After the conclusion of a divorce, many people think about what they could have done differently. In hindsight, it is easier to see how you might have helped your case. If a divorce is in your future, consider these tips now to help yourself at the outset of your divorce: Try to keep your emotions under control: Even if you…
Recently, a celebrity couple famously announced their preferred method of divorce is conscious uncoupling. The media watches this divorce as it unfolds. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow and musician Chris Martin announced their separation in a now well-known blog statement about conscious uncoupling. From their statement and the essay that follows it, the couple seems intent on civility and respect as they…
As one New York man found out recently, it is important to stick to agreements made during divorce. New York follows a rule of equitable distribution when weighing division of assets and property during a divorce. When couples come to agreements through negotiation or mediation, the court need not be involved. This case springs from an agreement willingly entered into…
Change happens. Recently the Appellate Division, Second Department reversed a dramatic trial court ruling that denied the petition of a mother to relocate—and awarded her ex-husband sole legal and physical custody of her children. Yvette Cruz and Daniel Caruso are the parents of nine-year old twins. The couple divorced in 2004. In 2007, both parties initiated custody proceedings resulting in…
A New York woman saw her divorce settlement reduced for repeatedly attacking the reputation of her estranged husband in the media and around town. Married for almost 20 years, Ira and Janice Schacter engaged in a bitter divorce for seven years. Remarking on the actions of both parties, New York Supreme Court justice, Laura E. Drager commented “[t]his acrimonious divorce…
Amicable partings do not always lead to an uncontested divorce. In New York, an uncontested divorce is possible when both parties agree to all issues or one party fails to respond to the proceeding. It is common for couples with no children and few assets in a marriage of relatively short duration to end their marriage quietly and move on.…
In November of 2013, a tantrum over the refusal of a New York dad to give his son a Happy Meal led a psychologist to label him an “unfit father.” Recently, the judge in the matter warned the parties to settle their differences or see their four-year old child hauled into her courtroom. Earlier in this high-conflict divorce matter, David…
When high net worth couples divorce, the stakes are high. A recent ruling in Oklahoma allowed the 76th richest person in the world to hold on to a majority stake in his business. Harold Hamm may not be a household name, but his company, Continental Resources produces ten percent of the U.S. oil output. Worth more than $11 billion, Mr.…
Divorce calls for couples to divide their property during divorce. It also requires division of debt. Research suggests disagreements about money are the leading predictor of divorce in the United States. Arguments about money can sour a marriage and make divorce difficult. When money is an issue during marriage, debt is oftentimes involved. Common forms of debt carried by many…
It is inevitable that people wonder how and why their marriage soured. Couples who lived together prior to marriage can breathe a sigh of relief—it did not cause your divorce. In recent decades, the rate of cohabitation in the United States has risen approximately 900 percent. A recent study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family looked at the…