Author Archives: Bridget Tartaglia
How Should Divorced Parents Approach Their Children’s College Tuition?
After parents divorce, they have to make many adjustments to their finances. Money doesn’t go as far, because rather than one household to support, now there are two. Supporting parents can feel unduly burdened, and college expenses can seem like the final straw. Negotiating a college payment plan during or after divorce can be difficult,… Read More »
Wife Seeks New York Divorce to Retain Expensive Gifts from Husband
The difference between a divorce in New York and one tried in Monaco could be $70 million for Tracey Hejailan-Amon, according to a recent story in the New York Post. That is roughly the value of gifts her husband, Swiss businessman Maurice Alain Amon, gave her during their eight-year marriage, when the couple had homes… Read More »
Peck Lawsuit Highlights Nexus of Divorce and Estate Planning
Divorce records are normally sealed for 100 years, but a trust beneficiary in New York is suing to have his parents’ 40-year-old divorce records opened early, so he can determine if he’s getting his fair share of his father’s $41 million fortune. The beneficiary, Ian Peck, is the son of the late Norman L. Peck,… Read More »
SCOTUS Rules Alabama Must Honor Georgia Same-Sex, Second-Parent Adoption
In a decision that further solidifies the constitutional rights of same-sex partners, the Supreme Court of the United States has reversed an Alabama Supreme Court decision not to recognize a Georgia adoption by a mother’s same-sex partner. The high court case arose out of an Alabama child custody dispute between two women, former partners in… Read More »
Greatest Risk Factor for Divorce May Be Husband’s Unemployment
A recent study published in the American Sociological Review suggests that marital stability depends less on how much money a couple has, whether a wife works outside the home, or whether the husband helps with housework, and more on whether the husband is employed full time. In “Money, Work, and Marital Stability: Assessing Change in… Read More »
Imprisoned Rapist Loses Bid to Receive Alimony from His Ex-Wife
A strange alimony case in Brooklyn has come to an end, with a judge refusing to grant spousal support to a prisoner who had repeatedly abused his former wife. The man, identified only as “Terrance T.,” was arrested multiple times for attacking his wife, although she testified that she has been physically and sexually assaulted… Read More »
New Ruling Could Change Divorce for Business Owners
A recent ruling by New York’s Appellate Division, Second Department Court could affect divorce cases involving a spouse with a business. The ruling in Palydowycz v. Palydowycz overturns precedent, now allowing a court to “double-dip” and take the same asset into account twice — once when determining how the couple’s assets should be divided, and… Read More »
Birdnesting Is a New Divorce Trend Among Families with Children
An unusual new trend has emerged among divorcing parents in New York and across the country. Instead of transferring the kids back and forth between the parents’ homes, parents are letting the kids stay put and instead shuffling themselves around. This trend is known as birdnesting or bird’s nest custody. The way it usually works… Read More »
Adoption Agency Accused of Hiding Child’s Medical Conditions
The adoption process is often long and complicated, with bumps along the way. This can be especially true when relying on an agency to adopt a child. While adoption agencies are supposed to be honest and helpful, working to make lives better for parents and children, this isn’t always the reality, as one couple recently… Read More »
Do New York Grandparents Have Visitation Rights with Their Grandchildren?
In many families, children grow up having a strong connection with their grandparents. Having a second or third set of adults around expands children’s horizons, provides them with additional emotional support, and can even give parents a needed break from childcare responsibilities. In some situations, however, one or both parents seek to deny grandparents the… Read More »