New York, as with all states, uses the “best interest” standard for determining child custody arrangements. This means parents can expect judges to consider a variety of factors that will go into determining what arrangement would be in the child’s best interest for the long term. Some examples of some of those factors include: Parental ability: Courts want to make…
There are a lot of important issues you’ll need to handle during the course of your divorce. One that you might not immediately think of is what you’ll do with the family dog. Your dog, after all, is very much a part of your family, which can make who gets the dog a contentious issue when couples split. Divorce is,…
Studies show that fewer than 10 percent of divorcing couples seek counseling or therapy before they move forward with the divorce. However, more than 90 percent of couples who attend therapy sessions when dealing with marital problems report the counseling to have been helpful. Here are just a few of the ways you can expect counseling before a divorce to…
The divorce process can easily become drawn out and expensive, especially if you have a large and complicated estate or if you and your spouse don’t get along. There are, though, some ways you can expedite the process to get through it faster and move on to your new life. Not all of these will necessarily be an option in…
One common question we receive at our law offices is whether or not the state of New York recognizes common law marriages. The short answer here is no, but let’s take a closer look at what a common law marriage is and what state law says about it. What is common law marriage? In the states that recognize common law…
In November, there is a movement whereby men put down their razors and grow facial hair in order to bring awareness to men’s health issues. I have seen too many people without hair as a result of cancer treatment. I have seen this in my family and friends. I am growing hair in support of those who lose it during…
If the other parent of your child regularly neglects to pay the child support he or she owes you, there are a variety of potential collection methods you and your attorney could work to implement to ensure you get the money you need. Perhaps the most common type of collecting judgments for overdue child support is wage garnishment. In a…
A parent who is granted full custody has the authority to make all major decisions regarding the child without consulting the other parent, an authority known as sole legal custody. That parent will also have sole physical custody, in that the child will live with them full time. It is rare for a parent to have sole legal and physical…
All parents have a responsibility to financially support their children, providing for food, housing, medical assistance, education and other needs. A failure by one parent to pay court-ordered child support could result in serious penalties, including criminal charges and sentences. Here’s a quick overview of some of the penalties that exist for failure to pay child support: Federal offenses There…
The decision of whether or not to sell your house during the divorce process can be quite difficult. Having to pack up and move while so many other changes are occurring in your life can be a truly overwhelming prospect. However, there are many circumstances in which it does not make financial sense for either party to hold on to…