Getting Divorced Without Ruining Your Life: A Reasoned, Practical Guide to the Legal, Emotional and Financial Ins and Outs of Negotiating a Divorce Settlement,   ISBN:9780743206419

Customer Rating: 

This book was essential for helping us to focus on the task at hand (get divorced) without ruining our lives. We had a very quick, well thought out divorce because we both embraced the principles in this book. My ex-husband initially wanted to have the traditional divorce battle but after he read this book also (with my encouragement) his attitude changed. It was not by any means pleasant to get divorced but by embracing the task with an attitude of not ruining our lives, we were able to split with a lot less pain and drama than most.
As far as the negative comments about alimony and financial settlements, I do not recall that area. We really did not feel that area applied to us and forged our own agreements. We were a dual income couple in a unique circumstance that one of us was going to have to relocate, therefore that person (my ex-husband) needed the resources to set up a new household. We both ended up with custody with one of our two children, so neither of us needed to receive child support or alimony.
It definitely helped facilitate our speedy low cost divorce and allowed us to both continue to be a parent. There may be better books out there today, we used this in 1994. However, I do recommend it for enabling one to grasp the general mindset to get divorced without ruining your life.

Customer Rating: 

My ex-wife liked this book a lot; not surprising ... the advice to women is "you're entitled to a lot of cash from this process". The advice to men? Just hand over your wallet ... there, now see how the conflicts over money just evaporate? No money? No conflict. It's better for everybody. Don't bother with this piece of trash.

Customer Rating: 

I give this book to all my clients at our first meeting. This book will help divorcing couples stay sane and get what they need out of their divorce process. Every chapter has guidance and words of wisdom. I recommend this book to every person who is thinking of, or going through, divorce.

Customer Rating: 

This was the only book I bought in '92 a year before my divorce became final. I was really in need of solid advice, and got rooked.
Any attempt I made to follow this author's misguided logic, only secured my place in the "Suckers Hall of Fame."
Things like; 1) give the woman more alimony to releive HER money-stress and she'll remarry sooner, and get off your back! Baloney! 2) legally tie your child support increases to a yearly cost of living index found in the Wall Street Journal or 3) why not suggest the child live in the marital home while the parents move in and out for visitation... yea right!

If I rememebered anything from 1993, it was how I trusted this author during the most difficult time in my life, only to be fooled with his idealistic, liberal views of divorcing couples. Hey, SAM, most people don't have alot of money and they still fight. Got any good advice for the majority? I didn't think so.

Don't buy this book, I'm surprised it is still around! I gave it 1-star because I had to.

Customer Rating: 

Many of our friends have spent thousands on lawyer fees and ended up frustrated and bitter. Following Sam Margulies' advice, we were able to work out an equitable divorce settlement that was approved by the court within a month of the final divorce decree. Our total fees were less than $1000.00, and our relationship has remained good enough to make decisions about our children together with the kids' best interests in mind. Unlike others we know, we've both been able to move on with our separate lives.