New York courts hold child custody hearings when parents cannot reach agreements on parenting plans. The hearing can be monumentally stressful, since emotions are likely to run high where parent-child relationships are involved. Going over the questions you are likely to be asked — and knowing your answers — may provide you with valuable peace… Read More »
In the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic and as the months trudged on, there was considerable opinion that marital relationships and family dynamics would be adversely affected. Now that the worst of the crisis seems to be over and we are returning to normal life, what does the data actually show about how the… Read More »
For many years, New York was behind the times when it came to recognizing the nontraditional ways in which people have children. The practice of paid surrogacy was banned. But on February 15, 2021, landmark legislation went into effect that allows couples and individuals to have a child by a surrogate they legally hire for… Read More »
Even though you may have set your mind unchangeably on divorcing your spouse, rushing to file papers could hurt you in the long run. If you try to speed through the process to just get it over with, you may find yourself with poor outcomes that affect your life and the lives of your children… Read More »
Forced closer together by lockdowns, travel restrictions, work-from-home orders and school closures during the pandemic, many married couples have seen their relationships strained to the point of breaking. This has led to a surge of divorces in New York and across the nation. But with the backlog of cases caused by COVID-related court closures, estranged… Read More »
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced married and unmarried couples alike to reexamine their relationships, spurring an increase in divorces and a drastic falloff in weddings. Unmarried couples seem to be questioning the wisdom or desirability of tying the knot. Marriage rates in the United States, which had been on the decline since the 1980s, plunged… Read More »
Everyone knows at least one divorce horror story. It may involve a spouse who hid or stole marital assets or who quit a job to avoid paying alimony. Too often, divorcing couples seem to write off the love and respect they once held for each other and behave as if they are complete strangers or… Read More »
The end of a marriage is an emotionally raw time. For many people it can feel like darkness is setting in and painful thoughts tend to dominate every waking moment. It is common to feel fear, anger, uncertainty or a sense of loss. Getting through the emotional pain of divorce may not be easy, but… Read More »
Divorce can be difficult even under normal circumstances, but for abuse victims the process can be even more trying, since special protective measures must be taken. A recent study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) found that domestic violence was the seventh most common reason for divorce in the United States. Nearly one… Read More »
If you are a mother with children at home and your marriage is coming to an end, your mind is probably full of uncertainties. Will you get custody of the kids? Where will you live? Will you receive child support or be required to pay any? The answers to your questions will vary depending on… Read More »