to learn about estates, prenuptial agreements, and trusts." Here Calgary Family and Divorce Lawyers is respectively referring to the films "The Descendants" (8) and "Intolerable Cruelty" (9). In the latter movie, Clooney plays Miles Massey, a family law attorney who believes he has crafted a completely airtight and ironclad prenup; in the former, he also plays a lawyer who must make a decision how to proceed on valuable Hawaii real estate that is locked in a land trust.

"Clooney has built his acting career around the concept of being a suave leading man and a smooth operator," continued Calgary Family and Divorce Lawyers, "but even this reputation is not going to prevent him from coming across as unromantic when he mentions a prenuptial agreement. It may help that his fiancee is brilliant and will understand the legal provisions and limitations of a prenup; still, this is an awkward situation for all couples. These premarital contracts are known to be romance-killers that essentially create emotional baggage that couples must carry into their marriages; let's keep in mind the logistics involved: Lawyers, witnesses, notaries, etc."

Calgary Family and Divorce Lawyers believes that irrevocable trusts would be more adequate for this power couple before they tie the knot: "We have two successful individuals who are passionate about their careers and who have accomplished a lot on their own. They can each establish individual trusts to protect and control what they have worked so hard to obtain up to this point. I'm sure they are concerned about their privacy as well; which is another reason they should get irrevocable trusts instead of a prenuptial agreement. We know all the juicy bits about Barry Bonds' prenuptial agreement because divorce proceedings in California are highly public. You just don't have that problem with irrevocable trusts because it is all a private arrangement."

When irrevocable trusts are brought forward in divorce cases, judges merely look into the trust to make sure that no marital property was deposited therein. "Irrevocable trusts have been challenged in several family court jurisdictions, and they have performed formidably. Judges understand the concept of individuals who agree to have a trustee manage their property and assets for the benefit of others while still retaining full control and enjoyment of the assets. Obviously Clooney and Alamuddin have a lot to protect, but irrevocable trusts are not just for the rich."

"In the end, it is my opinion that neither George Clooney not Amal Alamuddin should get a prenuptial agreement. Instead, they should be looking at more sophisticated avenues that achieve the goal better," concluded Calgary Family and Divorce Lawyers . "Regardless of their decision, we should be happy that these two advocates of human rights are getting together. Congratulations to the happy couple."

About Calgary Family and Divorce Lawyers (http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/)
For 30 years, http://www.igrasfamilylaw.com/ has been helping clients protect assets from divorce and frivolous lawsuits while eliminating estate taxes and probate as well as ensuring superior Medicaid asset protection for both parents and children with their Premium Call (403) 718 – 9580 to learn more.

Sources:
1 – usatoday.com/story/life/people/2014/04/28/george-clooney-engagement-twitter-reaction-jokes-tears/8395685/ 4/18/2014
2 – belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/keibler-irked-by-clooney-engagement-30255904.html 5/7/14
3 – theguardian.com/film/2014/apr/27/george-clooney-engaged-british-human-rights-lawyer 4/28/14
4 – foxnews.com/entertainment/2014/04/28/george-clooney-engagement-amal-alamuddin-law-firm/ 4/28/14
5 – guardianlv.com/2014/03/angelina-jolie-gives-johnny-depp-love-advice/ 3/15/14
6 – theguardian.com/media/2013/jun/14/rupert-murdoch-divorce-money-wendi-deng
7 - sfgate.com/news/article/State-s-High-Court-Upholds-Bonds-Prenup-Pacts-3303075.php 8/22/00
8 - imdb.com/title/tt1033575/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_5 5/9/14
9 – imdb.com/title/tt0138524/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_20 5/9/14

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm