Divorce

Who Gets What? Property Division and Divorce

One of the most contentious aspects of a divorce is dividing property. In one famous case, an enraged spouse cut the couple’s home in half with a chain saw. Fortunately, not all divorces get that out of hand. New York’s Equitable Distribution Law provides for the fair, though not necessarily equal, division of property in a divorce. This statute categorizes…

I Do Again: Legal and Financial Considerations of Remarriage

After divorce, finding someone new is a common goal – but actually tying the knot again is not. According to SmartMoney.com, fewer than half of divorced women and slightly more than half of divorced men are remarried – and those numbers are dropping. Marriage does offer legal and financial benefits over cohabitation, including the tax advantages of joint filing and…

Vehicle Custody: Hanging On to Your Car

When you’re making up your wish list for assets in your divorce settlement, chances are a vehicle will be somewhere near the top. Regardless of whose name is on the title, if the car was purchased during your marriage, it falls within the definition of marital property, and is subject to the Equitable Distribution Laws of New York. If you…

Selling Your Home in a Divorce

Selling a home in even the best circumstances can be stressful – and selling as part of a divorce settlement can be especially complicated. One spouse may focus on maximizing profits, for instance, while the other just wants the sale over with. And combative spouses sometimes want to get their last digs in by impeding the sale. Your settlement should…

First Things First: Initial Orders in Divorce

Regardless of which spouse does the actual filing, initiating a divorce action in New York subjects both spouses to an automatic order – sometimes referred to as an ATRO, or Automatic Temporary Restraining Order. These orders effectively put a freeze on certain financial transactions in order to maintain the financial status quo of the marriage until the divorce is finalized.…

Ways to Protect Yourself During a New York Divorce

Sometimes a divorce is the only option. But don’t rush into it without doing a few things to protect yourself. If you are still communicating with your spouse, it may be smart to discuss a mediated divorce. If not, keeping the following in mind can help: Speak with an attorney. Many divorce attorneys offer free consultations. This is your time…

Mistakes to Avoid in a New York Divorce

So you’ve decided to get a divorce and think you know what to do. But time and time again, people make the same mistakes and suffer because of them. Keeping in mind some of the following tips throughout your divorce can benefit you both emotionally and financially. Here are some of the most common mistakes made during a divorce: Revenge.…

Steps for Filing a Divorce in New York

Going through a divorce can be a very difficult time in your life. Don’t let uncertainty about the complicated divorce process add to your stress. Here are the basic steps involved in filing a divorce in New York. Residency requirements. First you must meet the residency requirements to be eligible to file a divorce in New York. Establishing the grounds.…