- How A High Net Worth Affects Child Support and Custody Rulings | Blog | February 2024 by Naomi Schanfield
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 the amount of child support...
- Emergency Child Custody: What to Do If Your Child Is in Danger | Blog | February 2024 by Naomi Schanfield
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 those situations,...
- Special Needs Trusts and Divorce: Ensuring Protection for Children with Disabilities | Blog | December 2023 by Dror Bikel
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 Special Needs Trust?
A...
- 11 Ways Divorced Parents Can Spend More of the Holidays With Their Children | Blog | December 2023 by Karen B. Rosenthal
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.
For divorced parents...
- Divorce Lessons Learned the Hard Way: The Headline-Making Multi-Billion Dollar Overdeck Case | Blog | November 2023 by Dror Bikel
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 were moved into trust...
- How Can a Mother Lose Child Custody? | Blog | November 2023 by Naomi Schanfield
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’ of a child’s...
- Exorbitant Celebrity Child Support Payments: Is it All for the Kids? | Blog | October 2023 by Karen B. Rosenthal
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 difference with a temporary...
- Unexpected Assets That Might Be Divisible in Divorce | Blog | September 2023 by Dror Bikel
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 fatigue. When that type...
- Pandemic’s End Sees Flurry of Celeb Splits as Overall Divorces Spike | Blog | September 2023 by Karen B. Rosenthal
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 significant impact on the U.S....
- Who Gets What When Unmarried Power Couples Split? | Blog | August 2023 by Dror Bikel
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.
Since 2013, the two...
- Are You Married to a Psychopath? 18 Signs That Your Spouse May Be a Psychopath | Blog | June 2023 by Dror Bikel
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 occupations and popular in...
- Why Parents with Joint Custody May Still Pay Child Support | Blog | February 2023 by Karen B. Rosenthal
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 eliminate the child...
- Dating After Divorce: When Can You Remarry? | Blog | January 2023 by Naomi Schanfield
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 as 52 percent of divorced...
- What Should Child Support Payments Be Used For? | Blog | December 2022 by Karen B. Rosenthal
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 frustrated with the amount...
- What To Know About Lisa Marie Presley’s Divorce | Blog | December 2022 by Dror Bikel
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 husband after musician...
- Can You Modify Child Support Payments in New York? | Blog | October 2022 by Karen B. Rosenthal
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, it is usually enumerated...
- 6 of the Most Expensive Divorces and What We Can Learn from Them | Blog | September 2022 by Dror Bikel
“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 one of the most expensive...
- Mistakes to Avoid with the Attorney for the Child or Guardian Ad Litem | Blog | August 2022 by Karen B. Rosenthal
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 end, it is essential to...
- How Conflicting Out May Reduce Your Access to Top Attorneys | Blog | July 2022 by Dror Bikel
A highly skilled divorce attorney is absolutely necessary for a complex divorce. Finding a top attorney usually means asking friends, checking with attorneys used for other matters, and getting referrals. Then the next step is to take a few meetings and evaluate the options. You then hire an...
- How To Respond to a Divorce Law Suit Summons | Blog | June 2022 by Dror Bikel
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 filing must follow in New...
- Debt Can Lead to Divorce | Blog | May 2022 by Eric Weinstein
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 make them immune to debt....
- How to Keep Your Divorce Off Social Media | Blog | March 2022 by Dror Bikel
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 social media.
Impact...
- Dividing What’s in Your Closet in Divorce | Blog | March 2022 by Naomi Schanfield
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 that were previously...
- 8 Best Marriage Therapists in Nassau County | Blog | December 2021 by Dror Bikel
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.
How Marriage...
- 10 Best Couples Therapists in Manhattan | Blog | December 2021 by Dror Bikel
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 saved through couples...
- 9 Top Marriage and Family Therapists in Westchester County | Blog | December 2021 by Dror Bikel
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 into your marriage. It is...
- High-Earning Female Spouses & Divorce | Blog | November 2021 by Naomi Schanfield
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 comes to...
- Parental Alienation: When the Other Parent Damages Your Relationship with Your Child | Blog | July 2021 by Dror Bikel
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 into thinking untrue...
- Dating & Divorce | Blog | June 2021 by Naomi Schanfield
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 Divorce
Most people seek a...
- Son of Gas Billionaire Learns Hiding Assets Never Pays Off | Blog | April 2021 by Dror Bikel
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 to any attempt to conceal...
- Keeping a Divorce Out of Politics | Blog | April 2021 by Dror Bikel
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 percent of the Dolphins...
- How to Fire a Private Judge | Blog | April 2021 by Dror Bikel
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, there are two possible...
- Child Support in a New Marriage | Blog | November 2020 by Naomi Schanfield
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 support is regular...
- Jolie-Pitt Case Highlights Potential Problems with Private Judges | Blog | August 2020 by Dror Bikel
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 submitted to the state court...
- Child Custody and Divorce in a Same-Sex Divorce | Blog | August 2020 by Naomi Schanfield
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 child custody. However,...
- What You Need to Know About Child Support in New York City Divorces | Blog | May 2020 by Naomi Schanfield
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 and the number of children...
- How New York Handles Crypto Assets in Divorce | Blog | August 2019 by Dror Bikel
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 will exceed $3.1...
- Dirty Laundry: What Judith Giuliani Might Reveal in Her Upcoming Tell-All Book About Her Divorce from Rudy | Blog | March 2019 by Dror Bikel
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 day,” an annoyed Rudy...
- Divorce and the New Tax Law | Blog | December 2018 by Dror Bikel
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.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs...
- High-Net-Worth Divorces Affected by Tax Law Changes | Blog | November 2018 by Dror Bikel
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 after December 31, 2018....
- The Biggest Divorces of the 1990s | Blog | November 2018 by Dror Bikel
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 stock divisions, the...
- Thinking About Divorce? There’s A Financial Reason Why You Should File Today | Blog | July 2018 by Dror Bikel
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 2019 or...
- New York City Divorce: New Yorkers are Different – Rules & Realities | Blog | January 2018 by Dror Bikel
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 distribution obstacles. New York...