The coronavirus has put a strain on all of our lives, our businesses and our public institutions, including the courts. Across New York, most courts were closed for an extended time earlier in the pandemic. They have since reopened, at least partially, in most areas, so citizens can have their legal issues resolved as timely as possible under the circumstances.…
Divorce can be an expensive proposition. Attorneys’ fees can climb quickly while spouses argue over child custody, alimony, property and other issues. Sometimes, a spouse will initiate a divorce proceeding believing that the other spouse will be responsible for paying the legal fees for both parties, along with all the other costs associated with the proceeding. But in actual practice,…
One of the common misconceptions heard from divorce litigants is the notion that husbands are required to pay all the legal fees. In reality, New York law is gender neutral. The court can require one spouse to cover some or all of the other’s attorney’s fees or can require each spouse to pay their own. The New York Domestic Relations…
The term “narcissist,” much like “bipolar” or “OCD,” tends to be frequently misused. A true narcissist is more than just someone who’s self-absorbed—they also lack empathy, tend to be highly exploitative and may go out of their way to cause harm to others. A person with narcissistic personality disorder can make matters extremely difficult during the divorce process, so it…
While it’s certainly not easy to talk to your children about your divorce, it needs to be done sooner or later. It is important to plan out the conversation in advance so you can anticipate any potential reactions or questions, and make the conversation as successful as possible, given the circumstances. Here are a few tips that will help the…
Over the last couple decades, social media has become a nearly inextricable part of our lives. For people who are going through a divorce, it can also be something of a minefield. While your best strategy to stay out of social media-related trouble as you go through your divorce is to simply avoid using it altogether, it can also be…
Money is one of the most common reasons couples get divorced in America. One spouse may be a spender while the other wants to save, causing serious tensions as time goes on. Ironically, while money can drive couples apart, it can also be the thing that prevents them from going their separate ways. That’s because divorce comes with financial costs…
Some people may wish to add provisions related to their children’s education and afterschool activities to their custody arrangements. Here are just a few common examples of some of these provisions. Important school information: The custody arrangement might contain information about the school the child will attend, as well as how each parent will be responsible for sharing information about…
During the time of COVID-19, it has become more common for noncustodial parents to have virtual child visitation sessions rather than in-person visits, especially when there are safety concerns. While it’s always preferable to have in-person visitation, sometimes this simply isn’t possible due to logistical issues, or, in today’s environment, due to pandemic-related concerns. It’s still possible to have a…
Parents disagree, often vehemently, on many aspects of how a child should be raised, from what church or school the child should attend to what sports they should play. But such issues, as important as they may be, pale in comparison to a child’s gender. What happens when parents have opposing views on how a child should identify? That question…