Category Archives: Family Law
New York State Senate Passes “Best Interests of the Pet” Custody Bill
Traditionally, the law has treated pets as property, leading to legal results that fail to acknowledge the tremendous role that dogs, cats and other animals play in the lives of their owners. For example, damages in lawsuits where a defendant’s negligent actions result in the death of a plaintiff’s pet would often only cover the… Read More »
HBO Miniseries Covers Early New York Case on Lesbian Parents’ Rights
Over the past few decades, Americans in same-sex relationships have seen significant advances in their family law rights. A three-part miniseries on HBO shows how some of the rights that we take for granted now were not available even one generation ago. This detailed and personal documentary also offers a lesson to modern families about… Read More »
Three Common Ways to Handle a House in a Divorce
Your home is likely to be your largest, most valuable asset, which makes it a significant subject of conversation in divorce negotiations. When deciding what you will do with the home, you essentially have three options. Option one: Selling the house If neither of you can afford the home yourselves, or neither of you wishes… Read More »
What to Know About Social Security Benefits in a Divorce
Social security benefits are not assets that can be divided by a divorce court when you and your spouse split. However, it is still important to understand the influence these benefits will have on your income after your divorce, and how they could affect your negotiations. Here are a couple circumstances in which you will… Read More »
What Happens to Pensions in a Divorce?
One common question people have when going through divorce, especially at an advanced age: is my spouse entitled to any of my pension? Typically, pension money earned by one spouse during the marriage is classified as a marital asset, just as retirement accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s are. Any money earned prior to the marriage… Read More »
Dealing With Your Credit Before Divorce
Finances are one of the biggest sources of stress for people going through a divorce. It’s important to do everything you can to ensure you come out of the divorce with a stable financial future. Part of this is taking the appropriate steps to protect your credit before you get the divorce. The last thing… Read More »
How to Get Financially Prepared for Divorce
One of the best ways to set yourself up for a relatively smooth divorce process is to be proactive about handling financial issues. In the divorce process you will have to make a lot of financial disclosures, and will need to have a strong understanding of your current financial situation. The more organized you can… Read More »
Tips to Help You Be a More Effective Divorce Negotiator
It is always in your best interest to work with an attorney when going through the process of negotiating your divorce. But there are still going to be circumstances in which you are involved in discussions, so it’s important to be on the same page as your attorney with regard to your strategy, and to… Read More »
How to Prepare for Divorce Mediation
If you and your spouse agreed to divorce mediation, it’s important to arrive to your first session ready to go. There are a variety of topics you should be prepared to discuss, as well as certain items you should bring to your initial session to make it go as smoothly as possible. Here’s a quick… Read More »
Tips for Negotiating Asset Distribution in Your Divorce
It can be difficult for you to fully grasp the financial implications of your divorce, specifically with regard to your asset distribution negotiations. This is why it’s so important to work with an attorney, who can help you see the whole picture. Here are a few tips to help you get a better grasp on… Read More »