The biological parents of Veronica, Christy Maldonado and Dusten Brown, were unwed when Veronica was conceived and they soon split as a couple. Prior to Veronica’s birth, Brown terminated his parental rights in writing and provided no support to Maldonado or her unborn child. Seeking a good family environment for her child, Maldonado chose Matt and Melanie Capobianco to adopt…
Divorce is one of the most common legal proceedings, so it should come as no surprise that an immense amount of misinformation exists on the subject. Misconceptions about divorce are dangerous for those going through the process—they often make mistakes because they believe things that are simply untrue or are unaware of their options. Expanding on a previous post, here…
According to Domestic Relations Laws in New York, incarceration in prison does not preclude an individual from filing for divorce against a spouse or having divorce filed against him or her by a spouse. In fact, imprisonment for three continuous years or longer is acceptable grounds for divorce in New York. There are two options for divorcing a spouse who…
One of the most frequently asked questions by those approaching divorce is, “how long will the process take?” Of course, each case is unique. It is very difficult to pinpoint the exact length of time your divorce might take to finalize, as there are many factors at play. Some of those factors include the following: The approach you’re taking to…
As you consider potential attorneys to represent you in your divorce, you’ll sit down with each candidate for an initial consultation. These meetings are very important, as they give you an idea of the way an attorney works, what he or she thinks of your case and how qualified he or she is to handle it. In a consultation, the…
Dissolving a marriage can be a difficult and confusing experience, and most people are not prepared for the emotional strain divorce has on them, their children and anyone else involved. Anticipating the stresses your divorce may bring can help you ready yourself and react to disputes in a mature and rational way. As you approach divorce, make sure to consider…
Some might say that divorce is at epidemic levels in the United States. We’ve all heard the statistic that 50 percent of marriages end up in divorce — and while, in actuality, this figure is a misrepresentation, the truth is that America’s divorce rates are the highest in the world. Additionally, older couples are divorcing more and more frequently. So…
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 if the following conditions are…
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 or church ceremony in order…
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 left many questioning why certain…