Election years are marked by arguments between supporters of different candidates and causes. Whether it’s a presidential debate or a conversation between people on adjoining barstools, discussions can sometimes become heated and relationships might suffer. However, according to some divorce attorneys, more marriages are ending these days at least in part due to conflicts over politics. Political principles can be…
The decision to end a marriage is a complex one, influenced by a multitude of factors. Each relationship is unique, and while infidelity or conflicts over money might be what gets someone to file for divorce, recent research suggests that we can look at other factors to assess if a couple is more likely to go their separate ways at…
It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about dividing thousands or billions of dollars. Disagreements over the division of marital property can become very heated, even if a settlement offer is one that equals more money than most people will ever see in their lifetime. The high-profile divorce between Jenny and John Paulson has captured media attention, largely due to Jenny…
For many couples, marriage is both a legal and religious commitment. New York’s Domestic Relations Law permits marriages to be solemnized by a member of the clergy when both parties declare that they take each other as spouses. These unions can be recognized under state law even if the couple never obtains a civil marriage license. In a recent Brooklyn…
More than ever before, many Americans seem to treat their dogs and cats as family members. Divorce lawyers have noted that pet custody disputes are increasingly common, and states, including New York, have revised their laws to adjust to this new reality. A breakup involving a former television star exemplifies how intense conflicts over pets can become. Shantel VanSanten, known…
Divorce is a complex and emotionally charged process, and when a spouse is dealing with depression, extra sensitivity and thoughtfulness might be required to handle the necessary legal details. Whether you are contemplating divorcing a spouse with depression or have already filed to end your marriage to someone afflicted with this condition, understanding the unique challenges and implications involved is…
Alimony, which is referred to as spousal maintenance under New York law, can be a very contentious issue when a couple divorces. Under traditional periodic alimony arrangements, spouses who have gone their separate ways maintain a financial link because one ex is ordered to send payments to the other. There is another option though. Lump-sum alimony eliminates the need for…
A prenuptial agreement can be very useful for prospective spouses who are concerned about protecting their financial interests if they get a divorce somewhere down the road. Accordingly, these contracts are becoming more commonplace, especially among younger people. However, there are situations where someone who signed a prenuptial document alleges that it should not be enforced for one or more…
When Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher recently went public with the fact that they had filed for divorce in 2023, it marked the latest instance of a celebrity couple that only announced their breakup long after it occurred. Other examples of this trend include Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied, Meryl Streep and Don Gummer, and Will and Jada Pinkett…
A survey conducted by Forbes magazine of more than 1,000 Americans during and after their divorces sheds light on the reasons why marriages break up and demonstrates that some things we commonly hear about divorce aren’t always true. For example, it is no longer the case that about half of marriages in this country end in divorce. Likewise, the notion…