NY Divorce &
Child Custody Blog

Lessons from The Bachelorette About Following a Judge’s Orders

A high-profile, pseudo-celebrity divorce in Los Angeles is showing how costs multiply when parties fail to comply with a judge’s orders. According to msn.com, DeAnna Pappas, an alum of The Bachelorette, “scored a six-figure win after a Los Angeles judge ordered [her ex-husband Stephen] Stagliano to pay her $109,000 she said she was owed under their divorce settlement, along with $27,240 in legal fees.” This means that...

Jul 13, 2026

Child Custody

Expecting & Divorcing: A Guide for High-Net-Worth Families

Child custody is often the most high conflict area contested in divorce. Custody disputes can be just as heated when the children in question are “on the way.” Divorce will reshape a family, but high conflict divorces can impact if a parent has any legal...
Jul 1, 2026

High Stakes Divorce

How Self-Made Women Can Protect Their Wealth in Divorce

A widely circulated social media post earlier this year claimed that the five wealthiest women in the world built their fortunes through divorce settlements. The implication is that women accumulate wealth primarily by dissolving marriages, rather than creating it...
Jun 17, 2026

High Stakes Divorce

Why Early Intervention Can Save Millions: The Case for a Divorce Attorney...

Imagine playing a high-stakes game of chess without knowing the rules. Entering a divorce without early legal counsel usually goes one of two ways: The Manipulative Ex: They set up the board in secret, hide your pieces, and take three moves while you are blindfolded....
Jun 4, 2026

High Stakes Divorce

Reputation Management and Defamation Law for High-Profile Individuals in...

Gone are the days when simply getting a divorce could ruin a person’s reputation. Outside of the strictest religious circles, divorce today is viewed as a personal decision on a deeply private matter. Society generally acknowledges that upstanding people get divorced...
May 22, 2026

High Stakes Divorce

Is “The War of the Rosé” a “War of Choice”?

When divorce proceedings last five times as long as the marriage, we might wonder whether one or both of the parties isn’t ready to let go. This raises a significant irony: legal processes meant to finalize a dissolution can actually keep a couple entangled for as...
May 20, 2026

High Stakes Divorce

Is Dividing Success like Dividing Assets? Inside NY’s Enhanced Earning...

Separating assets when you divorce can be complicated. Some assets are easier to divide than others. Most tangible assets can be valued somehow and divided accordingly. But what about intangible assets? In marriages where one spouse has contributed to the other’s...
May 14, 2026

High Stakes Divorce

Is a “Social Divorce” Right for you?

Fans were surprised when two famous celebrity couples had been secretly separated for years. In October 2023, Meryl Streep announced a six-year separation from her husband that she’d been separated from her husband Don Gummer for more than six years in a brief...
May 6, 2026

High Stakes Divorce

Denise Richards’ Latest Divorce Raises Important Questions for Affluent...

Movie fans might follow celebrity divorces for the salacious details, but for divorce lawyers or anyone considering dissolving their marriage, the proceedings are often instructive. These cases serve up high-stakes drama involving legal issues pertinent to many couples,...
Apr 8, 2026

High Stakes Divorce

The Private Divorce: Strategy, Control & the Quiet Exit

Privacy isn’t a luxury in your divorce. It’s the strategy. You may already know the process doesn’t start with a filing. It starts earlier, quietly, before anyone outside a very small circle has a reason to notice. This doesn’t play out in...
Apr 2, 2026

Nuptial Agreements

When the Camera Keeps Rolling: What Jessi Draper's Divorce Teaches Us...

Reality television has a way of turning private pain into prime-time content. But when the cameras catch a celebrity mid-crisis before the lawyers have even filed the fallout can be swift, costly, and deeply instructive. That’s exactly what’s unfolding with...
Mar 19, 2026

Nuptial Agreements

Jessica Alba's Divorce Settlement: The Prenup Lesson Everyone Needs to Hear

Couple Will Share Custody of Children and Split “Community Property” Equally The details of Jessica Alba and Cash Warren’s divorce settlement were recently revealed, after more than two years of separation and roughly 13 months of litigation. As celebrity...
Mar 17, 2026

Business Valuations

Protecting Generational Wealth: GRATs, Market Timing, and Family Law

Your wealth deserves thoughtful protection, especially when it comes to passing down your legacy to heirs. For high-net-worth families, that protection often requires planning not only for taxes, but also potential risks that can arise in life events such as divorce. For...
Mar 10, 2026

High Stakes Divorce

Alexa, Are You Listening? Smart Home Devices As Silent Witnesses In Divorce

From John Dean to Sammy the Bull Gravano to Fawn Hall, legal history is teeming with examples of former confidantes who flipped on their associates and provided the insider information necessary to convict. In our digital age, attorneys have no shortage of cyber stool...
Feb 20, 2026

Business Valuations

Dividing the Family Business: Money Matters

As business owners plan their succession, money matters are naturally going to be front and center in the conversations. They may be concerned about how to safeguard heirs through trusts or find appropriate insurance coverage. There are a number of options you can take...
Feb 10, 2026

Business Valuations

Dividing the Family Business: Structural Solutions for Common Scenarios

All family businesses are different. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to succession planning. Different business and familial dynamics call for different legal and financial solutions. Some owners will pass down their company to heirs, sell it to an outsider, or...
Feb 5, 2026

Business Valuations

Dividing the Family Business: Succession Planning Without Destroying...

Family businesses are a labor of love that can create a legacy for generations to come. Unfortunately, many family businesses don’t last that long: Only 30% of family businesses survive the second generation of leadership, 12% make it to the third, and 3% operate into...
Jan 23, 2026

High Stakes Divorce

7 Things You Should Know About Divorce and Friendship

Some of them may have been in your life before tying the knot. Some of them may be people you've befriended since you and your spouse have been together. Either way, friends aren’t part of your divorce, but they can certainly influence it in several ways, for better...
Jan 14, 2026

Nuptial Agreements

The Modern Postnup: Protecting the Partner Who Paused Their Career To...

You and your spouse have worked hard to build successful careers and a beautiful home together. Now you’re ready to have children and start the next chapter of your life as a family. That is a picturesque goal; however, just as with marriage, it’s important...
Jan 9, 2026

High Stakes Divorce

Divorce Without the Drama: The Kidman-Urban Blueprint

On Tuesday, January 8, 2026, a Nashville court finalized the divorce of actress Nicole Kidman and country musician Keith Urban. After nearly 20 years of marriage, Kidman filed for divorce on September 30, 2025, citing irreconcilable differences. Although the dissolution of...
Jan 8, 2026

High Stakes Divorce

Why Public Relations Should Be Part of Your Divorce Strategy

A high-stakes divorce is never just personal. Public perception becomes part of the challenge. As you handle the legal and financial issues, you must also consider how the outside world perceives your situation. Reputation risk extends far beyond rumors. Your divorce...
Jan 2, 2026

High Stakes Divorce

Strategic Estate Planning Tactics for Post-Divorce Wealth Protection

Divorce reshapes your financial world. During the divorce process, most parties are concerned about asset division. But post-divorce estate planning is where the deeper work begins. It can be a lot more than just administrative cleanup. You'll need a deliberate renovation...
Dec 22, 2025

Child Custody

Blended Families and the Holidays: What Divorced Parents Should Know When...

Holidays after a divorce can be particularly hard, even if the exes are amicable. Remarriage makes holidays as a blended family even trickier. However, this doesn’t mean the holidays can’t be enjoyable. You can still appreciate the season with your children...
Dec 16, 2025

High Stakes Divorce

When Political Divides Hit Close to Home: The Politics of Marriage and...

There once was a time when political beliefs didn’t necessarily have a significant effect on relationships. We could be on opposite sides of the political aisle and still love each other. However, with the polarized landscape that's developed in the last decade,...
Dec 9, 2025

High Stakes Divorce

Once Bitten, Twice Shy? The Realities of Marrying the Same Person Twice

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson. Pamela Anderson and Rick Salomon. Beyond sharing Hollywood fame, these couples share another distinction: They married and divorced each other twice. While rare, this phenomenon is not just the...
Dec 3, 2025

High Stakes Divorce

Rebuilding After Divorce: Financially and Professionally

Divorce creates a pivot point, regardless of how amicable or contentious it may be. The shift reshapes the structural, financial, and operational architecture of your future. Divorce invites a deeper level of strategic recalibration than many other life transitions....
Nov 14, 2025

International Divorce

Can Your Ex Enforce a UK Divorce Judgment in the United States?

A divorce finalized abroad seems like a closed chapter, until an ex-spouse attempts to reopen it on American soil. While UK judgments command respect, they do not carry automatic authority in the U.S. American courts apply rigorous scrutiny before enforcing any foreign...
Nov 10, 2025

Child Custody

How to Minimize the Effects of Divorce on Children

Divorce can turn a child’s world upside down. Children can experience challenges long after legalities are complete, including issues with learning, relationships, and emotional stability. But with the right information, parents can manage or even prevent many of...
Nov 5, 2025

High Stakes Divorce

Strategies to Protect Family Enterprises and Estates During Divorce

For wealthy individuals and multi-generational families, divorce can destabilize succession planning. Divorce introduces dynamics that can complicate the division of marital assets, the transfer of business ownership, trust-based protection, and estate planning strategies....
Oct 22, 2025

High Stakes Divorce

High-Wealth Divorce: The Cost of Keeping Up

Divorces in affluent circles raise unique issues regarding alimony. When private jets, multiple homes, country club memberships, and global travel are the norm, how much alimony is justified by "need," and how much is simply preserving wants? Divorce courts and litigants...
Oct 16, 2025

High Stakes Divorce

Dividing Non-Traditional Assets in Divorce: Art, Crypto, and Intellectual...

Dividing non-traditional assets in divorce is a different battlefield from splitting up real estate or retirement accounts. Assets such as art collections, cryptocurrency, and intellectual property can introduce volatility, subjectivity, and complexity into already...
Oct 8, 2025

High Stakes Divorce

Legal Tactics for Luxury Real Estate & Vacation Properties in Divorce

Luxury real estate portfolios, encompassing primary residences, vacation homes, and international investment properties, often represent the most complex and fiercely contested assets in divorce proceedings. Courts and mediators face the nuanced challenges of dividing...
Sep 12, 2025

Child Custody

Unique Family Dynamics That Fuel Resist and Refuse Behavior in Divorce

In Resist and Refuse (R/R) dynamics, the common narrative centers on one "alienating" parent and one "targeted" parent, with the child caught in between. But real-world custody disputes rarely align so neatly. Families are complex, and R/R behavior can arise from a...
Sep 4, 2025

High Stakes Divorce

Advanced Strategies for Navigating High-Stakes Divorce

High-stakes divorces often extend beyond the dissolution of marriage into complex legal, financial, and emotional territory. For professionals, public figures, business owners, and individuals with significant assets or reputational concerns, these situations require more...
Aug 21, 2025

Child Custody

How Custody Courts Identify Resist and Refuse Dynamics

Resist and refuse (R/R) dynamics, historically known as parental alienation, are one of the most destructive elements of child custody disputes. When a parent's influence or manipulation causes a child to resist or refuse contact with the other parent, the court sees a...
Aug 12, 2025

Forensic Accounting

Top 12 Legal and Financial Strategies in High-Stakes Divorce

When you're dealing with high-stakes divorce, you're facing manipulation, financial coercion, gaslighting, reputation sabotage, and relentless legal offensives. Understanding the hazards of high-stakes divorce and the legal and financial safeguards designed to mitigate...
Aug 7, 2025

High Stakes Divorce

8 Strategies for Surviving High Stakes Divorce

High-stakes divorce can become a psychological and legal battlefield. It's not uncommon for these cases to involve blackmail, financial coercion, smear campaigns, or the strategic use of children as leverage. If your ex is using their influence, money, or manipulative...
Jul 29, 2025

Child Custody

Raising Resilient Kids Through High-Stakes Divorce

Conflict between divorcing parents can cause long-lasting social and emotional difficulties in children. Contentious divorce increases the risk of behavioral and academic issues that persist into adolescence and adulthood, affecting everything from college performance and...
Jun 11, 2025

Divorce

Divorcing a Narcissist: Legal Strategies for Success

If you’re about to divorce a narcissistic spouse, you might want to give the 1944 film, Gaslight, another viewing. In this suspense thriller, the husband (Maurice Chevalier) literally tries to drive his young wife (Ingrid Bergman) insane to cover up his crimes....
May 28, 2025

Child Custody

How to Win a Child Custody Dispute with a Manipulative Spouse

After so many years of marriage, you are done with the manipulation, the scheming, the lies, and the plays for sympathy. You’ve decided on divorce, but the last thing you want is to turn your child custody dispute into a tug-of-war with your kids in the middle. A...
May 23, 2025

International Divorce

International Custody Strategies for Children with Dual Citizenship

International family law matters can create complex legal challenges, particularly in custody battles involving children with dual citizenship. How do U.S. custody courts handle situations involving children with dual nationality? "Dual citizenship" means an individual...
May 14, 2025

High Stakes Divorce

When Conflicting Out Blocks Your Access to Top Divorce Attorneys

Skilled divorce lawyers advocate for your interests and provide valuable guidance through divorce. But conflicting out tactics could block your access to the top divorce attorneys in your area, significantly limiting your options for top-tier representation. If you are...
May 7, 2025

Divorce

Celebrity Divorces: Smart Moves & Costly Mistakes

In recent years, a wave of high-profile celebrity splits has occurred, each serving as a masterclass in either how to handle or mishandle divorce in the public eye. From airtight prenups to social media blunders, here's a look at the smart strategies and major missteps that...
Apr 30, 2025

High Stakes Divorce

Handling Inherited Wealth and Family Trusts in Contentious Divorces

When divorce involves inherited wealth and family trusts, the complexity multiplies—particularly in contentious divorces. High-conflict divorces can involve more aggressive discovery processes, greater scrutiny of financial histories, and more arguments over what...
Apr 22, 2025

Child Custody

Is Your Ex Hiding Income to Avoid Paying Child Support?

Child support can become a contentious issue in divorce. Ex-spouses may go to extremes to avoid paying child support, including hiding assets or underreporting income. In many cases, parents who suspect an ex of hiding income to reduce their child support obligations will...
Apr 17, 2025

High Stakes Divorce

The Pros and Cons of Hiring a Private Investigator for a New York Divorce

Divorce can be an emotionally charged and complex process, requiring numerous decisions about how to proceed with your case. At times, one party might consider, or an attorney might suggest, hiring a private investigator to help uncover critical facts that could influence...
Apr 11, 2025

Nuptial Agreements

Essential Elements of Prenups for Pro Athletes

Professional sports provide some athletes with the opportunity to earn substantial wealth at a young age. However, the average athletic career is notoriously short, and every athlete is always one major injury away from early retirement. Once in retirement, few athletes can...
Apr 3, 2025

Child Custody

How Child Support Affects Taxes: What Parents Need to Know

Parents who pay or receive child support often ask how these payments will affect their taxes, especially when it comes to claiming Child Tax Credits or Child and Dependent Care Credits. Most assume that child support payments should allow the paying parent to claim the...
Mar 25, 2025

Divorce

How Coercive Control Impacts New York Child Custody Cases

Coercive control, a form of psychological abuse, can significantly impact family dynamics and the outcomes of custody cases. In this article, we explore the implications of coercive control in custody litigation, signs to look for, and how custody evaluators assess coercive...
Mar 18, 2025

Nuptial Agreements

Prenuptial Agreement FAQs – What to Ask Your Attorney

Many couples choose to prepare and sign a prenuptial agreement before marriage. The legally binding contract outlines how assets, debts, and other important issues will be handled in the event of a divorce or separation. In New York, prenuptial agreements are useful for...
Mar 13, 2025

Child Custody

Spring Break Success Tips for Divorcing Parents

It's March, and spring break is right around the corner. This week of fun, relaxation, and family bonding can also bring challenges for divorced or separated parents. The complexities of custody arrangements, balancing parental responsibilities, and managing differing...
Mar 5, 2025

Child Custody

NYC Child Support: FAQs

Child support is a critical issue for many families, and the system in New York City can be complex. Understanding your rights and responsibilities is essential whether you're paying child support or receiving it. Below are the top FAQs we receive about child support in...
Feb 27, 2025

Divorce

How Long Does a New York Divorce Take?

If you’re considering divorce in New York, you may wonder how long it takes to reach a resolution. While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, certain factors can impact the average length of NY divorce. Let’s examine the length of time the different...
Feb 18, 2025

Child Custody

Child Custody Evaluation or Brief Focused Assessment (BFA)?

Comprehensive child custody evaluations can be expensive and time-consuming for families and custody courts. Focused issue evaluations—often called Brief Focused Assessments (BFAs)—can serve as a viable alternative. In this article, we'll cover how child...
Feb 11, 2025

High Stakes Divorce

Laws Surrounding 401(k)s and IRAs in New York Divorce

In New York, retirement accounts are subject to laws and regulations that can complicate asset division. Divorcing couples in New York should familiarize themselves with how marital and individual retirement accounts are treated, the steps involved in dividing 401(k) and...
Feb 6, 2025

Divorce

How Does New York Divide Marital Property in Divorce?

New York divorce courts divide marital property using a system of equitable distribution. Understanding what qualifies as marital property and how courts divide it can be vital to protecting your rights in divorce. In this blog, we'll cover the distinction between...
Jan 29, 2025

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence and New York Divorce: FAQs

In New York, the law provides several avenues for domestic violence victims to seek protection, safety, and legal remedies, especially in the context of divorce. Most individuals who are dealing with domestic violence and considering divorce have numerous questions about...
Jan 21, 2025

Divorce

17 Ways to Protect Your Digital Information in Divorce

In today's digitally connected world, technology can have a major impact on the outcome of divorce. The digital tools we use for managing finances and keeping in touch with loved ones can influence the legal and emotional aspects of your separation. Whether protecting...
Jan 15, 2025

High Stakes Divorce

How Forensic Accountants Uncover Hidden Assets in Divorce

Identifying and properly valuing all marital assets is one of the most crucial steps in divorce. In high net worth divorce cases, a spouse may try to conceal or undervalue assets to get a larger share of the wealth. Failing to uncover all assets involved can mean millions...
Jan 3, 2025

Child Custody

Impact of Enmeshment on Child Custody Cases

What is Enmeshment? Psychologists use the term "enmeshment" to describe a family dynamic in which boundaries between family members are blurred, leading to an over-involvement in each other's lives. Enmeshment occurs when a parent and child become excessively entangled in...
Dec 18, 2024

Child Custody

Can I Appeal a Child Custody Decision?

Family court decisions on child custody can profoundly impact the lives of parents and children. It's common for at least one party to be dissatisfied with the judge's ruling. Understanding when you can appeal a custody decision and how the process works can help you...
Dec 11, 2024

Child Custody

15 Tips for Happy Holidays with the Kids After Divorce

The holidays are a time for family, celebration, and making memories. But for divorced parents navigating shared custody and co-parenting arrangements, the season can be daunting. Remember, with thoughtful planning, communication, and a focus on the children, divorced...
Dec 6, 2024

Divorce

7 Holiday Self-Care Strategies for New Divorcees

The holiday season is stressful for anyone, but it’s particularly rough for the newly divorced. The atmosphere of joy, celebration, and togetherness can heighten feelings of loneliness, grief, and loss. Whether you're recently separated or just out of the divorce...
Nov 25, 2024

Divorce

Finding Community During the Holidays After Divorce

For those who have recently gone through a divorce, the holidays can feel especially isolating. Traditional celebrations may trigger feelings of loss and loneliness. But singles can transform this season into a time of renewal and reconnection. Here are a few easy...
Nov 18, 2024

Child Custody

Navigating the Holidays During Divorce for Out-of-State Parents

The holidays can be the best of times. They can also be a challenging time for parents navigating the emotional rollercoaster of divorce. Things can get much more complicated when this happens to parents whose former spouse lives in a different state. During the...
Nov 13, 2024

Child Custody

Custody Court: Key Players Parents Should Know

Navigating a custody case involves interacting with several key professionals, each playing a distinct role in ensuring that the child's best interests are prioritized. Understanding these individuals' legal roles and limitations can help parents better prepare for and...
Nov 11, 2024

High Stakes Divorce

Unique Co-Parenting Approaches of Celebrity Parents

Whether maintaining a friendship, living near (or with) the ex, or keeping the split private for the children's sake, divorced celebrities continue to show that a healthy co-parenting dynamic is possible. In this article, we'll examine the co-parenting journeys of famous...
Nov 9, 2024

Divorce

The Price of Divorce: Breaking Down the Financial Implications

Dual incomes, shared expenses, and increased standards of living can make marriage a financial boon for many. But half of U.S. marriages result in divorce, negating these benefits and placing unanticipated financial strain on those who aren't prepared. The complexities of...
Oct 28, 2024

Child Custody

10 Tips on Working with A Custody Lawyer

While you are not legally required to hire a lawyer for custody matters in New York State, having one can significantly impact the outcome of your case. Studies show that parents with professional counsel often fare better than those who represent themselves. The key is...
Oct 24, 2024

Business Valuations

How Busy Entrepreneurs Avoid Divorce: Balancing Business and Marriage

Entrepreneurs face long hours, high stress, and relentless hustle, which can significantly strain personal relationships. So why are there so many emerging and pro entrepreneurs with coveted long-term marriages and happy, healthy family lives? Analysts report that 88...
Oct 9, 2024

Child Custody

How to Prepare for Custody Court: 5 Essential Tips

Custody decisions are profoundly impactful, shaping the future of both the child and the parents. Preparing for a custody court case is a demanding process that requires meticulous organization and a strategic approach. The key to presenting a compelling case for custody...
Oct 3, 2024

Divorce

20 Financial Mistakes to Avoid in a Divorce

Separation and divorce can have serious financial ramifications. Many divorcing individuals believe they'll come out on top or that their economic plan is bulletproof, only to end up shocked at their situation a year or more down the line. Recent studies suggest divorced...
Sep 26, 2024

Business Valuations

Top 5 Tips for Divorcing Entrepreneurs

The stakes of divorce are high, especially for entrepreneurs. The intertwining of personal and business affairs adds layers of difficulty that can impact both their personal lives and their businesses. Here are five key tactics to help entrepreneurs navigate divorce....
Sep 24, 2024

International Divorce

How to Protect Immigration Status During an International Divorce

When a U.S. citizen marries a foreign national, that spouse is placed on a pathway to citizenship. First comes a Green Card, making the spouse a legal permanent resident, albeit with conditions. Later, if all goes well, the spouse can be nationalized, gaining all the rights...
Sep 19, 2024

Child Custody

Using Prenuptial Agreements to Plan for Your Children’s College

Marital Contracts Provide Added Security for Higher Education Planning As a parent, you want every advantage for your children, including a premium education at the best college or university possible. Towards that end, you sock away a portion of the anticipated yearly...
Sep 12, 2024

Child Custody

10 Must-Have Elements for Your NY Parenting Plans

In New York, custody matters require that you submit a parenting plan if you and the other parent settle your case. A parenting plan isn't required for those who resolve their differences in trial, but a parent should enter the courtroom prepared. A well-structured...
Sep 4, 2024

International Divorce

Top Child Custody Issues for an International Divorce

When a couple with children decides on divorce, child custody is usually the most emotional issue they must resolve. However, when the spouses are originally from different countries and plan to live in their nations of origin after they dissolve their marriage, child...
Aug 28, 2024

High Stakes Divorce

Case Study: Philanthropy and Divorce - Melinda Gates Leaves the Bill and...

When billionaires divorce, they don't only split what they own; their philanthropy endeavors are often central to divorce negotiations. For instance, when two spouses are on the board of a charitable foundation, negotiations will have to settle who stays on the board and...
Aug 22, 2024

Divorce

10 Ways to Take Care of Yourself During the Divorce Process

Mental health experts recognize divorce as one of the most stressful events in the average person's life. Not only might you run the gamut of emotions vis a vis your primary relationship, which is either coming to a close or going through a substantial change, but...
Aug 12, 2024

Business Valuations

What Every Entrepreneur Should Know About Divorce-Proofing a Business

It takes a special kind of individual to start a business. An entrepreneur must have a vision and a burning desire to see that vision realized. An entrepreneur must be willing to take substantial risks in moving the enterprise forward and must have a constitution to bear...
Jul 31, 2024

Child Custody

How Courts Assign Custody After Custodial Parent Death

Upon the death of a custodial parent, the courts must work quickly to appoint a new caretaker and guardian for the child. Typically, the surviving biological parent gets priority. However, if the biological parent is deemed unfit or if other special circumstances exist,...
Jul 23, 2024

Child Custody

How to Tell Your Kids You're Getting a Divorce

Strategies for breaking the news without shattering their world, even in highly contentious dissolutions. Every good parent wants to spare their children any emotional turmoil that might result from their divorce. For precisely this reason, many parents remain in broken...
Jul 18, 2024

Divorce

How Are Retirement Benefits Split In New York Divorce?

Retirement benefits are significant assets that can play a major role in the financial well-being of both parties post-divorce. In New York, retirement funds are considered marital property and, therefore, divided via equitable distribution. This means that the court will...
Jul 10, 2024

International Divorce

Common Property Division Issues During an International Divorce

Property division is often the most contentious and complex divorce issue for affluent couples. However, for many reasons, property division becomes even more complicated in an international divorce. Since the division of your marital property will profoundly impact your...
Jun 27, 2024

Same Sex Divorce

7 Ways Divorce May Differ for LGBTQ+ Couples

Divorce is inherently challenging for all couples. However, within the LGBTQ community, there are unique considerations that can crop up during the divorce process and related family law matters. New York State officially recognized same-sex marriage on July 24, 2011,...
Jun 23, 2024

Child Custody

Parenting Coordination: The Pros and Cons

Parenting coordinators can provide invaluable guidance to help parents resolve conflicts. Consulting a parenting coordinator can be highly beneficial when parents can't agree on child custody arrangements or child care responsibilities. Courts frequently recommend that...
Jun 20, 2024

Same Sex Divorce

Why Prenups Are Important for LGBTQ+ Couples

As the LGBTQ+ community celebrates victories in achieving marriage equality, the importance of prenuptial agreements for same-sex couples cannot be overlooked. While prenups work the same for LGBTQ and heterosexual couples, prenuptial agreements can be particularly...
Jun 17, 2024

Child Custody

When Is a Parenting Coordinator Needed in Divorce?

Parenting presents challenges in any situation, but it becomes particularly difficult for divorcing or separated parents attempting to co-parent while living separately. Different parenting philosophies and communication issues can often lead to significant disputes,...
Jun 13, 2024

Child Custody

Parenting Coordinator or Mediator? What’s the Difference?

If you are navigating a divorce or separation involving children, you may have encountered the terms Parenting Coordination and Mediation. Both parenting coordinators and mediators play essential yet distinct roles in resolving conflicts, particularly within co-parenting...
Jun 4, 2024

International Divorce

How to Divorce a Spouse Living in Another Country

Long-distance relationships pose all sorts of challenges, which are exacerbated when that distance crosses international borders. Certainly, the difficulties of living apart are easier to bear when you can see an end in sight, and you have a timeline for establishing a...
May 31, 2024

Divorce

10 Ways Divorce Can Affect Your Financial Well-Being

Divorce can impact your financial well-being significantly, affecting everything from your assets to your insurance rates. When going through a divorce, it's crucial to consider how the decisions made during this time can impact your financial future. Here are ten ways...
May 21, 2024

Nuptial Agreements

12 Weirdest Prenup Clauses Couples Include

When it comes to prenups, most couples think about financial assets and property division. However, some couples take it a step further and include some truly bizarre clauses in their prenuptial agreements. From beauty budgets to weight gain restrictions, these clauses,...
May 15, 2024

Divorce

What Can We Learn from Celebrity Divorces So Far in 2024?

We’re one-third of the way through 2024, and Us Weekly has already reported on a flurry of celebrity divorces. Details are sketchy, so it’s impossible to draw any firm conclusions, but the circumstances of the breakups can be insightful. Given our experience...
May 9, 2024

Nuptial Agreements

When Can You Successfully Challenge a Prenup?

Prenuptial agreements are a necessity among couples with substantial assets looking to protect their interests in the event of a divorce. Just look at Britney Spears and Sam Asghari's recent divorce. Due to a well-devised prenuptial agreement, the split went off without a...
May 3, 2024

High Stakes Divorce

Divorce Takeaways from the Channing Tatum Jenna Dewan Split

The highly-publicized divorce of Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan continues to make headlines as the former couple navigates the aftermath of their split. The pair, who officially ended their nine-year marriage in 2019 after separating in 2018, have been embroiled in a legal...
Apr 17, 2024

Child Custody

How the Child's Age Impacts New York Custody Cases

The age of children can play a significant role in determining the outcome of New York custody cases. New York family courts consider various factors in making decisions related to custody arrangements and parenting plans, and the age of the child could determine the amount...
Apr 10, 2024

Divorce

10 Things You Will Want to Know Before Remarrying

Once you have experienced a first marriage that didn’t work out as expected, facing the prospect of remarriage can be daunting. However, it can also be an exciting adventure and an opportunity to start again and get it right this time. To help you gain some...
Apr 10, 2024

Child Custody

Reunification Therapy & Racial Diversity, Socioeconomic Status, and...

Parental alienation is a recurring issue in divorce and custody cases. It can have long-lasting effects on the child's emotional well-being and the parent-child relationship. In cases of severe parental alienation, reunification therapy is often recommended. Cultural...
Apr 4, 2024

Divorce

New York's Residency Requirement for Divorce

There are certainly benefits to filing for divorce in New York. The state may offer more favorable terms regarding property division, child support, child custody, or spousal support. However, New York has specific rules regarding who is eligible to file for divorce in the...
Mar 27, 2024

Divorce

4 Surprising Things You CAN’T Do Mid-Divorce

If you’re in the middle of a divorce, you’re probably ready to move on and establish your place as a single person. Hashing out things like finances, custody, and living arrangements can make it feel like your life is in limbo. It's best just to barge ahead...
Mar 19, 2024

Child Custody

How Family Courts Treat Severe Parental Alienation Cases

In divorce and high-conflict custody battles, one parent will often try to alienate the child from the other parent. Parental alienation may be an act of revenge against the other parent or an effort to hang on to the relationship with the child. Many parents fear that the...
Mar 13, 2024

Business Valuations

The Art in Divorce: How NYC Divorce Courts Divide Art Collections

We all know divorce can get messy, but when high-dollar art collections are involved, messy may be an understatement. Just look at David and Libbie Mugrabi. Filing for divorce in late July 2018, the couple reportedly tussled over their $5 billion art collection –...
Mar 4, 2024

Child Custody

How Custody Courts Detect False Allegations of Child Abuse

Amid a custody battle, emotions can run high, and false accusations may arise. One of the most severe and troubling allegations that can be made is that of child abuse. Unfortunately, some individuals may resort to falsely accusing their former partner of child abuse as a...
Feb 27, 2024

Child Custody

How To Get Nonparent Custody of a Child in New York

Adults naturally protect children, even when they’re not our own. So, if you know a child who is being neglected or worse, you could easily be stirred to action on that child’s behalf, even to the point of seeking custody of the child for his or her protection....
Feb 13, 2024

Child Custody

How A High Net Worth Affects Child Support and Custody Rulings

Child support and custody cases are complex and can be influenced by various factors. One significant factor that can greatly impact these rulings is the financial status of the parents involved. When one parent has a high net worth, it can affect the custody outcome and...
Feb 7, 2024

Divorce

How Spouses Hide Crypto During Divorce

New York High-Net-Worth Divorce: The Role of Cryptocurrency in Asset Division Cryptocurrency has become a decisive factor in many highly-publicized millionaire divorces. Bitcoin and other digital currencies have become a magnet for spouses looking to hide assets from their...
Feb 2, 2024

Child Custody

Emergency Child Custody: What to Do If Your Child Is in Danger

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare: your child is in danger, and you are powerless to help. In today’s society, we live with real potential for harm in so many forms: an active shooter on a school campus, a traffic accident, or a medical emergency. In...
Jan 31, 2024

Divorce

How to Keep Your Divorce Out of the Public Eye

Most divorcing couples prefer to keep their personal affairs private. Divorce is rarely pretty, and leaked details of your relationship, parenting, and financial issues can impact every aspect of your life—from job performance to family and community relationships....
Jan 24, 2024

Nuptial Agreements

5 Strategies to Convince Your Fiancé to Sign a Prenup

When it comes to marriage, it is essential to consider all aspects of your future together, including the possibility of a prenuptial agreement. A prenuptial agreement, or prenup, is a legal contract that outlines the division of assets and responsibilities in the event of...
Jan 18, 2024

Divorce

21 Questions to Ask When You're Hiring a Divorce Attorney

When navigating divorce’s personal and procedural complexities, having a skilled attorney by your side can be a lifesaver. But how do you find the right divorce attorney for your case? Not all divorce lawyers are equally equipped for all types of disputes. To help...
Jan 10, 2024

Divorce

Divorcing a Disabled Spouse

Going through a divorce is generally difficult, as the emotional turmoil and the legal complexity can seem overwhelming. But these problems can be exponentially harder when you are divorcing a disabled spouse. Unlike a divorce between two non-disabled parties, a couple that...
Jan 3, 2024

Child Custody

How Are Adopted Children Handled in Divorce?

While the legal process of divorce may have similarities for both biological and adopted children, there are specific considerations that are taken into account when it comes to the well-being and custody arrangements for adopted children. One of the fundamental...
Dec 22, 2023

Child Custody

Special Needs Trusts and Divorce: Ensuring Protection for Children with...

For couples who have children with special needs, divorce, and child support agreements can present unique challenges. Special needs trusts become invaluable tools for ensuring these children's well-being and financial security after divorce proceedings. What Is a...
Dec 19, 2023

Child Custody

How to Prove Alcoholism in a New York Child Custody Case

Child custody matters can be challenging and complex, especially when alcoholism is involved. In New York, family courts prioritize the child's best interests in determining custody arrangements. If one parent is struggling with alcoholism, it may significantly impact their...
Dec 13, 2023

Child Custody

How Fathers Win Full Custody in a New York Divorce

Historically, New York family courts have leaned toward awarding mothers full custody of the children. But in recent years, there has been a shift towards recognizing fathers as full custodians of their children. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, custodial fathers rose...
Dec 8, 2023

Child Custody

11 Ways Divorced Parents Can Spend More of the Holidays With Their Children

Holidays just aren’t the same without family. Whether opening presents on Christmas morning, gathering around a Thanksgiving table, breaking fast during Ramadan, or lighting the candles on a menorah, the moment is meant to be treasured with your closest loved ones....
Dec 5, 2023

Divorce

11 Survival Tips for Your First Holiday Season as a New Divorcee

Even if the holidays were hell for you when you were married, rife with arguments and stress, the first holiday season post-divorce will probably feel like a gut punch. Bereft of the rituals you came to expect, such as dinner at the in-laws or opening gifts around a...
Dec 4, 2023

Child Custody

Early Intervention for Parental Alienation in Divorce

After separation or divorce, parents may notice their child refusing contact or resisting efforts to maintain a relationship. This "resist-refuse dynamic" can be heartbreaking for parents. It's even worse for the child. Tragically, children who are turned against one parent...
Nov 30, 2023

Divorce

Seeing Your Ex During the Holidays? 6 Tips to Survive

Spending the holidays with your ex might be the last thing you want to do after a divorce. But the holidays are about spending time with loved ones, and when you share children or extended family with your ex, it’s likely that you’ll see them at least briefly...
Nov 27, 2023

Child Custody

Should Parental Alienation Influence Custody Rulings?

For over two centuries, courts have recognized parental alienation as an influential factor in child custody matters. In cases of contentious divorce or separation, a parent may try to get their child to "take sides," often resulting in child developmental issues down the...
Nov 22, 2023

Child Custody

5 Ways to Prepare Your Kids for the Holidays After Divorce

The holidays are all about cherished traditions with loved ones. But what happens when those loved ones separate, and the traditions have to change? It’s a worry that many children have after their parents split. If your child is confused or scared about what the...
Nov 20, 2023

Divorce

Divorce Lessons Learned the Hard Way: The Headline-Making Multi-Billion...

Laura Overdeck, the estranged wife of billionaire hedge fund manager John Overdeck, recently filed a lawsuit alleging that the Seward & Kissel law firm committed malpractice and fraud. She asserts that without her knowledge or consent, massive amounts of marital assets...
Nov 17, 2023

High Stakes Divorce

The 10 Most Complex and Contested Asset Categories in High-Net-Worth...

Understanding Complex Assets and Asset Division in High-net-worth Divorce in New York High-net-worth divorces involve high financial stakes. Marital property in these cases may include lucrative businesses, trusts, luxury offshore properties, inherited wealth, and valuable...
Nov 13, 2023

Nuptial Agreements

3 Reasons Why Your Prenup May Be Invalid

A prenuptial or prenup agreement can provide a married couple extra reassurance, trust, and security – both financially and personally. Essentially it’s a legal contract stipulating how the assets you bring to the marriage and contribute to it are managed, in...
Nov 7, 2023

Child Custody

Winning Relocation Custody Cases In New York Family Court

Relocation custody cases can be exceptionally challenging for parents seeking to move to another state or country while sharing custody of their children. In New York, winning a relocation custody case requires thorough preparation, a well-documented relocation plan, and a...
Nov 3, 2023

Child Custody

How Can a Mother Lose Child Custody?

Historically, mothers have had the upper hand in child custody battles with fathers. Motherhood as an institution was revered, and courts operated under the assumption that mothers were de facto better parents than fathers, especially during the ‘tender years’...
Oct 30, 2023

Divorce

How New York Divorce Courts Divide Art Collections and Antiques

In the vibrant art and cultural scene of New York City, art collections and antiques hold a special place in the lives of many residents. These valuable assets can become a matter of intricate legal negotiation when a high-asset divorce is involved. Art collections are...
Oct 24, 2023

Child Custody

Exorbitant Celebrity Child Support Payments: Is it All for the Kids?

Over the summer we saw Christine Baumgartner demand $248,000 a month in child support in her divorce from Kevin Costner for the three children of their marriage. Costner had countered that his offer of $51,000 was more than sufficient, and the court seemed to split the...
Oct 19, 2023

Divorce

Will My Spouse Get Half My Pension In Divorce?

Most divorces involve some level of property division. Splitting up retirement funds and pensions can become particularly tricky. In the best-case scenario, the couple can agree on how to divide their assets. But in most cases, state law or personal conflicts require a...
Oct 5, 2023

Divorce

Little Known Financial Benefits of Divorce

Over the decades, tales of the cost of divorce have become legendary. Johnny Carson, the longtime host of The Tonight Show, often drew humor from his pricey divorce settlement with ex-wife Joanna, leading husbands across America to conclude, “It’s cheaper to...
Sep 29, 2023

Divorce

Unexpected Assets That Might Be Divisible in Divorce

Couples who are going through a divorce are required to make a full disclosure of their financial assets to facilitate the division of their marital property. For affluent couples, this process can be extensive and so detailed that the parties start suffering from inventory...
Sep 22, 2023

High Stakes Divorce

Foreign Assets in a Divorce: How Are Marital Assets Divided if They Are in...

Divorce is complicated, even when it is relatively amicable and you and your spouse aren’t squabbling over your money, possessions, and the divorce settlement terms. However, it can become exceptionally complicated when you, your spouse, or both of you have assets...
Sep 18, 2023

Divorce

Pandemic’s End Sees Flurry of Celeb Splits as Overall Divorces Spike

Sofia Vergara, Joe Manganiello, Reese Witherspoon, Jim Toth, Jason Momoa, and Lisa Bonet. These are a few of the high-profile, celebrity couples who called it quits in 2022 and 2023. Was COVID-19 a factor in the decision to end their marriages? Did the pandemic have a...
Sep 13, 2023

Nuptial Agreements

How to Include Adopted Children in a Prenup

Single parent adoption is a fairly recent phenomenon. In the past, adoption agencies wouldn’t even consider placing a child unless the home guaranteed a mother and a father. But as single parenthood has become a reality for more and more natural parents, agencies have...
Sep 8, 2023

Divorce

How to Rebuild Your Retirement and Savings Post-Divorce

Disclaimer: We are not financial advisors. The content in this blog is intended for educational purposes only. We can connect you with a licensed financial advisor if necessary. Always remember to make smart decisions and do your own research. During a marriage,...
Sep 5, 2023

Nuptial Agreements

What Goes into A Millionaire’s (or Billionaire’s) Prenup?

Mega-divorces of Bill and Melinda Gates and Jeff and MacKenzie Scott weren’t just shocking because of the decades the billionaire power couples spent together in the public eye. The other attention-getting factor: Neither had a prenup. Prenuptial agreements are...
Aug 15, 2023

Divorce

Who Gets What When Unmarried Power Couples Split?

In what might turn into a millennial version of the Lee Marvin palimony case, unmarried actors and reality TV show personalities, Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval, have ended a nine-year relationship during which they acquired substantial property, as individuals and jointly....
Aug 10, 2023

High Stakes Divorce

The Englander Divorce in New York: A Cautionary Tale

Billionaire Millennium Management Chairman Israel Englander and his wife Caryl were married for 40 years and had three children, before their extremely bitter and highly publicized divorce made headlines starting in 2016 and 2017. Extreme Pressure and Intimidation Caryl...
Aug 7, 2023

Divorce

Why Do Divorce Rates Peak in August?

The month of August derives its name from the Latin verb augere, which means “to increase.” So it seems like more than just a coincidence that researchers have found out that divorce rates in August do actually increase. But this measurable trend is not just...
Jul 23, 2023

Business Valuations

Divorce and Prenups: How a Prenup May Help You and Your Business

In separate candidly revealing 2023 interviews, retired NBA superstar Dwayne Wade and actress Gabrielle Union both talked about the fact that they now split their finances 50/50, because they want to share everything equally. The discussions garnered headlines across media...
Jul 21, 2023

Child Custody

Kevin Costner's Estranged Wife Seeks $248,000 a Month in Child Support

Former “Yellowstone” Star, Asking for a $51K/MO. Order, Must Pay $130K Temporarily Celebrity watchers are enjoying the summer serial unfolding in the family court of Santa Barbara County. To briefly recap, Christine Baumgartner, 49, the estranged wife of film...
Jul 18, 2023

Divorce

Lessons from Kevin Costner’s Spousal Eviction - Can You Evict Your...

A judge recently ruled in favor of Field of Dreams actor Kevin Costner, ordering his estranged wife, Christine Baumgartner, to move out of the couple’s shared house. If you are going through a divorce in New York, you may be wondering, can you legally kick your...
Jul 14, 2023

Divorce

How to File / Fight a Contempt of Court Motion in a New York Divorce Case

A New York court order is not something that can be ignored. In New York State, violating a court order can have serious consequences. When a person disregards a court order, the court has the power to hold them in contempt of court. In high-conflict divorce and child...
Jul 10, 2023

Divorce

New York Man Allegedly Hid $500,000 in Bitcoin from His Soon-to-be Ex-Wife

Financial infidelity has reached new levels since the advent of cryptocurrency. Increasingly, people looking to shield assets from their former spouses during divorce are often resorting to cryptocurrency. It takes a savvy divorce attorney with access to top-tier...
Jul 6, 2023

Business Valuations

Potential Complications for Business Owners During a Divorce

If you are going through a divorce and own a business, there are special considerations you need to take into account to protect your legal and financial interests in that business. Depending on the situation, you may have to relinquish 50% or more of your business in a...
Jun 28, 2023

High Stakes Divorce

Marital Waste and Property Division In Your Divorce

New York is an equitable distribution state. This means that only property acquired during a marriage is subject to division during divorce. In trying to divide marital assets fairly, New York courts consider a variety of factors, including non-monetary contributions,...
Jun 20, 2023

Divorce

Successful Remarriage: Your Chances Are Likely Better Than Popular Opinion...

Divorce statistics can be discouraging, with more than 60% of second marriages and more than 70% of third marriages eventually dissolving. There are diverse causes – including financial stress, issues unresolved from previous relationships, and challenges related to...
Jun 16, 2023

Divorce

Are You Married to a Psychopath? 18 Signs That Your Spouse May Be a...

The chances that you are dating or married to a psychopath are not as far-fetched as you may imagine. About one out of every 100 people is a psychopath, and they tend to be extremely charming and charismatic. Therefore they are often highly successful in mainstream...
Jun 7, 2023

Divorce

The Impact of Adultery on Divorce in New York State

Many marriages that end in divorce involve adultery or cheating. If infidelity has occurred in your marriage, this is a fact your divorce attorney must be informed about, because it can significantly affect several aspects of your divorce. That’s especially true if...
May 30, 2023

Child Custody

When Can Grandparents Seek Custody of Grandchildren in NY?

Grandparents can be instrumental in caring for children, especially when parents encounter challenges that demand their time and attention. Under normal circumstances, grandparents happily serve as babysitters, tutors, coaches, and role models for youngsters who benefit...
May 23, 2023

Child Custody

Discipline Disagreements: Can You Seek Full Custody if Your Ex Uses...

Corporal punishment used to be a commonplace form of disciplining children at home and school. Today, there are widely divergent views on the subject, and parents often take opposite positions. An “anti-spanking” parent fears emotional harm to the child, while...
May 18, 2023

Divorce

How to Protect Your Inheritance During Divorce

Divorce can be stressful on many levels. When you are preparing to file for divorce, the last thing you need is anxiety about part of your family inheritance going to your spouse. As an equitable distribution state, New York allows for separate property to be kept by each...
May 10, 2023

Divorce

What Is a Domestic Partnership, and How Is it Different from Marriage?

Domestic partnership is recognized under New York State and New York City laws. The City of New York states, “Partnership Law recognizes the diversity of family configurations, including lesbian, gay, and other non-traditional couples.” When you decide to...
May 4, 2023

Child Custody

Proving Parental Alienation to the Court in New York

If you are recently divorced or fighting for custody and believe the other parent is manipulating your child to say they don’t like you or don’t want to spend time with you, you may be able to prove parental alienation and secure custody. Parental alienation...
Apr 27, 2023

Divorce

Removing an Unfair Judge from your Family Court Case

Umpires are supposed to call balls and strikes consistently for both teams. Referees should throw penalty flags without thinking about which side will benefit. So, too, judges in family court should apply the law evenly and examine evidence without prejudice. Unfortunately,...
Apr 19, 2023

Child Custody

Custody Case Study: Halle Berry’s Custody Battle with Gabriel Aubry

Academy award-winning actress Halle Berry has been involved in a very public child support battle for nearly a decade. The mother of two children from different fathers, Berry is court-ordered to pay child support to Gabriel Aubry, the father of her daughter Nahla, and...
Apr 13, 2023

Child Custody

What to Expect at a Child Custody Hearing in New York

Going through child custody proceedings can be stressful, especially if you are not sufficiently prepared. Knowing what comes next and how to best prepare to secure the custody arrangement you desire can greatly reduce your anxiety if you are a parent fighting for custody...
Apr 10, 2023

Divorce

When Can a Marriage Be Annulled?

If you are unhappy in your marriage, divorce is always an option, unless it’s not. By that, we mean that New York is a no-fault state for divorce. Therefore, the law allows either spouse to file for divorce without citing traditional grounds of marital misconduct,...
Apr 4, 2023

Divorce

Counseling Through a Divorce: What You Need to Know

Perhaps you tried marriage counseling, but it did not have the intended effect. Instead of helping you to become closer to your spouse, your sessions enabled you to see more clearly why you shouldn’t remain together. Now you are determined to dissolve your marriage,...
Mar 13, 2023

Child Custody

Does Joint Custody Prevent Parents from Moving?

New York has no set rules limiting a custodial parent's move. Courts will decide based on the child's best interests, considering aspects like their relationship with each parent, each parent's emotional stability, the existing co-parenting dynamics, the child's personal...
Mar 7, 2023

Nuptial Agreements

12 Questions to Ask Before You Get Married

Marriage is an expression of love and commitment but also a legal and financial partnership. It’s important to understand what you are delving into—romantically, legally, and financially—before signing your marriage license. Although every marriage has...
Mar 2, 2023

Divorce

What Is Divorce Mediation?

When a couple wants to end their marriage, litigation isn’t the only option. Divorce mediation may be a valuable tool for spouses who want to work together rather than against each other during their split. Mediation is a process by which couples resolve issues and...
Feb 27, 2023

Divorce

How Does Changing Your Job Affect Child and Spousal Support?

If you’ve been through a divorce, you know that life can take a sudden, unexpected turn. Change is inevitable. But just as your personal life can take a different direction, so can your career. You might decide to pursue an exciting new opportunity, or your employer...
Feb 21, 2023

Divorce

How Divorce Can Affect Your Immigration Status

Divorce can raise unique questions for immigrants living in the U.S. If your spouse sponsored you, or if your residency depends on your spouse’s job, separating from your partner can create anxiety about whether you will be able to maintain your residency in the U.S....
Feb 16, 2023

Child Custody

Why Parents with Joint Custody May Still Pay Child Support

In our family law practice, our clients are often surprised to find out that they’ll have to pay child support even if they share custody with their ex. While it might be true that you will pay less in child support when you have joint custody, joint custody does not...
Feb 13, 2023

Divorce

How Long Can a Divorce Be Put on Hold in New York?

Divorces, like relationships, can be complicated. Couples who may be set on divorce one day might rethink their decision the next. When spouses aren’t sure if they’re ready to move forward, it is possible to put a divorce on hold. New York courts do not put a...
Feb 10, 2023

Divorce

Co-Parenting After a Divorce: What You Need to Know

Who gets the kids? This is usually one of the most important, delicate, and contentious parts of any divorce or separation. If soon-to-be-splitting spouses have children under 18, the parents will have to decide how to divide responsibilities for their care. In some...
Feb 8, 2023

High Stakes Divorce

7 Ways to Protect Your Retirement During Divorce

Divorce can be a logistically and emotionally overwhelming experience, leaving you with many questions about the future. One of those questions is likely to be: What will happen to my retirement savings? If you’ve been in the workforce for decades, have saved a...
Feb 3, 2023

Nuptial Agreements

How to Get Your Spouse to Say “Yes” to a Postnuptial Agreement

Most people know what a prenuptial agreement is, but do you know it’s also possible to get a postnuptial agreement? In both prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, the objective is to establish what happens if the parties get a legal separation or a divorce. Both...
Feb 2, 2023

High Stakes Divorce

Nasty NY Divorce Veers Towards Defamation as Wife Spreads Dirt on...

Emotional outbursts, insults, and name-calling are not unusual in a divorce. Parties are likely to exaggerate each other’s misconduct and character flaws. One spouse might even threaten to “tell the world” about horrible misdeeds, insufferable conduct, and...
Jan 27, 2023

Divorce

The Rules of Refinancing During Your Divorce

If You’ve Been Wanting a Lower Mortgage Rate, Now May Be the Time to Act If you are going through a divorce, one of your major considerations is what to do about the family home. The easiest solution is for both parties to agree to sell the home and divide the...
Jan 25, 2023

Divorce

Equal vs. Equitable Distribution in New York

How the Law Divides Marital Property in the Empire State A marriage is a partnership, and the property must be divided when that partnership is dissolved. If it were a business partnership, assets and debts would be divided according to the partnership agreement, which...
Jan 21, 2023

Divorce

What Is Conscious Uncoupling, and Can it Help Your Divorce Process?

Doing Divorce The Gwyneth Paltrow Way Conscious uncoupling refers to a separation where both partners act responsibly and work together to build a healthy future for themselves and their children. A divorce or breakup free of animosity is perceived as rare in our society...
Jan 18, 2023

Domestic Violence

Orders of Protection: What to Do if Your Ex Is Stalking You

Every year, millions of people throughout the U.S. are victims of intimate partner violence, including stalking. Stalking, or engaging in repeated unwanted contact that causes distress, can especially be a problem when couples become estranged and one party is seeking a...
Jan 16, 2023

Divorce

What We Can Learn About Mental Health and Divorce from Kim and Kanye

Mental illness can be devastating not only for the person experiencing it but for their loved ones as well. For a spouse, the stress and difficulty of coping with erratic mood swings and shocking or dangerous behavior from a partner with mental illness can easily become...
Jan 13, 2023

Child Custody

How to Minimize the Impact of Divorce on Your Children

Every parent fears that their divorce will be disruptive and possibly traumatic to their children. The good news is that children are remarkably resilient, and as long as you are attentive to their needs during the process, you can spare them a great deal of emotional...
Jan 10, 2023

Divorce

Dating After Divorce: When Can You Remarry?

Maybe remarriage is the furthest thing from your mind while you’re working through a divorce. Or maybe you have already begun a new relationship that is headed down a serious path. Either way, odds are high that you will eventually walk down the aisle again. As many...
Jan 5, 2023

Child Custody

Negotiating Child Custody Without Court Involvement

In New York, courts can make orders regarding custody for minors under the age of 18. Courts make decisions based on the "best interest of the child," a complex legal concept that includes fostering a healthy relationship between the child and both parents. When there is...
Jan 2, 2023

Child Custody

Unemployment and Divorce: How Child Support Is Calculated When One Parent...

Marriages may not always last, but supporting children until they reach legal adulthood is not an option. Laws in the U.S. make it clear that if you have children, you are obligated to provide for their food, shelter, healthcare, and education while they are minors. When...
Dec 28, 2022

Divorce

Important Divorce Documents to Keep After Your Divorce Is Finalized

By the time the court issues your divorce decree, you’ll probably want to leave the whole process behind. In fact, you might be tempted to destroy all the evidence. But before you get out the paper shredder, we need to caution you about holding onto critical documents...
Dec 22, 2022

Divorce

Why You Should Not Move out of Your Home During your Divorce

Once a married couple has decided on divorce, it’s customary for one spouse to move out of the family home. This may be beneficial in reducing tensions in the household, and in extreme cases, necessary to ensure the safety of one partner and their children. But...
Dec 20, 2022

Child Custody

Remarriage and Child Support in New York

Child support can be ordered as part of your divorce, or it may be ordered if you and the other parent were never married and ended your relationship and now live separately. Child support is intended for the benefit of the child, to ensure that their needs are met. If one...
Dec 15, 2022

Child Custody

What Should Child Support Payments Be Used For?

When a divorce or separation involves a child under the age of 21, the question of child support can become a complicated one. The parent receiving support may feel they don’t have enough resources to care for the child, while the parent providing support may become...
Dec 12, 2022

Child Custody

What Happens to Child Support When Parents Live in Different States

Figuring out who owes what for child support is complicated enough when both ex-spouses live in the same state. Those matters can become a real headache if you and your ex live in different states. Fortunately, the U.S. legal system has encountered this situation before,...
Dec 9, 2022

Child Custody

Why You Might Still Owe Child Support After Your Child Turns 18

If you’re laboring under child support obligations, you might find yourself longing for the day your kid turns 18 in hopes that means you’ll have one less bill to pay. Divorced parents sometimes have a rude awakening, though, when they realize that child...
Dec 8, 2022

High Stakes Divorce

What To Know About Lisa Marie Presley’s Divorce

The only child of Elvis Presley has lived a tumultuous life, and she has had an equally rocky divorce from her ex-husband Michael Lockwood. Lisa Marie Presley divorced Lockwood, a struggling musician and producer, in 2016 after 10 years of marriage. He was her fourth...
Dec 6, 2022

Divorce

Is a “Simple” Divorce Really Cheaper?

The average divorce in New York costs between $13,000 and $16,000. That figure can skyrocket to $50,000 or even $100,000 if the divorce is contentious and requires an extended trial. With these costs, many couples are motivated to simplify their divorce and find ways to...
Nov 15, 2022

Child Custody

Gender Bias in Divorce: Is it More Difficult for Fathers to Win Child...

Many have heard of men losing in divorce court with less-than-ideal child custody agreements. It does seem that women are more often awarded custody of the couple’s children, but is it true that the law and/or the courts are biased against fathers? The answer may be a...
Oct 18, 2022

Child Custody

6 Things Not to Do During a Child Custody Dispute

During a divorce, your stress level can rise exponentially. When it comes to issues you’re emotionally invested in, such as your children’s welfare, it’s easy to lose patience and perspective. Under these circumstances, you’ve got to keep a cool...
Oct 14, 2022

Child Custody

Can You Modify Child Support Payments in New York?

Becoming a parent means you have the legal responsibility to financially support your children at least until they reach the age of 21, or are otherwise considered emancipated. That obligation doesn’t go away if you get a divorce or otherwise split up — instead,...
Oct 10, 2022

Business Valuations

Protecting Your Business During a Divorce

You’ve poured your heart and soul into your business. You’re reaping the rewards of all your hard work and sacrifice. Unfortunately, you’re also heading for a divorce, and your spouse has eyes on your beloved company. What can you do to protect this...
Sep 26, 2022

High Stakes Divorce

6 of the Most Expensive Divorces and What We Can Learn from Them

“From those to whom much is given, much is expected.” These were words from Bill Gates’ mother to Melinda French Gates before she and Bill married. Her words foretold the enormous payout Gates would have to make in their divorce. The Gates divorce is just...
Sep 13, 2022

Divorce

Things Not to Do After Filing for Divorce

Filing for divorce may give you a sense of freedom and release. You’ve finally taken that big step to make big changes in your life. Although this can be a time of conflict and stress, it is also a time when you feel great relief and want to spread your wings and...
Sep 2, 2022

Divorce

Should You Keep Your Divorce Decree?

Everyone has that file of important documents they keep in a safe or another secure area. You probably have your birth certificate, your kids’ birth certificates, deeds, titles, recent tax returns, and more safely stored away. Once your divorce is over, there are...
Aug 16, 2022

Child Custody

How to Get Residential Custody of Your Child

If you hope to be granted residential custody of your child, it is important to understand the factors the court will look at and work with your attorney to build a convincing case. Types of Custody There are several custody terms that may be involved in your case:...
Aug 5, 2022

Child Custody

Mistakes to Avoid with the Attorney for the Child or Guardian Ad Litem

If you divorce with children or have a custody case in New York state, an attorney for the child will likely be appointed to represent your children. The attorney for the child(ren) can be highly influential as to whether or not you get custody of your children. To that...
Aug 2, 2022

Child Custody

How Does the Attorney for the Child Work with the Child?

The Attorney for the Child is an attorney appointed by the court in New York divorce and custody cases to represent the interests of the child in the case. They are specially trained and experienced lawyers who agree to ensure that a professional speaks up for what is in...
Aug 1, 2022

Child Custody

Preparing Your Family to Meet the Attorney for the Child

In most New York custody cases, the court appoints an attorney for the child to represent the children in the case. The attorney for the child is an attorney specially trained in custody cases that the state has approved. Their role is to present the children’s...
Jul 31, 2022

Child Custody

Why the Attorney for the Child Is Important in Your Custody Case

Custody of your children is of the utmost importance to you. Whether you are getting a divorce or seeking custody without being married, your custody case is a key moment in your life. Your custody case will involve both sides presenting their views and evidence to the...
Jul 29, 2022

Child Custody

How to Create a Parenting Plan During Divorce

One of the key concerns for divorcing couples is the custody of the children and how the couple will divide their time during proceedings. Divorce can take months to years to conclude all matters. In the meantime, your family must strive to function as normally as possible....
Jul 26, 2022

Divorce

What You Need to Know About Social Security and Divorce

Social Security payments can be impacted by divorce if certain requirements are met. Although Social Security payments may not make up a significant portion of your current or future income your rights regarding these payments are an important part of your retirement...
Jul 19, 2022

Child Custody

Private and Boarding School Costs in a Divorce Settlement

Payment of school tuition, costs, and fees can be a challenging issue to handle in separation and divorce. It is not uncommon for divorcing parents to disagree about the necessity of a private or boarding school education or who should be responsible for covering a...
Jul 12, 2022

High Stakes Divorce

Paulson Divorce Involves Trusts

One of the biggest NYC divorces in recent years has heated up with recent filings. John and Jenica Paulson have been married for 22 years and share two children. John Paulson is the head of the Paulson & Co hedge fund company. He initiated the divorce in September 2021...
Jul 11, 2022

Nuptial Agreements

Second Marriage Prenuptial Agreement Tips

If you’ve been married and divorced once and are planning a second marriage, you’re likely aware of the impact of divorce and have no intention to go through it again. No one plans for their marriage to end. Every marriage is entered into with love, positive...
Jul 8, 2022

High Stakes Divorce

Kelly Clarkson’s Divorce Battle

Singer and talk show host Kelly Clarkson married talent manager Brandon Blackstock in 2013, and the pair had two children together. They separated in 2020 after quarantine highlighted their differences. Their divorce has been a hotly contested and complex process....
Jul 6, 2022

Child Custody

Parental Alienation Reunification Programs

If you have experienced alienation from your child, do not lose hope. Parental reunification programs can help rebuild your relationship and create a happy future for you and your child. What is Parental Alienation? Parental alienation is a strategy used by the...
Jun 28, 2022

Domestic Violence

Stay Away Orders of Protection

Trigger Warning: This blog article discusses domestic violence. If you have experienced domestic violence, your primary concern is your safety and that of your children and family members. An order of protection is a court order issued in a New York domestic violence...
Jun 17, 2022

Divorce

What is a Journal Entry in Divorce Law?

Journaling is a popular way to work through emotions, keep logs of your activity and behavior, and document events. Keeping a journal can be extremely useful before and during your New York divorce. Journals and Mental Health Divorce is likely one of the most...
Jun 14, 2022

Divorce

How To Respond to a Divorce Law Suit Summons

If you receive a divorce summons, you may wonder if, when, and how you should respond to it. The summons is an important legal notice that begins a divorce case in New York state. How a Divorce Case is Commenced in New York There is a very specific process a divorce...
Jun 7, 2022

Child Custody

Grandparent Visitation Rights in New York

New York state law acknowledges that grandparents have a special relationship with grandchildren and provides an opportunity for them to seek custody or visitation in certain circumstances. How Grandparents Can Seek Visitation A grandparent can bring a petition for...
Jun 2, 2022

Divorce

What is Commencement of Divorce in New York?

Commencement of a divorce in New York state occurs when the divorce process is formally begun by filing the papers with the court. There are many steps in the divorce process. A complex divorce can take many months to a year or more to completely resolve from filing to...
May 27, 2022

Divorce

What is Divorce Bifurcation?

News reports on high profile divorces often mention couples who are legally single before their divorce is concluded, like the recent cases involving Dr. Dre, Ron Perlman, and Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. In cases like these, the divorces were bifurcated. Bifurcation is...
May 20, 2022

Divorce

Divorce Law: Who Gets Alimony in a Divorce?

Alimony is payments made by one former spouse to the other during or after a divorce. Most states now use the term maintenance or spousal support to refer to this. New York has specific guidelines governing spousal support payment after a divorce. Who Is Entitled to...
May 17, 2022

Nuptial Agreements

How to Nullify a Prenuptial Agreement

Prenuptial agreements are entered into to provide a complete resolution as to how the financial aspects of a marriage will be handled if there is ever a divorce. The agreement is meant to be one that lasts for the entire marriage and becomes operational upon divorce....
May 13, 2022

Divorce

Are Divorce Records Public in NY?

A divorce is one of the most personal and private things you will ever deal with in your life. The details of your divorce are most certainly things you do not want to be made public. Your privacy can be completely protected throughout your divorce. Divorce and Public...
May 10, 2022

Divorce

5 Things to Do If Your Spouse Wants a Divorce but You Don’t

In some marriages, both spouses come to a mutual decision that they are ready to end their marriage. They may have conflict over many other things, but on that one thing, they agree. It’s not uncommon, however, for one spouse to decide they want a divorce when the...
May 6, 2022

Child Custody

Using Artificial Intelligence to Manage Custody

Once you get through your divorce, if you have children together, you will still have to have an ongoing parenting relationship with your ex. Negotiating schedule changes, coordinating exchanges, making big decisions about education or medical care, and staying informed...
May 3, 2022

Divorce

Debt Can Lead to Divorce

There are many reasons people seek divorce, but you might be surprised to learn that debt is a prime reason. A recent study found that 54 percent of people felt that a spouse’s debt was a reason to consider divorce. A couple’s net worth or income does not...
Apr 29, 2022

Business Valuations

Can You Use Business Assets to Pay for Your Divorce?

Julia Haart’s divorce from Silvio Scaglia has made headlines recently, but an important issue in the divorce has wide-ranging implications for anyone who owns a business and is seeking divorce. It is alleged Haart used business funds to pay her divorce attorney....
Apr 25, 2022

Divorce

Make Your Child’s Inheritance Divorce-Proof

Divorce impacts not only your own financial stability, but that of your children as well. Ensuring that your children’s inheritances are protected from any divorce they might go through as adults will provide a sense of security for all involved. Property Owned...
Apr 22, 2022

Divorce

13 Signs It May Be Time for a Divorce

If you’re unhappy or dissatisfied with your marriage, you may be thinking about divorce. However, divorce is a huge step with financial, emotional, and lifestyle repercussions and is not a decision to be made lightly. In a complex financial situation, divorce can be...
Apr 19, 2022

Divorce

Adult Children and Divorce

When a couple divorces and has minor children, much of the process deals with determining what is in the best interests of the children and creating a parenting plan that maximizes both parents’ time with the children and designates how they will share decision-making...
Apr 14, 2022

Divorce

Defamation and Divorce

Divorce is often filled with recriminations, blame, and mudslinging. It’s not unusual for a divorcing couple to say derogatory things about each other. This type of conflict is common, but sometimes it rises to the point where legal proceedings are necessary to manage...
Apr 12, 2022

Divorce

Can You Get Divorce Insurance?

Insurance is available for just about anything in your life or business that might involve financial loss: homeowner’s insurance, business continuation, E&O insurance, car or boat insurance, health insurance, key person insurance, fleet insurance, cyber liability...
Apr 5, 2022

Divorce

Impact of Divorce on Powers of Attorney and Health Care Proxies

It is very likely that your legal team encouraged you and your spouse to create health care proxies, and powers of attorney while you were married. These documents provide protection for situations in which you are unable to make your own health or financial situations -...
Mar 25, 2022

Child Custody

Transferring Assets to Children in a Divorce

In a complex divorce with many high-value assets, transferring some assets to children can be a solution to a hotly contested property division. Understanding Transfers to Children During Divorce Assets acquired during the marriage are, with a few exceptions (such as...
Mar 25, 2022

High Stakes Divorce

How to Keep Your Divorce Off Social Media

When couples who are in the public eye divorce, social media can become a platform for attacks, misinformation, and conflict. It is possible to keep your private affairs from becoming public and avoid the publicity involved with dissecting the end of your relationship on...
Mar 22, 2022

High Stakes Divorce

NFTs and Divorce

NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are unique digital files that have become the fastest-growing segment of the art world. These assets' high value and speculative nature make them items that must be carefully assessed in a divorce. What Is an NFT? NFTs are digital items of...
Mar 10, 2022

High Stakes Divorce

Dividing What’s in Your Closet in Divorce

It’s well-known that marital assets must be divided in a divorce. Homes, cars, businesses, investments, bank accounts, and art are significant items frequently addressed in a divorce. However, in recent years, closer attention has been paid to items couples may own...
Jan 4, 2022

Divorce

This Is the Biggest Sign That Your Marriage Will End in Divorce

If there was a test that would tell you if your marriage would end in divorce, would you want to take it? Therapist Dr. John Gottman has spent 40 years studying married couples and analyzing why some marriages end and others don’t. His research is able to predict with...
Dec 14, 2021

Divorce

Can You Get a Divorce if You Never Got a Marriage License?

One of the most important steps an engaged couple must take before the wedding is obtaining a marriage license. The marriage license is a legal document signed by the couple, the officiant, and the witnesses; it proves the marriage has taken place. The license must be filed...
Dec 13, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

8 Best Marriage Therapists in Nassau County

If you are unhappy in your marriage and considering divorce, the first call you should make is not to a divorce lawyer, but to a marriage therapist. A Nassau County marriage therapist can help you resolve the issues in your marriage and bring happiness back into your life....
Dec 10, 2021

Divorce

Trusts and Divorce in New York

You most likely set up trusts as part of your comprehensive estate plan to transfer assets outside of probate. You may have revocable and/or irrevocable trusts in place. Now that you are considering or are filing for divorce, it is important to understand how the divorce...
Dec 6, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

9 Best Couples Therapists in Manhattan

You didn’t enter your marriage lightly, and you don’t want to end your marriage without trying everything to make it work. If your marriage is in trouble, you are likely considering your options. Divorce is a last-ditch, final solution, but many marriages can be...
Dec 3, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

9 Top Marriage and Family Therapists in Westchester County

If your marriage has reached a breaking point, you may think divorce is your best option. Instead of walking away from your marriage, you may be able to save it by working with a marriage and family therapist in Westchester County. You’ve put a lot of time and effort...
Dec 1, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Divorce and Philanthropy

The Gates divorce and the impact on The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have highlighted the fact that when a high visibility couple divorces, it is not only their personal finances that are potentially impacted. Most wealthy couples are involved in charitable giving,...
Nov 22, 2021

Divorce

New York Passes New Law on Custody of Pets

Most people consider pets members of the family, so it can be distressing to learn divorce courts give very little consideration to pets. In most states, a pet is simply another piece of property to be divided between the divorcing couple. No consideration is given to the...
Nov 17, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Why You Might Need a Divorce Coach

Your divorce attorney is a highly skilled professional who will guide you through the legal options and procedures involved in your divorce. Much of what your attorney handles is complex, applying intricate legal statutes and precedents to the ever-evolving facts of the...
Nov 15, 2021

Divorce

Financial Considerations in a Gray Divorce

Gray divorce is a term used to refer to divorce among people over age 50. Pew Research reports that the divorce rate among those over age 50 has doubled in the past three decades, and it has tripled for those over age 65. Divorce in this age group gives rise to significant...
Nov 11, 2021

Divorce

Divorcing a Spouse Charged with a Crime

Huma Abedin’s new book, Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds, was recently released. One of the topics in the book is Abedin’s divorce from high profile former Congressman and former New York City mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner, who pled guilty to sexting an...
Nov 9, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

High-Earning Female Spouses & Divorce

In the past, female spouses almost always earned less than their husbands. Today, that is changing. A Harris Poll recently revealed that half of the women surveyed earn as much or more than their partner. This is excellent news for gender equality, but bad news when it...
Nov 8, 2021

Divorce

Service of Divorce Papers Need Not Be a Surprise

A recent news report alleges that when Dr. Dre’s (also known as Andre Young) wife, Nicole Young, recently filed new documents in their divorce, Dr. Dre was served while at the cemetery burying his grandmother. Dre and his wife filed for divorce in 2020. His wife is...
Nov 5, 2021

Divorce

How to Afford a Divorce Attorney if Your Spouse Has or Controls All the...

If your spouse makes, controls, manages, and tracks all the money spent in your marriage, you may feel as though there is no way for you to get a divorce because you can’t access money to pay for an attorney, and you know that you absolutely have to have an attorney....
Nov 1, 2021

Divorce

11 Ways to Prevent Your Divorce from Becoming a Crisis

While divorce is always an area of concern if you can keep it from becoming a crisis, you can avoid a lot of extra expense as well as emotional turmoil. Keeping a divorce at an elevated level of importance in your life is natural. When the situation becomes one that...
Oct 28, 2021

International Divorce

International Divorce: What You Need To Know

If you or your spouse is not an American citizen and/or you were married in another country or live in another country, you may wonder what your options are when it comes to divorce. Must you divorce where you are living? Can you get a divorce in the U.S? These are...
Oct 26, 2021

Divorce

5 Stages of Divorce Grief

You may be familiar with the stages of grief that were first explained by Dr. Elizabeth Kübler-Ross in the context of losing a loved one or even facing one’s own death. Research has shown that divorce causes a similar grieving process and that it is healthy to...
Oct 22, 2021

Divorce

3 Types of Cost in a Divorce Case

When the cost of divorce is discussed, it usually refers to the actual financial cost of attorney’s fees involved in the process. In fact, divorce has three distinct categories of cost that should be considered. 1. Emotional Cost Divorce is rated as the...
Oct 19, 2021

Divorce

8 Things You Need to Know About Judges for Your Divorce Case

The judge is the person who will be making all the decisions in your litigated divorce case, so of course, you realize they hold a great deal of significance in your case and your life. However, there are probably quite a few things you might not be aware of that impact how...
Oct 14, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

10 Drawbacks of Alternative Dispute Resolution Divorce

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods such as mediation, collaborative law, and arbitration are extremely popular methods for resolving a divorce. These methods can offer many benefits. They are often less expensive than going to trial, they encourage cooperation,...
Oct 11, 2021

Business Valuations

How to Protect Your Business in a Divorce

You’ve worked diligently to build a successful business. A divorce could mean your business must be divided or even possibly sold. After all the sweat equity and calculated decisions you’ve made to achieve success, letting go of your business is not an option....
Oct 7, 2021

Domestic Violence

New York Protections for Male Domestic Violence Victims

While the stereotypical portrayal of domestic violence is a male perpetrator and a female victim, men are also victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence includes a wide range of behaviors and situations that occur between intimate partners. New York defines...
Oct 5, 2021

Domestic Violence

Experiencing Domestic Violence? Know Your Rights in New York

If you have been abused, think you have been abused, or believe someone you care about is being abused, you should understand that domestic violence abuse victims have many rights. One out of every four women experiences domestic abuse at some point in their lives. At the...
Oct 1, 2021

Domestic Violence

What Happens When Your Abuser Accuses You of Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is painful and difficult for the entire family and has long-lasting impacts on everyone involved. Most domestic abuse cases involve an abuser and one or more victims. But other cases can be complicated, with parties who are accused of harming or...
Sep 22, 2021

Divorce

What is a Divorce Lawyer and When Do You Need One?

A divorce lawyer is technically any attorney who handles divorces. However, the level of experience and expertise can vary greatly. When looking for a divorce attorney, be sure to seek someone with years of experience handling complex divorces. You also are best served by...
Sep 21, 2021

Divorce

9 Financial Mistakes to Avoid in Your Divorce

There is no question that divorce is a costly proposition. Divorce can be expensive and time-consuming. Your divorce need not include unreasonable legal fees though. Avoid these high-cost mistakes if you hope to keep your total costs to a minimum. Get Organized....
Sep 17, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Transmutation and Commingling of Separate Property

An important distinction in New York divorce law is the difference between separate property and marital property. Property that is determined to be separate is not divided as part of the divorce. Instead, it remains in the hands of the spouse who has ownership. Marital...
Sep 13, 2021

Interstate Divorce

Divorce and Multi-Location Spouses

It is more common than ever before for couples and families to live in more than one place. Perhaps you have homes in several countries and divide your time amongst them. Or you may spend time at homes in two or more states. Another common scenario involves separation. You...
Sep 8, 2021

Divorce

7 Most Common Divorce Mistakes

Every person and every marriage is unique. However, many multifaceted divorces have several things in common: mistakes the litigants make. There’s no question that divorce can be painful, costly, and difficult. The nature of the process itself brings out common...
Sep 1, 2021

Business Valuations

Valuation of Professional Practices in New York Divorces

Divorce involves the division of a couple’s marital assets which frequently includes homes, vehicles, investments, securities, and other highly valued holdings. A professional practice is also an important asset that must be valued and divided in a New York divorce....
Aug 30, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Incapacitation or Death of a Spouse During A Divorce

They say nothing is certain other than death and taxes, but while taxes are definitely part of the divorce process, death normally is not. If your spouse dies or becomes incapacitated during your divorce case, it certainly changes your path forward. There are important...
Aug 27, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Managing Business and Charities Together After Divorce

Bill and Melinda Gates’s divorce announcement was headline news with much attention about how they would divide their fortune. The couple has not disclosed the details of the asset division, but it is reported that Melinda French Gates could receive more than $62...
Aug 23, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Division of Retirement Assets in New York Divorces

When it comes to major assets, obtaining the most favorable outcome requires that your attorney pays careful attention to each and every asset that is part of your case. Retirement assets are likely just one piece of your property that must be divided, but ensuring this...
Aug 19, 2021

Child Custody

Child Custody and Your Teenager in New York

Teenagers are often portrayed as difficult and defiant, but any parent of a teen knows that they are also a source of great joy. Parents of teens are just as concerned about custody orders as parents of younger children. However, no matter what the court decides, following...
Aug 17, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Cryptocurrency and Your Divorce

Cryptocurrency is a new type of currency. It is a digital asset that is bought, sold, and traded on specific online platforms. The value of cryptocurrency fluctuates and has an exchange rate just like other currencies. There are thousands of types of cryptocurrency, but the...
Aug 12, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Can Divorce Be Used To Protect Your Assets?

Divorce is usually thought of as draining on your assets because the couple’s marital assets are divided between the spouses, but there are some situations in which divorce can actually be used to protect your assets. By transferring most of a couple’s assets to...
Aug 9, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Spying on Your Spouse in a New York Divorce

If you are getting a divorce or thinking about filing for divorce, there are likely some moments when you have wondered if you could just record some of the things your spouse has said or done so you could have some proof. You also might think that if you could just access...
Aug 6, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

8 Planning Considerations in a New York Divorce

A high-stakes divorce is a complex proceeding. Due to the large number of assets involved at the end of the marriage, there are significant considerations you should take into account when planning for your divorce. 1. Understand Which Assets Are Subject to...
Aug 3, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Divorce and Debt

When a couple divorces in New York, the court divides all of their marital assets as part of the property distribution. The court also divides marital debt. Some couples divorce with a significant amount of debt included in the divorce. The amount of debt assigned to you in...
Jul 30, 2021

Child Custody

How to Modify Child Custody in New York

Custody orders are not meant to remain in place forever with no changes. Courts recognize that your life may change and that, almost certainly, your child’s needs will change as they age. A parenting plan that works for a two-year-old will definitely not work for a...
Jul 27, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Why You Need a Lifestyle Analysis for Your Divorce

When a couple divorces in New York, one of the court’s goals is to ensure that both spouses can maintain a standard of living that is similar to that they enjoyed during the divorce and that assets are divided fairly. In reality, after the divorce, the amount of the...
Jul 23, 2021

Child Custody

Parental Alienation: When the Other Parent Damages Your Relationship with...

If you are in a situation where the other parent has turned your child against you, you may feel helpless and worry that the relationship has been damaged beyond repair. Your child might act like they want nothing to do with you because the other parent has brainwashed them...
Jul 20, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Therapy Records and Divorce

Many people going through divorce seek help from a therapist. Since divorce is such a challenging life change, many attorneys generally recommend that their clients seek therapy to help them through it. It’s common knowledge that what you say in therapy is protected...
Jul 16, 2021

Child Custody

How Does Child Custody Work With Unmarried Parents?

According to the CDC, 40 percent of all births in the U.S. are to unmarried women. Marital status does not change parental rights; however, it does impact how those rights are determined, created, and enforced. Unmarried Birth In New York, when a child is born to an...
Jul 13, 2021

Child Custody

Talking to Your Child About Divorce

One of the hardest parts of divorce is breaking the news to your children and helping them through the transitions that lie ahead. At a time when you are not certain how you personally are going to survive the divorce process, it can be challenging to support your child....
Jul 9, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Estate Documents After Divorce

While some may wait until after their divorce is final, there are some steps that should be in play before to protect yourself and your family even if they can’t be formalized until a later date. It is important to re-evaluation of your wills, trusts, health care...
Jul 6, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Does How You Spend Money During Marriage Impact Your Divorce?

Author Dan Brown’s wife thinks it does. Brown is the author of many popular novels, including The Da Vinci Code, which was also made into a Tom Hanks movie. Brown has earned millions from his successful books. He married his wife Blythe Brown in 1997 before he became...
Jul 6, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Modifying Alimony After Divorce in New York

If your divorce case included spousal support (sometimes called spousal maintenance or alimony), you might wonder if there will ever be an opportunity to change or modify the support order or if you can ever end the maintenance payments before the originally ordered...
Jun 29, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Spyware & Your Divorce - What You Should Know

Spyware are computer programs that record or “log” anything that’s typed on that computer. If spyware is installed on your computer, the person who installed it can see everywhere you go on the internet, every email you type, your passwords, every search...
Jun 25, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Dating & Divorce

Your marriage is ending because you aren’t happy. You hope to find happiness elsewhere, and the way to do that may be to date other people to find a new relationship. However, dating before you are divorced may not always be the best decision. Grounds for...
Jun 21, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

How to Get Your Spouse Out of the House Amidst a Divorce

Once you’ve made the decision that your marriage is over, you most likely want to get away from your spouse as quickly as possible. Ownership and occupancy of the marital home can be a hotly contested issue during a divorce. When you own and share the same home, you...
Jun 16, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Are You the Victim of Financial Abuse?

There is a lot of open discussion and awareness about domestic abuse, centering on physical and emotional abuse. What is not discussed as frequently is financial abuse. Financial abuse is the control of a couple’s finances by the abusing spouse so that the victim...
Jun 11, 2021

Business Valuations

Is Your Brand Up for Grabs in a Divorce?

Kristen Cavallari and Jay Cutler filed for divorce in April 2020. But it wasn’t until recently that retired NFL quarterback Cutler decided to try to stake a claim on Cavallari’s brand as part of the property division in the divorce. Actress Cavallari owns the...
Jun 9, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

How to Prepare for a Divorce Court Appearance

The time you spend in court for your divorce or family court case will likely be tense and worrisome. Even if you have been in court on previous occasions for business matters, divorce and family law cases are very different types of court appearances. There are a variety...
Jun 4, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Divorcing a Narcissist: 8 Tips for Dealing with a Vainglorious Spouse

According to the Mayo Clinic, a narcissist is a person who has “an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, troubled relationships, and a lack of empathy for others.” Divorce is challenging in any relationship,...
Jun 1, 2021

Child Custody

How to Track Child Visitation

Child custody and visitation is often one of the most hotly contested parts of a divorce. Once you have a temporary order in place, it is important that you carefully detail everything about your parenting plan. Documentation about this can be important evidence in your...
May 26, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Can I Get an Annulment?

One of the most common questions people ask about divorce is whether they qualify for an annulment. The most important fact to understand is that there are two types of annulments: a legal annulment and a religious annulment. Legal vs. Religious Annulments A legal...
May 26, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

How to Choose Your Divorce Lawyer

Your divorce lawyer is the most important person in your life when you are going through a divorce. Because of this, it is crucial that you select an attorney who is not only experienced and knowledgeable, but is someone you trust, feel confident in, and can work with....
May 18, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

16 Tips Of What Not to Do During Your Divorce

Your attorney will inform you about a variety of things you need to do during your divorce, such as gathering documents, tracking child visitation, and preparing for court appearances. However, there is also a long list of things you should not do during your divorce....
May 10, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Why You Need to Meet with a Divorce Lawyer After Getting Engaged

After the initial excitement over a proposal, you and your fiancé will likely start to plan your wedding. You hope that your marriage will last many years, and for that to happen, it is important to give it deep thought and attention. Marriage is a legal contract...
Apr 29, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Why You Should File for Divorce First

Since all states now have uncontested divorce, it might not seem that it matters who actually files for divorce. While it is true that uncontested divorce has leveled the playing field to some extent, there are still some advantages to be had if you are the spouse who files...
Apr 26, 2021

International Divorce

Son of Gas Billionaire Learns Hiding Assets Never Pays Off

Highly detailed financial matters in a divorce requiring an in-depth analysis of funds, assets, debts, and ownings. While it can be tempting to try to secrete some assets away from the view of the divorce court, this almost always fails, and the court does not take kindly...
Apr 20, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

A New Kind of Marital Property: Genetic Material

Divorce involves a complete division of all of a couple’s marital property. This often includes homes, vehicles, investments, retirement accounts, businesses, intellectual property, personal and household belongings, and items such as art, jewelry, and collectibles....
Apr 15, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Violation of a Divorce Judgment in New York is Serious Business, Even for...

A New York judgment of divorce is a court order. Failing to comply with a court order can result in a finding of contempt of court, which can carry serious penalties. Every part of a judgment of divorce can be enforced, and every provision can carry a penalty if ignored....
Apr 12, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Keeping a Divorce Out of Politics

Politics and divorce don’t mix well. This is something Stephen M. Ross is likely keeping in mind as the billionaire owner of the Miami Dolphins navigates a newly filed divorce from his wife of 18 years. Ross’s Influential Position Ross not only owns 95...
Apr 8, 2021

International Divorce

Avenues to a Fast Divorce

In the first three-fourths of the 1900s, it was possible to travel to Reno for a “quickie” divorce – a divorce that could be handled immediately without any residency requirement or waiting period. Nevada and Reno, in particular, were known for fast,...
Apr 2, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

How to Fire a Private Judge

To resolve your complex divorce you may choose to work with a private judge. While this option has many benefits, it can be challenging to actually fire a private judge once you consent to this type of dispute resolution. What is a Private Judge? When you face divorce,...
Mar 23, 2021

Child Custody

Children on the Witness Stand

It sounds like something from a movie – young children tearfully taking the witness stand during their parents’ divorce. Most of the time, this is something parents want to avoid whenever possible. But there are situations in which it may become necessary or...
Feb 15, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

7 Things You Should Consider When Buying a Home After Divorce

Moving on after a divorce may involve finding a new permanent living situation. If you are considering buying a new home and obtaining a mortgage, there are important factors to consider as you move forward with your life. 1. Complete Your Divorce Before you make a move...
Jan 22, 2021

Divorce

What is Common Law Marriage?

It is more and more common for couples to live together without getting married. According to a Pew Research study, 59 percent of American adults have cohabitated with a partner at some point (greater than the percent who have ever been married). Many people have heard of...
Jan 19, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Fast Track Your Divorce: 14 Ways to Help Your Divorce Move More Quickly

A divorce normally takes at least several months minimum and may drag on years (case in point: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been in divorce court since 2016 and their divorce is still not completed). Once you decide to get a divorce, you may feel an urgency to get the...
Jan 15, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

How Long Will My Divorce Take?

Once you begin the divorce process, your goal is to conclude it as quickly as possible. However, the length of your divorce isn’t entirely up to you, and for most people, it takes longer than they would like. To understand how long your divorce will take, it’s...
Jan 7, 2021

High Stakes Divorce

Am I Liable for My Ex-Spouses’ Unpaid Taxes?

There are various ways your ex might incur liability to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for unpaid taxes. They simply may have just not made payments or filed tax returns. Or, in the more likely scenario, there has been an audit, and it’s been...
Dec 17, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

19 Signs Your Spouse is Hiding Assets in Your Divorce

A full and complete disclosure of assets is necessary in order for a divorce to be fair. If your spouse is hiding assets, this will negatively impact your property award in the divorce because the court will not be aware of the hidden assets and will not be able to divide...
Dec 14, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

New York Divorce and Discovery

The divorce process in New York has many steps. However, one of the most crucial steps is discovery. Once all the initial filings have been made, the case enters into the discovery phase. Governed by the Civil Practice Law and Rules (“CPLR”), this is a period of...
Dec 10, 2020

Divorce

126 Divorce Terms and Definitions To Know

Divorce is a very technical proceeding. There are many legal terms likely to be bandied about by your attorney and the court throughout the case. We’ve simplified these terms to help you begin to navigate the process more easily. Addendum. Something added to a...
Dec 8, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

10 Strategic Things to Do Before You File for Divorce in New York

What happens during your divorce is determinative to the outcome of the case, of course, but what you do BEFORE you actually file for divorce is particularly crucial. A few steps will position you strategically so that you are more likely to get the results you want from...
Nov 23, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

What Will a Divorce Attorney Ask Me? 21 Topics to Be Prepared to Discuss

When you schedule your first consultation with a divorce attorney, you do so with many questions you need answers to. The attorney will need a lot of information from you as well. To be as prepared as possible and to make the most of that first appointment, you should be...
Nov 20, 2020

Child Custody

Child Support in a New Marriage

Marrying after the end of a previous relationship is a time of joy and celebration. However, if you have a child from a previous relationship, you may have questions about how the marriage will impact your child support situation. How Child Support is Calculated Child...
Oct 28, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

Complex Divorce? Some Settlements Include Attorney Fees Covered by Future...

A complex divorce typically involves the division of a significant amount of assets and debts. Due to this, your divorce can take a considerable amount of time to be finalized. When other factors, such as spousal maintenance (alimony), child custody, and child support, are...
Oct 26, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

What You Need to Know About Divorce and Life Insurance

A divorce has important implications for the life insurance policies held by you and your spouse. Not only does divorce affect the policies currently in your portfolio, but the court may also impose requirements for additional life insurance as part of your case. ...
Oct 23, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

20 Biggest Celebrity Divorces of 2020

2020 has been a challenging year in many respects. The stress the year has brought is evident by the number of celebrity divorces that have occurred. Here are the top 20 divorces of the year. 1. Tracy Morgan and Megan Wollover After five years of marriage,...
Oct 15, 2020

Domestic Violence

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month - Understanding The Facts &...

Trigger Warning: Domestic Violence October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence is more prevalent than most people realize. According to the data from hotline.org, each minute in the United States, 24 people become victims of domestic violence,...
Oct 13, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

12 Tips to Prepare for Your Divorce’s Pet Custody Case

Our pets are beloved family members and the thought of never seeing your cat or dog again after a divorce is probably unthinkable. In most states though, the law does not provide clear guidance for deciding pet custody, and instead, the courts treat a pet like they do any...
Oct 8, 2020

Spousal Support

My Spouse Stopped Paying My Alimony. Now What?

It's not uncommon for a spouse to stop making their court-ordered alimony or spousal support payments. Sometimes it's an oversight that is easily remedied. In other instances, it's intentional. When you rely on this money for your household budget, it's a major concern you...
Oct 5, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

Broken Promises: Enforcement of Divorce Judgments

You are divorced at long last, finally, receive your judgment of divorce, and are ready to move forward with your life. But then your spouse violates one or more of the terms of your decree. You have very clear rights should this happen and are entitled to enforcement,...
Oct 2, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

Critical Documents to Assemble Before Hiring a Divorce Lawyer

Once you've decided to file for divorce or your spouse has filed for divorce, you're likely in a hurry to obtain counsel to represent you in the case. When you first talk to an attorney you are considering hiring, they need information about your case and your situation to...
Sep 25, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

How to Get Spousal Support Before Your Divorce Is Final

Divorce is not a fast process. From the time you first meet with your lawyer to the day the judge signs your judgment of divorce could easily be one to two years. Divorces amongst the wealthy are particularly complex, requiring careful identification and valuation of myriad...
Sep 21, 2020

Nuptial Agreements

Renegotiating a Prenuptial Agreement

If you and your spouse entered into a prenuptial or premarital agreement, you might feel confident that you are both protected should you ever face divorce. A prenuptial agreement is an essential document for a couple with numerous, complex assets. However, a prenuptial...
Sep 16, 2020

Domestic Violence

Same-Sex Couples and Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is an issue that can affect anyone. It impacts people regardless of financial situation, geographical location, education, gender, or sexuality. Unfortunately, in some areas of the United States, same-sex couples do not receive equal treatment under the...
Sep 10, 2020

Nuptial Agreements

How Your Prenuptial Agreement Impacts What You Inherit

A prenuptial agreement determines your financial and property rights should you and your spouse ever get a divorce. However, your prenuptial agreement can actually have more broad implications than merely how you will divide your marital assets in the event of a divorce. A...
Sep 7, 2020

Same Sex Divorce

Same-Sex Divorce and Asset Division

An important and complex aspect of any divorce is the distribution of assets and debts the couple has accumulated. When the couple is a same-sex couple who have been together since before same sex marriage was legally recognized, this complex process becomes particularly...
Sep 2, 2020

Child Custody

Yours, Mine, and Ours: Complex Custody Arrangements

Creating a fair parenting plan for custody of the children of your marriage is of the utmost priority in your divorce. Today, many families include half-siblings and step-siblings. You and your spouse may have children together, and you each may have children from previous...
Sep 1, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

Why You Should Never Be Your Own Lawyer (Especially in Divorce)

Halle Berry recently decided to represent herself in her divorce from Oliver Martinez. The couple married in 2013 and separated in 2015. News outlets reported their divorce was finalized in 2016. However, by 2018, it was reported that a final parenting plan had never been...
Aug 20, 2020

Business Valuations

Business Goodwill and Divorce

Asset division is at the heart of the matter in the financial segment of a divorce. The distribution of marital assets between the spouses largely determines their financial stability and economic future. Businesses are some of the most pivotal assets considered by the...
Aug 17, 2020

Business Valuations

Double-Dipping and Business Valuation in a Divorce

The division of assets in a divorce is crucial to the financial futures of the spouses. A fair division of assets is required under New York state equitable distribution law. For many couples, a professional license or practice (think doctor, lawyer, or dentist) or a...
Aug 14, 2020

Business Valuations

Business Buyouts and Divorce

Divorce requires a detailed valuation of all of your assets, followed by a comprehensive division of the assets. Marital assets are divided in a way that is fair but necessarily equal because New York state uses the equitable distribution method of asset division. When you...
Aug 12, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

Jolie-Pitt Case Highlights Potential Problems with Private Judges

Recently we talked about how private judges can offer a way to keep your divorce proceeding completely private. When you and your spouse retain a retired judge to act as an arbitrator for your divorce, your case becomes completely private--only the arbitrated settlement...
Aug 11, 2020

Child Custody

Child Custody and Divorce in a Same-Sex Divorce

Since same-sex marriage was recognized in individual states and then eventually made the law of the land by the Supreme Court in the 2015 Obergefell decision, same-sex couples were finally given the same rights as heterosexual couples when it comes to marriage, divorce, and...
Aug 5, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

Phantom and Imputed Income in Divorce

Income plays a significant role in divorce proceedings. The parties' incomes are central to determinations about child support and spousal support (alimony). Complete financial disclosure is required as part of the divorce proceedings and this disclosure includes income....
Aug 3, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

Divorce in the Spotlight

Divorce is one of the most difficult things to face in your life. On the Life Change Index that ranks common stressors in life, divorce is the second highest item, falling only beneath the death of a spouse. Managing divorce is challenging for anyone, but it becomes...
Jul 28, 2020

Nuptial Agreements

Why You Need a Postnuptial Agreement

You got married without a prenuptial agreement. Everything in your marriage is going well, so why would you need a postnuptial agreement? A postnuptial agreement can offer security and clarity by establishing an understanding of how assets will be handled in a divorce....
Jul 24, 2020

Child Custody

How Does the Court Consider Your Child's Opinion in a Custody Case?...

The custody case may be the most contentious part of your divorce. Emotions run high because your children are so important to you and because the nature of this portion of the case is so deeply personal. It hinges on your individual behavior, connections, and lifestyle. It...
Jul 21, 2020

Divorce

When to Fire Your Divorce Attorney

You have specific goals for your divorce, and you must have a lawyer who is prepared to achieve your objectives and will fight vigorously to attain them. You have one case and one opportunity to convince the court that your position is the correct one. If you aren't pleased...
Jul 15, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

Why Settling Your Divorce Might Be Your Biggest Mistake Ever

There is no question that settling a divorce can offer extensive benefits. The sooner a case is over; the sooner everyone can move on with their lives and build their own futures. Settlement generally results in lower legal fees, because there are fewer courtroom...
Jul 13, 2020

Interstate Divorce

Interstate Divorce & Child Custody: Where Is Your Case Heard if You and...

If you and the other parent are separated or never lived together, you may find yourselves living in two different states. When parents live in two different states, determining which state will hear the custody case is a significant decision. It is incredibly inconvenient...
Jul 10, 2020

Interstate Divorce

Why Where You Live Matters for Your Divorce

How your marital assets are divided in your divorce hinges on many things, but the first and most important issue is where you live. Each state has its own laws about divorce. States fall into two groups when it comes to property division laws: community property states and...
Jul 7, 2020

Child Custody

Strategies to Win Your Custody Case

There is nothing more emotional in a divorce case than the issue of custody of the children of the marriage. Getting the custody outcome you want takes careful strategizing and planning with your attorney. Convincing the judge that your position about custody is correct...
Jul 6, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

Dr. Dre's Wife Files for Divorce

Music star Dr. Dre's 24-year marriage is ending in divorce. His wife Nicole Young, age 50, has filed for divorce in Los Angeles County Superior Court via her celebrity attorney Samantha Spector. Dr. Dre, age 55, whose given name is Andre Young, is best known for being a...
Jul 2, 2020

Child Custody

Child Custody and Religion in NYC

Child custody is often one of the most hotly contested aspects of a divorce. Parents frequently disagree about where the child should primarily live, whether one parent should have sole decision-making authority, and also about major decisions in the child's life such as...
Jun 22, 2020

Domestic Violence

What You Need to Know About New York State Protective Orders

Orders of protection (sometimes called restraining orders) can be issued in New York as part of a divorce or custody case, or simply on their own. These types of orders are issued to protect family members from violence and crimes like stalking or harassment. Domestic...
Jun 19, 2020

Child Custody

Why You Should Consider Parallel Parenting in Your Divorce

If your divorce is marked by an intractable high-conflict relationship, it may simply be impossible for you and your spouse to co-parent your children at this point. Instead, a solution called parallel parenting may be the best option for you. What is Parallel...
Jun 16, 2020

Child Custody

Child Custody and Relocation

Relocation is not an uncommon request in a New York custody case, either during a divorce or years later. If you are the custodial parent, you must either reach an agreement with the other parent about relocation or receive permission from the court to move away from the...
Jun 12, 2020

Child Custody

Deciding Factors in Your New York Child Custody Case

The custody portion of your divorce case will be determined based on what the court finds to be in the best interests of the child. "Best interests" is a broad, all-encompassing term. There are a variety of factors the court may consider, and many more it is likely to...
Jun 8, 2020

International Divorce

The Tax Implications of Divorce

Your divorce involves a significant amount of asset transfers. New York state uses the doctrine of equitable distribution to determine how assets will be shared in a divorce. Property is distributed in a way that is fair but not necessarily an equal split. When property is...
Jun 3, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

Property Valuation Approaches for Your Divorce

Property division is a crucial portion of your divorce. There are three key components to property division. First, all marital assets must be located and fully identified. Next, each asset must be assigned a value. Lastly, once the value has been determined, the assets are...
May 26, 2020

Divorce

The 4-1-1 on Common Law Divorce

It is increasingly common for couples to cohabit without marriage paperwork. You can share a household, finances, real property, debt, assets, and children without getting a marriage license. However, when your relationship ends, dissolving the ties that bind you can be...
May 22, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

11 Post-Divorce Actions to Take To Start Your New Life

Once your divorce judgment is issued your marriage is legally over. However, there are still important steps to take to realign your life with your new status and set yourself up for success. Here are 11 areas to take immediate action for your new life: Estate...
May 18, 2020

Child Custody

10 Rules for Protecting Kids in High Conflict Divorce

There's a lot at stake in a high conflict, high asset divorce, but most parents agree that the most important thing is their relationship with their children. However, keeping your kids out of the fray and making sure their needs are protected is key. Here are some best...
May 13, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

How Equitable Distribution Impacts Your NY Divorce

Most of the legal work and disputes in a high conflict divorce deal with asset division. Enumerating, valuing, and dividing your assets are key components of your divorce. You and your attorney will need to maximize your distribution of assets, but the distribution...
May 4, 2020

Child Custody

What You Need to Know About Child Support in New York City Divorces

Child support payments are designed to ensure that once the divorce is completed that your children are able to maintain the lifestyle they were accustomed to before the divorce. Like most states, New York uses a formula that takes into account the income of both parents...
Apr 28, 2020

Child Custody

What You Need to Know About New York City Custody Cases

No matter where you live, child custody is a critical issue in your divorce. All of the issues and concerns present in a custody case are magnified in New York City high net worth families. In addition to this, there are unique and important issues that arise for the high...
Apr 21, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

Is Your Spouse Hiding Assets in Your High Net Worth Divorce?

Full disclosure of all financial information is a required and essential part of any divorce, but this is particularly crucial in a high net worth divorce. When a spouse realizes that so much of their future hinges on how marital assets are divided, they may work to conceal...
Apr 9, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

10 Signs Your Divorce is Going to Be High Conflict

Divorce is difficult even under the best of circumstances. However, some divorces become high conflict divorces, in which the challenges become more extensive and even more formidable, requiring highly specific precision legal skills to navigate them. These are the signs...
Apr 7, 2020

Child Custody

10 Custody Coping Tips During Corona

Living with a custody order is challenging in normal circumstances, but add in a worldwide pandemic, and things get complicated. Follow these tips to keep things safe and on an even keel for everyone in the family. Safety first. The most important thing in this...
Apr 6, 2020

Domestic Violence

Shut in with your Abuser? Here's How to Get Help

Like everyone else in New York state, you've been told to stay home due to COVID-19. Non-essential businesses and schools are closed, and even playgrounds have been shut down, as the governor warns people not to crowd into parks. You're isolated from your friends, your...
Apr 6, 2020

Child Custody

NY Child Custody Evaluation - An Inside Look

High conflict custody cases usually involve child custody evaluation. These evaluations are usually done by licensed therapists who have experience working with children in divorce and custody situations. The evaluators are usually psychologists, social workers, or family...
Apr 3, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

Using Adultery as Grounds for Your Divorce May Provide You with a...

The grounds for your divorce might not be something you've given any thought to because you assume you will have a no-fault divorce. In the past, you could only get a divorce if you could prove adultery or abandonment, among other grounds. You had to have an actual reason...
Mar 31, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid in a High-Net-Worth Divorce

Divorce is challenging for anyone, but there are special considerations in your divorce because of your high net worth. The advice and information considered standard for divorce cases does not apply to clients in this unique situation. Protect yourself by avoiding these...
Mar 25, 2020

Divorce

Divorce Rates Rise with Coronavirus Isolation; Divorce Court Cases...

The coronavirus pandemic is forcing people around the world to stay at home for weeks. For many families, this alteration in their daily routines may have long-lasting consequences. Officials in China have observed a significant spike in the number of couples applying...
Mar 23, 2020

Business Valuations

Key to Divorce Success? An Appraiser

A high net worth divorce comes down to numbers. Your property division will necessarily be financially complex, detailed, and intricate. Not only are there a significant number of assets to distribute, but every asset that is divided or distributed must be valued. Because...
Mar 13, 2020

Nuptial Agreements

Are You Stuck with Your Prenup?

When you got married, you took the solid advice of your peers and created a prenup. The idea was that this would cut down on the fighting and legal wrangling if your marriage ended in divorce and protect both of you. Now that the worst scenario has happened and you are...
Mar 2, 2020

High Stakes Divorce

Insider Tip for Low Visibility in High Visibility New York Divorce:...

New York divorces are big news when big names are involved. The Rudy Giuliani/Judith Nathan divorce has entertained the masses (and sold copies of tabloids), every expensive and humiliating step of the way. New York divorce trials are open and accessible to anyone who...
Nov 15, 2019

Child Custody

What You Need to Know About Child Custody and International Issues

In a world where many families travel frequently and may have homes in several countries, international travel can play a significant role in your custody case. Additionally, you may have concerns about the other parent taking your child to another country and not...
Oct 7, 2019

Same Sex Divorce

The Challenges of LGBTQ Family Law in New York and Beyond

Ever since the Marriage Equality Act was enacted in our state in 2011, there has been same-sex marriage in New York and, inevitably, also same-sex divorce. Same-sex couples are faced with the same problems in terms of family and divorce law that arise in opposite-sex...
Sep 30, 2019

International Divorce

Egypt Drafts The World’s First Mandatory Divorce Insurance Law

Alimony insurance is not new. Insurers in many countries, including the U.S., already offer this type of policy. However, Egypt may become the first country to make it mandatory. Specifically, the proposed legislation would require husbands to pay a compulsory divorce...
Aug 7, 2019

High Stakes Divorce

How New York Handles Crypto Assets in Divorce

As Bitcoin’s popularity increases daily, more and more New Yorkers are having to seek out and split up crypto assets in divorce – tasks that become problematic without the right approach. By 2030, analysts estimate the cryptocurrency business market value...
Mar 15, 2019

High Stakes Divorce

Dirty Laundry: What Judith Giuliani Might Reveal in Her Upcoming Tell-All...

In a court appearance that has been described as a “circus,” Judith Nathan Giuliani and her soon-to-be-ex Rudy Giuliani gave quite the spectacle in their last divorce hearing in New York. “I have no desire to remain married to her for one more...
Mar 10, 2019

High Stakes Divorce

Six-Figure Fashions, Diamonds & Yachts: Libbie Mugrabi’s Fight to...

Divorcing without a prenup is never easy for high-net-worth individuals, but in the case of billionaires, the end of marital bliss can turn into a battle of cosmic dimensions. Libbie Mugrabi was married to art mogul David Mugrabi for well over a decade. They have two...
Mar 6, 2019

High Stakes Divorce

The Most Expensive Assets Ever Disputed in Divorce

From private jets to diamond rings, exotic pets, and luxury yachts, high-net-worth couples often play tug of war with very unusual assets. Jewelry can be easy to hide, and the same is true of accounts in faraway tax havens. Playing down the value of complex assets is...
Mar 6, 2019

High Stakes Divorce

What do the Giuliani and the Matt Lauer divorce have in common? You’ll...

One of the main questions people are asking right now is “Is Matt Lauer still married?” Divorcing celebrities and eight-figure earners like Lauer is seldom quick and hassle-free. Proceedings in Hollywood splits have been known to take over a decade, and the...
Jan 18, 2019

High Stakes Divorce

8 Deadly Divorce Mistakes New York Family Lawyers See Too Often

When the dream of staying married “Till Death Do You Part” has gone by the wayside, we all move to the next ideal dream, which is an entirely amicable divorce in which both parties are fully accommodating to the other and both parties come out of the legal...
Dec 20, 2018

High Stakes Divorce

Divorce and the New Tax Law

Divorce lawyers have been overwhelmed by clients hoping to finalize their divorces by December 31, 2018, and with good reason. If you’re divorcing in 2019, you’re facing a different set of laws than those who chose to end their marriages in previous years....
Dec 5, 2018

High Stakes Divorce

Faris vs. Pratt: Love is Dead?

Chris Pratt and Anna Faris, like many celebrities, handled their divorce through a private judge to avoid unwanted publicity. While Anna Faris recalls tweeting about the ‘death’ of love after the couple made this difficult decision, I feel that the celebs,...
Nov 27, 2018

High Stakes Divorce

High-Net-Worth Divorces Affected by Tax Law Changes

High-net-worth divorces are complex, as they often involve share accounts, investments, prime real estate, and other complex assets. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 has introduced changes that will significantly impact the wealthily divorced, and it will become a reality...
Nov 26, 2018

High Stakes Divorce

The Biggest Divorces of the 1990s

Love is great -- until it isn’t anymore. The 1990s saw many celebrities and millionaires fall in and out of love, with their multi-million, and sometimes multi-billion-dollar settlements abundantly discussed in the tabloids. From prenups to infidelity and valuable...
Oct 16, 2018

Divorce

Decline in Divorce Rate Due to Millennials

Divorce rates are dropping dramatically. From 2008 to 2016, the number of couples filing for divorce declined by an incredible 18 percent. It’s not older couples who are fueling the trend since the divorce numbers for those aged 45 and over are actually rising....
Oct 15, 2018

High Stakes Divorce

A Fight to Remember: The Top 4 Nastiest Divorces of the 2010s

There’s no limit to how low the rich and powerful will stoop when in the throes of a multi-million-dollar (or billion-dollar) divorce battle. Whether it’s a celebrity smearing a spouse through the tabloids, an investment titan sullying a mansion with fart...
Aug 21, 2018

Divorce

How to Understand and Manage a Late in Life Divorce

Late in life divorce, also known as a “gray divorce”, is rapidly increasing in frequency. Based on research from The Pew Institute, out of Washington D.C., divorce between individuals age 50 years and older has doubled since the 1990’s. These rates are...
Aug 20, 2018

Divorce

Pet Custody Battles: 5 Tips for Keeping the Family Pet

In the ugly divorce between billionaire Bill Gross and his ex-wife Sue, nothing was left sacred, not even the cats. Amid allegations of a stolen Picasso, a home sullied with fart spray, and an “army of spies,” the investment titan fought bitterly for custody of...
Aug 6, 2018

Divorce

Divorce: What is your Spouse's Attorney Telling Him?

If you are reading this article, you are either in the preparatory stages of filing for divorce and planning ahead (highly recommended), or your divorce process is not going as smoothly or quickly as you had hoped, and you are looking to keep the wheels from falling off of...
Aug 4, 2018

Divorce

Living your Best Life During and Post-Divorce

Whether you have filed for divorce or are the recipient of the filing, there are a host of questions you likely have, perhaps anxiety over what the process entails, and often a profound sense of loss. Even when there is animosity between the divorcing spouses, there may...
Jul 25, 2018

High Stakes Divorce

So Matt Lauer is reportedly, “furious” over a potential $50M divorce...

Unless you have been on an extended hiatus from all media, the impending divorce of one-time NBC stalwart, Matt Lauer, and his wife, Annette Roque Lauer, has been a recurring presence in your media feed. In summary, the twenty-year veteran of the oft first place,...
Jul 10, 2018

High Stakes Divorce

Thinking About Divorce? There’s A Financial Reason Why You Should...

If you’ve been contemplating getting a divorce, consider this a sign. I can’t speak to any of your marital issues. But I can tell you that if you’re the breadwinner in your relationship, you might face a bigger financial burden if you get divorced in...
Jul 9, 2018

High Stakes Divorce

Divorce Litigation in New York Splits – When is this your best...

Most parties can resolve their divorce by agreement outside of a New York court, but there are many situations where litigating (going to court and the judge makes the final decision) the divorce issues can be the best option for a New York resident. This is especially...
Jun 16, 2018

Divorce

Gray Divorce? Tips, Pitfalls & Challenges - Legal & Practical...

The Netflix series Frankie and Grace managed to spin a well-known story: What happens when you file for divorce after decades of marriage, when your children are adults and you yourself are approaching retirement? Of course, not all divorcees go on to marry someone of...
May 28, 2018

High Stakes Divorce

All Giuiliani’s Wives – Love and Loathing in New York City

Former NYC Mayor, now latest Trump defender, Rudy Giuliani’s nasty divorce from his third wife Judith is not the first scandalous split in the politician’s life. His previous marriages, to an alleged second cousin and to an actress - TV personality, also gave...
Mar 24, 2018

High Stakes Divorce

8 Items I Covet at Russell Crowe’s Upcoming Divorce Auction

Over the years, I have handled countless high-net-worth, high-conflict divorces. On many occasions, some of the assets to be divided were so unique, that we had to bring in a myriad of expert valuators, antique connoisseurs, and art scholars to establish how much a...
Mar 14, 2018

High Stakes Divorce

Getting by on a $100 Million Net Worth in NYC

Comfortable family living on a net worth of $100 million sounds totally doable - unless you live in NYC and as a divorce lawyer for Manhattanites I can (well almost) appreciate their struggle to maintain a New York City lifestyle. So, is $100 million enough? Maybe not....
Feb 16, 2018

Divorce

Of Mice and Men and Marriage

National Geographic recently released a striking article entitled “Drinking Alone Leads to Divorce – In Rodents”. Needless to say, it’s certainly an attention grabber, but is there science behind the article that is meaningful for humans? Do we...
Feb 6, 2018

High Stakes Divorce

Celebrity Harassers' Wives: Best Moves Amidst Crisis

Divorce can be a messy experience – especially when the husband is facing harassment charges. If the topic of divorce comes up, how are the wives of Matt Lauer, Harvey Weinstein and Garrison Keillor going to safeguard their part of the marital estate?...
Jan 30, 2018

High Stakes Divorce

New York City Divorce: New Yorkers are Different – Rules & Realities

New York City divorce is anything but typical. With its cultural diversity, wide socioeconomic range and distinct occupations, New York City divorce is in a realm of its own. High net worth New York City families face challenging asset valuation and equitable...

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