We kicked off this month by celebrating the 4th of July with our families and
soaking up the great weather. On July 9th we celebrated alongside our friends and allies at Omaha's Pride Parade! We will wrap up our month by hanging out with our neighborhood, Little Bohemia, at the Little Bo' Backyard Bash,
we hope to see you there!
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18 days. Eighteen whole days. Eighteen full days with my daughters to love, to cherish, to have and to hold, to not be obeyed, to get annoyed, to lose my temper, and to count down the days until they return to their dad… But eighteen uninterrupted days! Days to fully feel like a mom and be fully immersed in the good, the glorious, and the ugly of my own parenting.
Why am I counting? Under my normal schedule, my consecutive days max out at three. Summer months provide periods of vacation time that expand our normal paradigm.
For me, and a lot of divorced parents, the actual vacation is a complete afterthought – it is the perpetual parenting for which we most anticipate.
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As Chair of the Family Law Section, Lindsay Belmont, led our team and the entire Nebraska State Bar Association (NSBA) in their annual Family Law Seminar. She not only organized and led the seminar, but she was also the moderator for the Judges' Panel.
After the big wind storm some of our team, David and Scott, helped clear fallen branches around the firm and parking lot.
We love showing up in big ways for our legal community and firm!
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Listen To Me
Sometime before the sunlight snuck around the sides of the bedroom shades a delicious-sounding summer rain began to fall. The darkness told me I need not rush out from under the comfort of my cotton quilt.
I listened.
I fell back to sleep with the peace of knowing the purple clematis would get her daily drink without me. The back yard’s newly sewn grass seeds would be grateful, too.
At 6:22 the seven o’clock train announced its arrival in the distance, sounding the same whistle I’ve heard since I was a child. The window ledge pigeon and her two babies were silent, but the birds whose songs I vowed in the spring to learn but haven’t yet, sang good morning.
Time to wake up.
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Congratulations, Christi! |
Koenig|Dunne is excited to announce that Christi Leupold, our law firm administrator, was elected President of the Nebraska Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA). ALA was formed to provide support to those professionals involved in the operational management of law firms and is now composed of over 8,000 members throughout the world.
Christi directly supports important areas of our law office management, including human resources and finance. In becoming one of ALA’s 89 Chapter presidents, we know the Nebraska Chapter will benefit from her excellent leadership and stellar support. Please join us in congratulating Christi for this prestigious leadership position!
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Did you catch Susan's Teeny
Tiny Tip on Tuesday?
If not, don't worry you can find her great tips here!
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We want to take you behind the curtain to see how our legal team is daily supporting clients. To stay up to date with our team follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
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Omaha Magazine's #BestofOmaha competition has begun! We would love it if you took a moment to vote us best law firm, under the services category. The competition runs now through August 20th.
We wholeheartedly care for our community and clients. We aim to be leaders within our community and in the courtroom. Your vote would mean that you recognize this within us and would help us reach a larger community of people who may need our services.
You can follow the link below to vote:
Quick Vote Code: 90014
(this code will automatically fill our name in the Best Law Firm - Services category!)
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Instead of giving you a word document for you to complete and leaving you in the dark about the divorce process, Untie Online provides a higher level of support. We provide resources and information to help you navigate the divorce process.
Curious if it's right for you? Click here to find out more!
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Advanced Child Tax Credit Monthly Payments: Important Information for Divorced Co-Parents |
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On July 15th, the American Rescue Plan’s expanded child tax credit program will take effect. Under the expanded program, qualifying families will receive a monthly payment of up to $300 per month for each child under 6 and up to $250 per month for each child 6-17 years old. The expanded program also allows for half of the child tax credit for next year to be paid in advance to whomever claimed the dependent in 2020. For divorced parents, this expanded program raises many concerns, especially for those who alternate the tax years for which they claim their children as dependents.
Traditionally, married parents who file taxes jointly are seen as one unit according to the IRS. This means that dependents may be claimed by both parents on joint tax returns. However, for co-parents who file individual tax returns, dependents may only be claimed by one parent. Usually, child tax credits are allocated between co-parents in a divorce decree.
With the new expanded child tax credit program, families that alternate which parent claims the children will need to take steps to mitigate any improper child tax credit allocations. For example, if Father claims Child in 2020, the expanded program directs the IRS to begin sending half of the 2021 tax credit to Father, even though Mother would be claiming Child in 2021. This results in Father receiving child tax credits two years in a row.
Here are some potential solutions to this problem:
- Agreement. If parents can work out an arrangement for how the advanced child tax credit should be handled, they should do so in writing. Arrangements should be made for both the receipt of the advanced credit payments, and for any potential repayment.
- Updating information. Under the American Rescue Plan, the IRS is directed to create an online portal for the expanded tax credit program. Once the online portal is available, make sure the information in the online portal is up to date. Additionally, this portal may provide an option to designate which parent should receive the advanced tax credit this year. If so, make sure the advanced tax credit is allocated to correct receiving parent for the 2021 tax year.
- Opting Out. Under the advance tax credit program, there is an option to “opt out” of advance payments. If you choose to opt-out, the child tax credit will be applied when the claiming co-parent files his or her 2021 taxes. Although neither parent will receive any of the “advances,” this may prevent any issues involving repayment of child tax credits sent to the wrong parent, or repayments to the IRS due to changed financial circumstances.
If resolving tax issues after your divorce with your co-parent has become problematic, then it is important that you consult with your tax advisor and your attorney. Koenig|Dunne is aware of the many tax issues that you will face during your divorce and is here to help you navigate these issues successfully.
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For over 35 years, the Koenig|Dunne team has been helping people pick up the pieces of their life to make a new start. Bringing a family business back from the brink of financial ruin. Sheltering a child from the conflict of a custody battle. We do this work because its work we know matters.
Whether an amicable collaboration or lengthy litigation lies ahead, we’re the team who will empower you on your path to a better future, from start to finish. That’s a promise. We promise you – we will see you, hear you, and stand by you. Learn More
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