Well, it's not so much the divorce lawyers don't know bupkes, it's the courts won't or can't enforce the divorce decree terms.

Your friend's experience may have been different but the vast majority of divorcees I dealt with over this issue had been told by their divorce lawyers that the IRS would abide by the decree regarding payment of back taxes, which simply isn't true. I also saw a couple cases where property settlements were structured so as to constitute alimony under tax law.

I think it behooves anyone going through a divorce with either back taxes or other than a straightforward property settlement to have a tax pro check the proposed settlement. There's nothing that can be done about joint liability other than innocent spouse, but at least one can act with advice from someone who knows that end of things, which I don't expect from most divorce lawyers.

Phil
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