Category Archives: Family Law
Mothers’ Rights: The Bode Miller Case
Alpine skiing veteran Bode Miller has garnered headlines lately that have little to do with downhill racing. In a case playing out on both coasts, the custodial setting of the son of Mr. Miller and an ex-girlfriend has provoked heated discussion about parental rights. In addition to a high-profile quest for Olympic gold at Sochi,… Read More »
The Tragedy of Custody Battles: Three-Year Old Dies When Thrown From Building
Attorneys, court personnel and those who have gone through divorce understand the sometimes terribly acrimony and fear felt by parents during the divorce process. A tragedy in December revealed the instability of one father distraught over a conflicted custody matter. A native of the Ukraine, Dmitriy Kanarikov, 35, lived in Brooklyn and worked as a… Read More »
Emancipation of a Minor in New York: What You Need to Know
What is emancipation? Emancipation is the concept of a minor-aged child leaving his or her parents’ custody (either voluntarily or forcibly) and living independently. New York has no official emancipation statute, nor does the state provide a specific order of emancipation to emancipated minors. However, courts are likely to recognize your emancipation as a minor… Read More »
Is There a Such Thing as Common Law Divorce?
Common law marriage is the concept of a couple living together for a certain amount of time and thereby automatically gaining status as a married couple. While some states recognize common law marriages, New York is not one of them. In New York, a couple must take measures to legally wed in a civil proceeding… Read More »
Family Law Orders & Personal Security in the Wake of the D.C. Shootings
The Navy actually uses better screening for clearance than almost any other organization/branch of government or private industry. In fact, for the Navy, an allegation of adultery can prevent someone from obtaining or maintaining security clearance. Notably, during the D.C. shootings (the unfortunate and most percent mass shooting claiming the lives of 12 people) has… Read More »
The Most Recent Development to Aid Settlement: Rotating Spheres of Influence
Rotating spheres of influence are usually done when there is joint decision making but the parents can’t decide equally on all decisions, because one parent has specific specialty or knowledge or interest in an area of decisions. For example, since the commencement of a divorce, one party has a specific religious zeal or passion that… Read More »
Courts Bending Over Backwards To Help Parties Settle Custody And To Avoid Making Real Decisions
Judges have stated, privately, that when it comes to custody disputes it is often difficult for them to really make decisions since they do not “live with the parties.” Their decisions are based on the testimony of the parties; character witnesses; witnesses that have been present during certain occurrences; together with opinions of experts, the… Read More »
Does Social Media Help or Hurt Marriage?
Sexting is a no-no, except between consenting adults. Facebook is for friends until they are unfriended. Much has been written about the dangers of social media during divorce, but what about before you call it quits? My firm is the largest family law practice in Long Island. We focus exclusively on divorce and family law… Read More »
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… Read More »
Understanding Child Custody Law in NY
If you are a parent wishing to file for child custody in the state of New York, you should familiarize yourself with the state’s child custody laws first. In a child custody case, the court’s job is to decide what is in the best interest of the child. Although there is no clear-cut way to… Read More »