The celebrity gossip columns are abuzz with stories about an impending divorce between Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas. With headlines such as “Catherine kicks Michael out after he blamed her for Throat Cancer,” to others that indicate, “Dying Father Kirk Douglas Begs Couple to Reconcile,” it’s difficult to decipher fact from fiction.
But should this not-so-happy-couple actually decide to part ways, here are five apps that might help them and others during and after divorce.
1. The 2house app
Two years ago, 2houses.com did some beta-testing on an app that that would help separated and divorced parents cope with co-parenting responsibilities. Now a free app, it helps mom and dad communicate in a civil manner while scheduling and organizing their children’s activities.
It helps manage the schedules of all parties, while keeping track of shared expenses and exchanging information such as school and after-school activities, doctor’s appointments, and other events pertaining to daily responsibilities. To date, the app has been downloaded by about 10,000 families in 85 countries.
2. Parenting Apart
Parenting Apart was created by Christina McGhee, the internationally acclaimed divorce coach and parent educator. Its focus is described as “providing parents a way to easily access quick answers to tough problems.” It’s an app for families in transition that desire to manage the challenges of divorce in a positive manner.
Priced at $2.99, it contrasts with other apps that offer partial information and then try to draw users into upgrading to a more expensive or paid version. Parenting Apart provides families with its services for a one-time fee.
Better yet, not only does this app offer up trusted information right at your fingertips, it also provides families with free ongoing content “refills” by adding new questions and answers over time.
3. Divorce Log
Divorce Log was developed to take the headaches of documentation, by allowing parents the opportunity to keep all vital information pertaining to a divorce or separation in one place.
In turn, divorce lawyers, child support offices, and psychologists may use this data when preparing the case. All entries stored in the app can be forwarded directly to an email address so you can send pertinent information to your attorney, child support office, or any other recipient of your choice.
4. iSplit Divorce
iSplit Divorce is a little more pricey than some of the other apps. However, at $4.99, their promo indicates it “will save you enough in legal costs to pay for the purchase of your iPad.”
The app is said to use a revolutionary approach called “visual computing” to help divorcing couples to easily split up their marital assets and debt, including big-ticket items like the house, car, boat, etc.
5. Child Support Calculator
The Child Support Calendar app is used to help divorcing parents figure out the estimated cost of monthly support and/or alimony payments. To produce an accurate breakdown, it requires inputting both parents’ income and percentage of custody.
While it does not constitute legal advice, it’s a handy app for information and education, since its calculations are based on statutory guidelines.
Divorce trends
If you want to educate yourself about divorce trends, these apps will help get you organized. But it’s always wise to come to your decision-making with as much upfront knowledge as possible.
The Gilment Law Firm can help you do that. In their blog titled, “Current Divorce Trends,” they break down some interesting stats pertaining to divorce trends in different parts of the country and affecting different income brackets. If you need legal advice regarding an impending separation or divorce, they are good place to start.
All these apps are useful and since there is some overlap, consider what will work best for you. Data provided by the apps should not be used as a guarantee of child support, alimony, or expenses. Other factors need to be weighed, and it’s always wise to see an attorney to determine how this data might be applicable in one’s own particular situation.
Originally posted on September 19, 2013 @ 8:24 am