With marriage rates declining, there is an increase in children being born to unwed couples. There is no “apparent” stigma and society seems to have embraced this as a norm. Indeed, in the past a child born out of wedlock was called “illegitimate”. However, now our society recognizes that there is nothing illegitimate about any human being and all children…
When a couple cannot conceive naturally, they may elect to go through the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Although this process may provide a couple with the ability to have a child when they are together, treatment of the frozen embryos may become complicated when a couple divorces. This month, a divorcing couple made headlines for their legal battle…
Although mediation is not right for every divorcing couple, it does offer several advantages over traditional, adversarial divorces. The following are five benefits of settling your divorce through mediation: It’s less expensive. In mediation, you and your spouse typically sit down with one family law expert who guides and documents your discussion. This means that you are paying for the…
Mediation is an increasingly used method of divorce that allows couples to work together to arrive at a mutual agreement on how to settle issues related to their divorce. In mediation, you typically work with one legal professional, who guides your decisions and turns agreements into a binding settlement. When mediation may be beneficial Mediation can be a positive, constructive…
Depending on your situation, it could really matter whether you or your spouse file for divorce first. Sometimes, certain factors in your overall settlement may be influenced depending on who initiated the divorce proceedings. Often, the spouse that files for divorce may have more perceived control over the divorce process because they have had additional time to prepare. Because they…
If you are going through a divorce, you will want to be aware of how alimony will be determined, and how these decisions will impact your finances after your divorce ends. Alimony is a form of spousal support that is paid by one member of a divorced couple to the other. Decisions concerning who pays alimony and how much is…
If you and your spouse have children and are going through a divorce, it is important to know about the “best interests” standard and how it will impact your proceedings. When parents cannot agree on child custody terms, a court may have to use the best interest standard to determine which parent receives primary custody. If a child custody decision…
If you believe you will be entering into a divorce with your spouse in the near future, it is important to take all necessary steps to protect yourself, your children and your assets. Through the following five tips, you can be better prepared for when you or your partner file for divorce. Become an expert on your household’s finances: If…
In New York, there are certain formulas that judges use to calculate how much child support is owed by one parent to another after a divorce. If you feel as though your case may be an exception to the rule, you have the ability to inform the judge of special circumstances. Examples of situations where child support may need to…
New Maintenance “Spousal Support” laws were passed and are awaiting the governor’s signature. If you are a husband or a wife; wage earner or homemaker; and are considering a divorce, you may want to run to your attorney now. On June 24, 2015 by an almost unanimous vote of 146 to 1 the New York State Senate passed a bill…