Maintenance is for the spouse, and child support is for the children. Each one has tax ramifications, and you, your attorney, and a CPA (such as me) need to sit and figure out what the best package is for you. I've had over twenty years of experience in these settlement agreements, working out the best packages for my clients' situations.

Linda Forman, CPA, P.C. is a Certifed Public Accountant who has practiced financial and tax guidance, retirement planning and ERISA issues, litigation support, and other areas of accounting in the Chicago area for over 30 years. She can be reached at (847) 316-1040. View her Divorce Magazine profile.