Singer Robin Thicke and actress Paula Patton face an uncertain marital future in light of media revelations about the questionable behavior of Mr. Thicke. Celebrity or not, most marriage relationships are strained when evidence that suggests infidelity surfaces. Last August, a raunchy stage performance between Twerking queen Miley Cyrus and Mr. Thicke raised more than eyebrows. Onstage and off, the…
When your divorce is finalized, it’s time to update some key documents. These include: Social Security: If you changed your name when you got married, you can regain your married name and obtain a new Social Security card through the Social Security Administration. If you are middle-aged or older upon divorce, inform yourself about Social Security benefits. Driver license: Change…
After handling over 15,000 divorces over the last 20years I am confronted with billboards in New York City and advertisements touting “$399.00 uncontested-no signature required” divorces. How is this possible? After all of the research and contacting most all of the places that advertise these “too good to be true” fees, I have come to the conclusion that this is…
Division of property is a hotly debated topic in many divorces. A recent Appellate Division case defined an instance when separate property is not actually separate property. In New York, the assets and debt of the marital estate are subject to equitable distribution during divorce. When couples cannot agree on how to distribute their property, the court strives to divide…
Is the family business profitable or broke? During a divorce, sometimes the only opinion that matters is one provided by an expert. As it turns out, many of our clients benefit from the appropriate use of experts during their divorce proceedings. New York law allows courts to require payment of fees for legal counsel and experts by either party. The…
A few slipped sentences to radio host Howard Stern could spell a significant financial loss for Oksana Grigorieva, the former girlfriend of actor Mel Gibson. A Russian pianist and singer, Oksana Grigorieva gained household recognition in the United States as the girlfriend of actor Mel Gibson. When the relationship soured, allegations and audio recordings emerged to paint a painful portrait…
When a spouse earns a professional degree or license during a marriage, that spouse’s increased earning potential is marital property subject to equitable distribution in New York. Experience has shown, however, that the principle is far easier to articulate than to execute. Consequently, recent reform efforts are aimed at eliminating that section of the law. Reform proponents point to the…
It’s normal to feel isolated when you are facing the end of your marriage. The truth, however, is that you are far from alone. Tens of thousands of people go through divorce every year in New York State. With the help of an experienced domestic relations attorney, you can see the process through to a fair resolution and move on…
If you are reading this, I understand you are already looking for divorce information on the internet. Here is something you should know: the cases and the new developments in the law that are listed on the internet are the one in ten thousand rare exception and may not apply to your particular case. For example, most recently, a Judge…
When a family business is part of the marital estate, the already complex asset-division process becomes even more complicated. This is especially true when the spouses launched the business together. Continuing to jointly operate a business isn’t feasible for most ex-spouses, so it’s generally necessary to divide the business or its value in a fair manner. There are several options…