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Georgia Family Law Blog

Covers family law Issues in Georgia, including divorce, alimony, and child support. By Stephen M. Worrall.

http://gafamilylawblog.com/

Sep 28
Collaboration allows for a kind divorce

The following article, written by Paul Pinkham for Jacksonville.com, details the progress made in Florida incorporating collaborative divorce into and as a viable alternative to the litigation process. =========================================================== Collaborative divorces can save couples money and emotional distress. Attorney Nickolas Alexander remembers returning to his Orange Park office seven years ago excited about a new, less confrontational way to resolve divorces he'd... Posted on September 28, 2009 at 07:20 am by Steve Worrall
Jul 1
Divorce Attorneys Using Social Media to Find Evidence

It's been known for a while that current and potential future employers look at people's profiles on social networking sites such as Facebook. And it's also been known that people are using social networking sites to announce the status of their relationship -- or lack of one. Now the two uses are getting together, with divorce attorneys mining social networking sites for evidence supporting their clients. "Lawyers, however, love these sites, which can be evidentiary gold mines," said a recent... Posted on July 1, 2009 at 07:59 am by Steve Worrall
Jun 30
Top 10 Reasons a Premarital Agreement May be Invalid

FindLaw has a list of 10 reasons which may cause a prenuptial agreement to fail. For more details, check out the original post, but this is a list of those reasons: NO WRITTEN AGREEMENT. NOT PROPERLY EXECUTED. YOU WERE PRESSURED. YOU DIDN'T READ IT. NO TIME FOR CONSIDERATION. INVALID PROVISIONS. FALSE INFORMATION. INCOMPLETE INFORMATION. NO INDEPENDENT COUNSEL. UNCONSCIONABILITY. If you need a prenuptial agreement or have questions about them under Georgia law, we can help. Call us at... Posted on June 30, 2009 at 07:51 am by Steve Worrall

Rank This Week: 68

Sam Hasler's Indiana Divorce &...

Sam Hasler's Indiana Divorce & Family Law Blog

Covers child custody, child support and divorce.

http://haslerlaw2.blogspot.com/

Nov 19
What Do You Know About Indiana Courts? Part Two - Trial Judges & Commissioners

If you have read What Do You Know About Indiana Courts?, you have probably realized that Indiana has no courts dealing specifically with family law cases. For the most part, our trial judges have their time taken first by criminal cases and then by civil suits and then family law cases. What expertise exists for family law cases will be found more in the unelected commissioners. Recently Madison County offered a good example of what we have for judges. Our long standing Circuit Judge resigned... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 01:00 am by Sam Hasler
Nov 19
Indiana Courthouse Tours

Whiule not very complete,Courts in the Classroom > Court History Museum Online does give the broader public a chance to see some of Indiana's courtrooms. The Indiana Supreme Court is in the process of developing virtual courthouse tours for Indiana's 92 county courthouses, all of which are historically significant, and many of which are aesthetically and architecturally significant. In the coming months, these tours-complete with 360&#xc2&#xb0 interactive imaging, still photo galleries, and... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 12:43 am by Sam Hasler
Nov 19
More About Child Custody Evaluators in Indiana

Ryan Cassman of All Things Family Law - Indiana Divorce & Family Law Blog pointed out to me in his comment to my Fayette County: Local Rule on Custody Evaluators that IC 31-17-2-10 and IC 31-17-2-12 would apply throughout Indiana. Legislation comes to us from the Indiana General Assembly for applying throughout Indiana. Local Rules are efforts by the local trial courts to build upon the general. Notice the General Assembly created a mechanism for using custody evaluators but does not fund... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 12:03 am by Sam Hasler

Rank This Week: 153

Updates in Michigan Family Law

Covers adoption, annulment, child abuse, child custody and support, cohabitation, property division, domestic violence, divorce and separation. By Jeanne Hannah.

http://jeannehannah.typepad.com/blog_jeanne_hannah_traver/

Nov 20
David Goldman to testify in Washington

The Associated Press reports today that David Goldman of Tinton Falls, New Jersey will testify on December 2nd before a congressional human rights panel in Washington. David is the father of Sean Goldman who was kidnapped by his mother more than 5 years ago. Posted on November 20, 2009 at 04:58 pm by Jeanne Hannah
Nov 20
Custody awarded to father

A trial court awarded custody of two minor children to a father and the Michigan Court of Appeals ["COA"] affirmed on November 10, 2009 despite the fact that the mother had been the primary caregiver since the birth of the children. Posted on November 20, 2009 at 11:42 am by Jeanne Hannah
Nov 16
David & Sean Goldman | A father left behind

A powerful report was published today in the Asbury Park Press, a New Jersey newspaper, decrying the inaction of United States officials in helping to get Sean returned to his father. Posted on November 16, 2009 at 05:29 pm by Jeanne Hannah

Rank This Week: 222

Oklahoma Family Law Blog

Covers Oklahoma family law issues including marriage, divorce, separation, child support, child custody and visitation. By Dan Nunley.

http://oklahomafamilylawblog.typepad.com/oklahoma_family_law_blog/

Aug 4
Oklahoma Family Law Blog is Moving

This is the final post for the Oklahoma Family Law Blog at this site. Today I am launching a new web site for my law firm and the Oklahoma Family Law Blog will be relocated to this new web site. Additionally, at my new web site you will find three new blogs that I am writing. These new blogs are devoted to other areas of the law in which I represent clients, namely Personal Injury, Social Security Disability, and Workers' Compensation. I want to publicly thank Grant Griffiths and his son Clay,... Posted on August 4, 2008 at 03:11 pm by Dan Nunley
Jul 25
3 Different Styles of Divorce Lawyers

In my years of divorce practice I have seen lots of lawyers handle divorce cases. There are as many different styles as there are different lawyers. But, I have also noticed three recurring styles of lawyer in particular. I call them the lamb, the pit bull and the fox. The lamb is the lawyer that just sort of goes with the flow. They are reactive, not proactive. They want to avoid confrontation at all costs and that means they also want to avoid going to court at all costs, even if it means... Posted on July 25, 2008 at 08:26 pm by Dan Nunley
Jun 13
Mom Kidnaps Children From Dad

Here's a story about a father who was awarded sole legal custody of his two young boys due to the mother's history of alcohol addiction and child abuse. However, the mother kidnapped the children and fled to Egypt after what was supposed to have been a brief unsupervised visit. Source: FoxNews.com. Posted on June 13, 2008 at 07:52 pm by Dan Nunley

Rank This Week: 255

Divorce Law Journal

Covers adoptions, business valuation, collaborative family law, debt division, grandparent visitation, maintenance, relocation and same sex issues. By Diana L. Skaggs.

http://louisvilledivorce.typepad.com/info/

Nov 19
Atkisson v. Atkisson, Ky COA, Marital and Nonmarital Property, Fees, Temporary Maintenance, Garnishment and Judgment Lien

Atkisson v. Attkisson and Atkisson v. Atkisson (consolidated appeals, separate opinions) ___S.W.3d____ (Ky App. 2009) and ___S.W.3d____(Ky App. 2009) Husband appealed the trial court's division of marital property, award of temporary maintenance, award of attorney fees, and denial of relief to quash garnishment writs and judgment lien. Marital residence: Court awarded husband the residence, but awarded all the equity in the residence to the wife as her non-marital property. Husband argued that... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 08:55 am by Diana L. Skaggs
Nov 19
Temple v. Temple, Child Custody, Ky COA

Temple v. Temple, ____S.W.3d____(Ky. App. 2009) Karen is the adopted daughter of Cheryl and Phillip. At the time of the adoption, Karen was classified as severely emotionally disturbed. When the parties divorced, Karen remained with Cheryl. In 2003, at seventeen years old, Karen had a child, N.T. Karen and N.T. lived with Cheryl for the first twenty months of the child's life and Karen relied heavily on Cheryl for the support and care of N.T. Karen later moved into an apartment with N.T., but... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 08:38 am by Diana L. Skaggs
Nov 6
No To Be Published Ky COA Family Law Opinions This Week

We are up-to-date in posting all Kentucky published family law opinions. Posted on November 6, 2009 at 08:33 am by Diana L. Skaggs

Rank This Week: 257

International Family Law

Covers international divorce law, international child custody, international child abduction and international prenuptial agreements. From attorney Jeremy Morley.

http://familylawinternational.blogspot.com/index.html

Nov 16
Japan and International Child Abduction

Policy hurts Japanese nationals too Lawyer for Christopher Savoie foresees curbs on visits 'home' with kids By JEREMY D. MORLEY In the debate about whether Japan should sign the Hague abduction convention, a serious consequence of Japan's failure to ratify the treaty is being overlooked. Japan's failure to sign the convention is extremely damaging to Japanese nationals living overseas, since it makes it far harder for them to bring their children to Japan for visits, and encourages them to... Posted on November 16, 2009 at 09:38 pm by Jeremy Morley
Nov 13
People in Glass Houses …

/**/ Does the U.S. comply with the Hague Abduction Convention? By Jeremy Morley The United States Congress has instructed the U.S. Secretary of State to issue annual reports evaluating the compliance by other countries of their obligations under the Hague Abduction Convention. Valuable efforts are under way that seek to expand such oversight by agencies of the U.S. Government. All of this naturally raises the question of the extent to which the United States is itself in reasonable compliance... Posted on November 13, 2009 at 06:40 am by Jeremy Morley
Oct 25
Korea Reportedly Moving Towards Signing the Hague Abduction Convention

Korea is apparently taking steps towards signing the Hague Abduction Convention. This would be a major step forward in the prevention of international child abduction. Korea Mulls Signing Treaty to Protect Kids Korea is moving to sign an international treaty to protect children against parental abuse and possible abduction in cases of multi-cultural marriage breakdown. A government source said the nation is inching closer to joining the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of Child... Posted on October 25, 2009 at 04:17 am by Jeremy Morley

Rank This Week: 319

The Child Support Web

Offers news and views on child support and child support enforcement.

http://www.childsupportweb.com/index.html

Apr 6
Some Good Advice About Paying for College

Watch out for child support agreements that require payment of college expenses. Posted on April 6, 2009 at 02:01 pm by jverner@childsupportweb.com
Mar 28
The Economy and Child Support Woes

The economy puts people out of work and leads to requests for reductions in child support. Posted on March 28, 2009 at 09:43 pm by jverner@childsupportweb.com
Jan 25
Can a Man Be a Father AND Have Child Support Reimbursed?

New Jersey court turns down man's belated request for a declaration of non-paternity. Posted on January 25, 2008 at 06:49 am by jverner@childsupportweb.com

Rank This Week: 346

Surrogacy & Egg Donation Blog

Covers embryos, surrogacy, and egg and sperm donation. By Theresa M. Erickson.

http://www.surrogacyissuesblog.com

Nov 20
Friday Legal Updates™ – Catholicism and Reproductive Technologies & Southern Australia Surrogacy Update

IVF, Reproductive Technologies, Catholicism, and Surrogacy in Australia are our updates for today. In fact, just this week, the Catholic Church issued a statement that can be found here regarding couples who are infertile and how the Church views how they proceed in creating a family. I found it to be interesting, but certainly painful [...] Posted on November 20, 2009 at 11:26 am by Theresa M. Erickson
Nov 18
German Father Continues His Legal Battle – India Surrogacy Update

The case in India over the German couples' twins continues: "Jan Balaz, father of two twin babies born through surrogacy in Anand, has filed a contempt petition against the passport authorities for non-compliance with the order of the Gujarat High Court.Balaz recently won a legal case against the Regional Passport Authority in getting the Indian passports of [...] Posted on November 18, 2009 at 09:00 am by Theresa M. Erickson
Nov 16
Doctor Comments on Profit Motive for Sperm Banks

There was an interesting article in the Washington Times on Friday, whereby the physician quoted blames the profit motive behind sperm donation (and the resulting passage of inheritable diseases) for the damage that has been done to these families. He believes that the recently reported case of the sperm donor who helped create 24 children, nine of whom [...] Posted on November 16, 2009 at 09:56 am by Theresa M. Erickson

Rank This Week: 353

Maryland Divorce Legal Crier

Features news and comments about divorce, child support, child custody, alimony, equitable property distribution, father's rights, mother's rights, family law, and laws on divorce. By James Gross.

http://www.mddivorcelawyers.com/weblogs/blogger.html

Jun 6
Fresh Start After DIvorce

After dealing with issues like adultery, cruelty and abandonment all week, it is good to run across a positive and constructive website like FreshStartAfterDivorce.Com by Jolie Winberg. She has a lot of good ideas for dealing with divorce like making every Wednesday an empowering day. Yesterday, she had Dr. Terri Levine, a guest coach, present ten ways to get more out of your life. Winberg is a good example of someone who has turned a bad experience like divorce into something helpful and... Posted on June 6, 2008 at 03:47 pm by James J. Gross
Jun 5
Divorce Advice

Divorce is difficult and costly. Avoid it if possible. Sometimes you have no choice. It takes two people to get married, but only one to get divorced. If your spouse wants a divorce, then you can slow it down, but you cannot prevent it altogether. Someone determined to get a divorce is allowed by law to get one even if one of the parties does not want a divorce. Or maybe you just made a mistake in marrying the person you did, and you need to correct it and get on with your life. If you do have... Posted on June 5, 2008 at 12:03 pm by James J. Gross
Jun 4
The Process of Divorce

Most people think of divorce as an event. Actually it is more like a process. If you cannot reach an agreement with your spouse on various issues like children, alimony and property division, then you can ask a judge to hold a trial and make a decision. This is called litigation. You begin litigation by filing a complaint for divorce at the county courthouse. Filing a lawsuit does not have to stop settlement negotiations. Litigation and settlement often proceed on parallel tracks. THE THREE... Posted on June 4, 2008 at 04:15 pm by James J. Gross

Rank This Week: 430

New Jersey Family Law

Covers divorce, mediation, arbitration and litigation. By Charles C. Abut.

http://njdivorceblog.typepad.com/new_jersey_divorce_law_me/

Nov 17
SECAUCUS HUDSON COUNTY NEW JERSEY PALIMONY MEDIATOR

She sued him for palimony, based on their living together for over 10 years and having 2 children together. The case went to trial, at the end of which the judge threw out all her palimony related claims. The judge ruled she had not proven an underlying promise by him of "lifetime support", which is the indispensable requirement of a palimony claim. These findings are affirmed on appeal. Dukes v. Fritz, New Jersey App. Div., November 17, 2009 &#xe3€€ Posted on November 17, 2009 at 11:49 am by Charles Abut
Nov 16
SOUTH ORANGE ESSEX COUNTY NEW JERSEY DIVORCE MEDIATION ATTORNEY

Even though the World Series is over, baseball is still headline news. The buzz is about divorce filings by Frank and Jamie McCourt, whose marital assets include the Los Angeles Dodgers. Their allegations include : she's a lawyer, but didn't know what she was doing when she signed their prenup; their assets exceed $1.2 billion dollars; his claim that she's having an affair with her chauffeur; and her claimed lifestyle expenses, greater than the combined salaries of players Matt Kemp, James... Posted on November 16, 2009 at 06:04 am by Charles Abut
Nov 13
WEEHAWKEN HUDSON COUNTY NEW JERSEY DIVORCE MEDIATOR ATTORNEY

Although the New Jersey divorce judge was correct in finding a net credit of $36,062.38, it was error to order the credit to be paid from a joint escrow account. Rather, the account should first have been divided equally and then the credit should have been paid from plaintiff's share. Czuchnicki v. Czuchnicki, New Jersey App. Div., November 12, 2009 Posted on November 13, 2009 at 10:53 am by Charles Abut

Rank This Week: 468

Divorce and Family Law in Tarrant...

Divorce and Family Law in Tarrant County, Texas

Discusses family law and divorce issues. By Dick Price.

http://dick-price.blogspot.com/

Oct 19
10 Things Not To Say To Your Children During a Divorce

I just ran across an outstanding post by "Wolfgang" in Practical Advice on October 16, 2009 about an issue that comes up in just about every divorce (including Collaborative ones) involving kids. Some issues seem so perfectly obvious that you might think no one would say or do that, but these are all very realistic examples of what is often said in divorce cases. Some parents seem to believe that if a statement is "true", then it can and should be spoken. They somehow miss the damage they... Posted on October 19, 2009 at 12:57 pm by Dick Price
Oct 9
Responding to Provocation

I have just run across a new (for me, at least) blog called the Fresh Start After Divorce Blog, run by the National Association of Divorce for Women and Children, which had some really good, practical advice and inspiration for dealing with the transition from marriage to single person. Ellen Kellner wrote a recent post entitled "How NOT to React to Your Ex!" which I reprinted below. Her advice can work equally well for men or women. "What is the cinching element to The Pro-Child Way?... Posted on October 9, 2009 at 02:46 pm by Dick Price
Oct 2
Top 10 Reasons a Premarital Agreement May be Invalid

A topic that comes up periodically is prenuptial agreements. Sometimes people plan ahead, think through the issues and come up with appropriate agreements that actually benefit both parties, or at least don't take advantage of one of the parties. As helpful as they can be, most often we hear about them when a couple is splitting up and there will be a huge fight unless the prenuptial agreement is valid. Stephen Worrall, who writes one of my favorite blogs, the Georgia Family Law Blog, had a... Posted on October 2, 2009 at 01:38 pm by Dick Price

Rank This Week: 471

Houston Divorce and Family Law...

Houston Divorce and Family Law Attorney Blog

Covers collaborative law, divorce, family law and marriage. By J. Shannon Cavers.

http://divorce.caverslaw.com/

Oct 2
Will Texas' Ban on Same-Sex Marriage and Same-Sex Divorce be Challenged?

The issues of same-sex marriage and termination of such marriages may be dealt with in Texas sooner that this commentator expected. Thursday, October 1, 2009, Dallas Judge Tena Callahan ruled that the state's ban on same-sex marriage violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott filed a petition in intervention, which was denied by the judge. Abbott's office indicated the State would seek an appeal of Judge Callahan's decision. For more... Posted on October 2, 2009 at 01:47 pm
Jun 23
Marital Mediation - A New Arena for Family Law Mediators

In many states, a new and quickly growing area of family mediation is marital mediation. Marital mediation is a process of assisted negotiation designed to preserve a marriage in ways not attempted by family therapy. The process uses family mediation skills to help couples negotiate new terms for their marriage. Marital mediation is not couples therapy or marriage counseling. There is no diagnosis, assessment or treatment of an illness or disability in the hopes of solving marital problems or... Posted on June 23, 2009 at 02:54 pm
Jun 19
Do you really want a "mean" lawyer?

My colleague, Dick Price, wrote a fantastic piece about "mean" lawyers. I find Dick's insights helpful and valid whether one is in the midst of family law case or general civil litigation. Dick's words of wisdom follow: Over the years, a number of prospective clients have asked about how mean a lawyer I can be. I used to tell them that I could be as mean as I needed to be. Now, I prefer to discuss some other, related issues. 1. What is the client's overall objective in getting (or getting... Posted on June 19, 2009 at 02:58 pm

Rank This Week: 472

Massachusetts Divorce & Family...

Massachusetts Divorce & Family Law Blog

Covers current issues in Massachusetts divorce and family law. By Steven Ballard.

http://massachusettsfamilylaw.blogspot.com/

Nov 4
Maine Voters Repeal Gay Marriage Law

Maine voters repealed their state's gay marriage law yesterday. BOSTON GLOBE - PORTLAND, Maine - Maine voters overturned the state's same-sex marriage law yesterday, delivering a potentially crushing blow to gay-rights advocates after a year when their cause seemed to be gaining momentum with legislative and legal victories in four states.The "people's veto'' came six months after Maine's law was Posted on November 4, 2009 at 01:27 am by Steven Ballard
Oct 5
Alimony Reform and the Business of Divorce

The Boston Business Journal continues to cover the controversy over the competing Massachusetts alimony bills, and in Friday's article by Lisa van der Pool, Dueling alimony bills raise hackles in legal circles, the focus was on the question of whether Senator Cynthia Creem, chair of the Senate's Judiciary Committee, has a "conflict of interest" on account of her sponsorship of the alimony reform Posted on October 5, 2009 at 12:04 pm by Steven Ballard
Sep 29
Is Family Law a Masterful Scam? A Criminal Enterprise?

I thought I would reprint my response to a comment on my last post, which was on the issue of alimony reform, as I believe it deserves its own post here. Over the years, I have found some people to be so angry and bitter, after going through difficult experiences in the family law system, that they lose all sense of reality and become paranoid. I have thought about this again recently after Posted on September 29, 2009 at 03:07 am by Steven Ballard

Rank This Week: 483

Family Lore

Covers child support, divorce, property and chiildren. By John Boich.

http://familylawsolicitor.blogspot.com/index.html

Nov 20
Re B: Why a grandmother was preferred to a father

Why would a court prefer a child to be brought up by a grandparent rather than a parent? That was the decision in the first family law case of the new Supreme Court, overruling the decision of the Court of Appeal. Re B (A Child) [2009] UKSC 5 concerned a three year-old boy who had been cared for since birth by his maternal grandmother, who was granted a residence order by consent in November 2006. In 2008, his father applied to the Family Proceedings Court for a residence order, but was... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 01:12 pm
Nov 20
Updating Family Lore Focus

I am in the process of updating Family Lore's companion site, Family Lore Focus. I've just uploaded the new front page, which I will be testing for the next few days, before I start to roll out the rest of the new site. I hope that readers find the new site to be an improvement, although if you find any problems with it, please let me know by email, at john[@]familylore.co.uk. Posted on November 20, 2009 at 06:38 am
Nov 19
Legal Aid: Worse than shovelling sh*t

The headline on Family Law Newswatch says it all: Legal aid lawyers paid less than sewage workers. Posted on November 19, 2009 at 11:55 pm

Rank This Week: 513

Iowa Family Law

Covers alimony, child support, custody, divorce,, post-ssecondary subsidy, property division, tax and visitation. By Babich, Goldman, Cashatt & Renzo.

http://www.iadivorce.com/

Apr 28
Increased Filing Fees

The Iowa Legislature recently approved a bill containing substantial increases in state court filing fees. The bill has been sent to the Governor for his signature, which is expected, and the increases will become effective upon enactment. Some of the increased fees affecting family law cases are: Dissolution of Marriage Petition, currently $100 will increase to $185. Domestic Abuse Petitions, currently $100 will increase to $185 (unless waived). Paternity Petitions, currently $100 will... Posted on April 28, 2009 at 02:46 pm by Alexander Rhoads
Apr 17
No Absolute Right to Children's Medical/Therapy Records

Today's Iowa Supreme Court decision in Harder v. Anderson, Arnold, Arnold, Dicket Jensen Gullickson and Sanger, L.L.P. et al, available online here, holds that parents who are joint legal custodians do not have an absolute right to obtain copies of their children's medical, counselling, and therapy records. The case arose when a parent sent a valid authorization to release records to her children's counsellor. The counsellor refused to release verbatim copies of the records, but offered to meet... Posted on April 17, 2009 at 12:37 pm by Alexander Rhoads
Apr 3
Varnum v. Brien: Iowa "Same-Sex" Marriage Decision - Affirmed

The Iowa Supreme Court has issued a unanimous decision affirming the district court's ruling in Varnum v. Brien, the case that challenged the Iowa statutory definition of marriage. The Court's lengthy opinion is available here (PDF; 69 pages). Related appellate documents, briefs, and the original district court ruling are available on the Court's website. It is anticipated that the decision will be effective on April 27, 2009. Posted on April 3, 2009 at 12:35 pm by Alexander Rhoads

Rank This Week: 555

NJ Domestic Partnership

Offers news and articles on the law of domestic partnership. By Stephen J. Hyland.

http://www.stephenhyland.com/

Mar 24
Vermont Marriage Bill Advances

The Vermont Senate passed legislation Monday that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state. The bill passed 26-4. It now moves to the House where supporters believe it is likely to be approved. But whether Vermont Gov. James Douglas (R) will sign it is unknown. The measure would replace Vermont's first-in-the-nation civil unions law with one that allows marriage of same-sex partners beginning Sept. 1. Civil unions, which confer some rights similar to marriage, would still be recognized but... Posted on March 24, 2009 at 08:30 am
Mar 3
DOMA Challenge Filed in MA

(March 3, 2009) The first concerted, multi-plaintiff legal challenge to Section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was filed today by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD). Gill et al. v. Office of Personnel Management et al. targets the denial of certain federal rights and protections to married same-sex couples in Massachusetts. GLAD lawsuits brought marriage equality to Massachusetts (2004) and Connecticut (2008), the only states where same-sex couples can currently... Posted on March 3, 2009 at 08:17 am
Feb 25
HI Civil Union Bill Stuck in Committee

HONOLULU-The Hawaiian Civil Union Bill, which was recently passed in the House, remains stuck in the Judiciary Committe. After 15 hours of testimony, the Committee tied on a 3-3 vote to move the bill to the Senate. Senate leaders are now considering a full Senate vote to pull the bill from the Committee. The bills supporters believe they have sufficient votes bring the bill to the floor and to pass it. There is no indication as to whether the Governor will sign the bill if it passes. The... Posted on February 25, 2009 at 06:26 am

Rank This Week: 560

Australian Divorce Blog

Covers family law and divorce in Australia. By Stephen Page.

http://australiandivorce.blogspot.com/

Nov 16
Separation costs Aussie men $110,000 in...

Separation costs Aussie men $110,000 in happiness, women only $8900: researcher [ow.ly]Stephen Page, Harrington Family Lawyers, Brisbane spage@harringtonfamilylawyers.com 61(7) 3221 9544 Posted on November 16, 2009 at 01:05 pm by Stephen Page
Nov 12
The two ways to settle children's disputes: Family Court case

There are essentially two ways to settle a family law dispute about children: one is a parenting plan - which is basically a written agreement about the children signed by each of the parents, and the other is obtaining consent orders from the Family or Federal Magistrates Courts (and sometimes the state magistrates or local courts). Family lawyers like me always advocate that parties should sign up to consent orders, rather than a parenting plan, and the reason is obvious: if it's breached... Posted on November 12, 2009 at 09:34 pm by Stephen Page
Nov 12
Washington sniper's actions were a child custody ploy?

/**/ In the last couple of days, Washington DC sniper, John Allen Muhammed, was executed. Back in 2002 he and his accomplice 17 year old Lee Boyd Malvo drove around the streets of Washington randomly shooting at strangers. One of them would lie in the boot of the car firing out of the special modified boot lid at people doing ordinary everyday activities, such as filling the car with petrol, or going to the car wash. Their actions terrorised Washington. For three weeks, no one was prepared to... Posted on November 12, 2009 at 08:40 pm by Stephen Page

Rank This Week: 587

Missouri Divorce and Family Law...

Missouri Divorce and Family Law Blog

Covers alimony/maintenance, bankruptcy, child support, custody and visitation, divorce, paternity, property division and taxes. By Mark Wortman.

http://familylaw.mwortmanlaw.com/

Oct 19
Parenting Plan that Vaguely Assigns Decision Making Responsibilities to Third Party Unenforceable.

In a recent ruling by the Missouri Court of Appeals, in a custody modification proceeding, the trial court's modified parenting plan delegated the authority to make all medical, educational, and extracurricular decisions for one of the parents' two children to her "team of doctors." The Court held that these provisions of the plan are too vague and indefinite to be enforceable in that the phrase "team of doctors" is not sufficiently definite and specific. Provisions in a judgment should be... Posted on October 19, 2009 at 09:52 am
Oct 7
Unmarried Parents: What you should know and do when served with an administrative order for child support (from the Family Support Division)

In Missouri, there are two primary ways that a non-married parent can seek to establish child support, judicial and administrative. A judicial action is through the circuit court, and an administrative action is through the Family Support Division. The Division is an administrative agency which has the power to issue binding orders for child support, which may or may not later be filed as a judicial action in the appropriate circuit court. The agency has their own administrative process, where... Posted on October 7, 2009 at 07:05 pm
Sep 28
Parent Relocation - Finding that Children Could Not Relocate Reversed

In today's highly mobile society, is is not uncommon at all for one parent to desire to relocate to another city or state. While Courts recognize that a parent cannot realistically be confined to one geographic location, the greater the distance between the parents, the more difficult it can be to effectively exercise a joint physical custody arrangement. Courts routinely have to make difficult decisions that will heavily impact the child's relationship with a non-custodial parent. When... Posted on September 28, 2009 at 12:32 pm

Rank This Week: 589

The Modern Woman's Divorce Guide

Helps women navigate the intricacies of divorce and save money along the way. By Helene Taylor.

http://www.themodernwomansdivorceguide.com/blog

Nov 1
Divorce Care for Christians: What Does God Think of Divorced People?

Does God consider you a second-class citizen now that you're divorced? What if you now realize that you sinned by asking for a divorce for the wrong reasons? As mentioned before, God "forgets" our sin the moment we confess it to Him, and remembers it no more. (Have you confessed it to him? If not, what are you waiting for?) Once you've confessed, you're off the hook. Your past is past. Read 1 John 1:8-10. Do you see any exceptions in this verse? Any sins that are not forgiven? Clean as a... Posted on November 1, 2009 at 01:11 pm by ModDiva
Oct 13
Attention California Residents: Get Free Access to our Online, On-Demand Divorce Video Classes

We are so excited about our new Divorce Video Classes and feel certain that you will be too once you see them! So, for a limited time, we are giving you free instant access to our incredible line-by-line videos, detailed hand written instructions, and blank legal forms from our Divorce Class Lesson 1 - Step 1: Preparing a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. When you follow the instructions in our video "Preparing a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage" you can quickly and easily complete the... Posted on October 13, 2009 at 04:52 pm by ModDiva
Oct 2
Attracting Real Love

If you are ready to attract, create & live in authentic, loving, conscious relationship, you don't want to miss this free call with Relationship & Dating Coach Daniela Koenig, MA, author of How to Pick up the Pieces of Your Heart After Divorce - 3 Steps to Self Love: The Foundation for Every Real Relationship. On Monday October 5, 2009 at 5 p.m. PST (6 pm MST, 7 pm CST, 8 pm EST) dial in to learn how you can: Shift from defensiveness to speaking authentically Bust 3 myths that keep you... Posted on October 2, 2009 at 01:02 pm by ModDiva

Rank This Week: 629

Total Divorce Blog

Divorce Lawyers Educating Consumers

http://blog.totaldivorce.com

Mar 9
Choosing Between Divorce and Bankruptcy

In many marriages, financial problems are a major source of stress and put a strain on the relationship. When money problems cause severe conflict, some couples may logically try to make a decision between bankruptcy and divorce. If the marriage is otherwise strong, bankruptcy may be an option to relieve money concerns and ease marital discord. Chapter 7 bankruptcy may allow a couple to have most unsecured debts discharged and get a fresh start, while Chapter 13 reorganizes debts for people who... Posted on March 9, 2009 at 09:51 am by Erin Kelley
Mar 6
Social Media and Online Affairs

Since the increased popularity of social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace in recent years, many people have the opportunity to reconnect with old friends, co-workers and lovers online. These types of sites also give users the ability to make plenty of new online friends. As a result, many spouses may spend a lot of time on computers - especially if a marriage is already rocky. When a spouse spends an excessive amount of time online, it not only takes time away from family, but can... Posted on March 6, 2009 at 09:01 am by Erin Kelley
Mar 4
Texas Bill Requires Couple with Children to take Class before Divorce

Republican Representative Warren Chisum introduced a new bill into the Texas House that would require married couples with children to take a 10 hour class before filing for no fault divorce. Since 45 percent of marriages end in divorce, Chisum believe that the class may save a few marriages. "I think we can save more than a few, but if we can save a few, it's worth our effort," he told WFAA. The new bill might encourage couples to stay together not because of what the couples take away from... Posted on March 4, 2009 at 08:23 am by Erin Kelley

Rank This Week: 637

Florida Divorce Law Blog

Covers adoption, child custody, child support, divorce, domestic violence, international child custody, marital agreements, paternity, property division and visitation. By Janet Langjahr.

http://www.fladivorcelawblog.com

Nov 19
Tribe Thwarts American Indian Father’s Efforts to Gain Custody of Daughter in State Child Welfare Agency’s Care

Mother gives Daughter up for adoption upon Daughter's birth. Daughter has been in the custody of state child welfare agency for all of her two years. Father seeks custody of Daughter. Father is an American Indian. Father seeks to invoke the Federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), which applies to children of American Indian heritage. In the first trial over custody of Daughter, Father's tribe sends a representative to testify in state family court that Daughter is not formally enrolled as a... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 07:33 pm by Janet Langjahr
Nov 16
Worst Parental Dispute of All: Parents Ask Court to Decide Whether Baby Should Live or Die

Mother and Father have 1 year old Baby. Mother and Father are separated. Baby has condition as a result of which his lungs constantly fill with fluid and then have to be suctioned out. Baby is in the hospital on a ventilator. Baby's prognosis does not look good. The hospital and doctors recommend taking Baby off the ventilator and allowing him to die. Father believes Baby has some quality of life and does not want to take Baby off the ventilator. So Father seeks a court order prohibiting taking... Posted on November 16, 2009 at 08:03 pm by Janet Langjahr
Nov 15
Baby Taken into Custody for Doing Drugs … Protective Custody, That Is

Police receive anonymous tip indicating that the odor associated with pot is emanating from a certain home. Police go to investigate. At the home, police find various drugs &#xe2€&#xa6 and a Toddler. Police contact the local child welfare agency (Agency), which takes Toddler into protective custody. The Agency tests Toddler for drugs. The test reveals that Toddler has more than one type of illicit drug in his system, including marijuana and methamphetamines. Toddler's parents are arrested for felony... Posted on November 15, 2009 at 08:16 pm by Janet Langjahr

Rank This Week: 668

Mississippi Family Law Blog

Discusses issues of family law in Mississippi including divorce, separation, custody, visitation and support. By Robert Kisselburgh.

http://www.mississippifamilylawblog.com/

Nov 19
Were marriages in Texas after 2005 legal?

Marriages in Texas since 2005 may not be legal Texas may have itself a big problem. In 2005, it approved a constitutional amendment banning gay marriages. Under the amendment, it states in the first part: Marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman. That portion is not the problem. The problem is the second part of the amendment which says: This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 06:15 pm by Robert Kisselburgh
Nov 18
More Fathers getting primary custody of their children in divorces

More Fathers get custody of children in divorces In Mississippi, as well as other states, more women are working and becoming the primary breadwinner in the family. One downside some women are finding in working so hard is that their husbands are getting primary custody of the children in a divorce. In a recent New York Times article, it was stated: There are now 2.2 million divorced women in the United States who do not have primary physical custody of their children, and an estimated 50... Posted on November 18, 2009 at 07:01 pm by Robert Kisselburgh
Nov 13
Splitting the pots and pans in a divorce

Dividing personal property in a divorce A fellow divorce attorney from South Carolina, Ben Stevens, wrote a nice post about dividing personal property in a divorce. Check it out here. Posted on November 13, 2009 at 06:50 am by Robert Kisselburgh

Rank This Week: 669

Child Custody Blog

Covers child custody, divorce, and family law matters.

http://www.childcustodycoach.com/blog

Nov 19
More Fathers are Getting Custody in Divorce

A couple years ago I put out an article on my website titled "More Fathers are Getting Custody" and have provided substantial material and information on the subject of child custody for fathers (I've done the same on child custody for mothers). I noticed recently an article with a similar title called "More Fathers [...] Posted on November 19, 2009 at 04:24 pm by thecustodycoach
Nov 14
Shaq Divorce Rumors - Shaq’s Wife Shaunie O’Neal Files for Legal Separation

Are the recent Shaq divorce rumors true? Reportedly, according to TMZ.com, the Shaquille O'Neal divorce rumors have merit as his wife Shaunie O'Neal apparently filed for legal separation in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday and cited "irreconcilable differences" for the reason for the split. Shaunie O'Neal is reportedly asking for an unspecified amount [...] Posted on November 14, 2009 at 07:06 pm by thecustodycoach
Nov 10
Joint Custody - Levi Johnston to File for Joint Child Custody of Son with Former Fiancee Bristol Palin

Reportedly, Levi Johnston said he is planning to file for legal joint custody of his 10-month-old son, Tripp, with former fiancee Bristol Palin. Levi Johnston, 19, has made claims in the past that the Palin family has prevented him from being alone with his son Tripp - And things have only gotten worse. [...] Posted on November 10, 2009 at 07:19 am by thecustodycoach

Rank This Week: 715

Andrew Feldstein's Blawg

Covers family law topics, including child custody, child support, and spousal support.

http://blog.andrewfeldstein.com

Nov 18
Porter v. Porter: Assessment and Access

This Ontario Superior Court of Justice decision demonstrates that section 30 of the Children's Law Reform Act (CLRA) can be used to order a psychiatric/psychological assessment of a party, in this case the father. The intention of ordering the assessment was to determine whether the father should be given unsupervised access to the children given his medical and criminal history. The wife has custody of the 2 children (2 and 4 years old) and the father is the access parent. On June 12, 2008 a... Posted on November 18, 2009 at 05:18 pm by Andrew Feldstein
Nov 16
Proulx v. Proulx: Saying “I do” to Child Support

The parties in this case had two children together and the wife had two children from a previous marriage. A major issue in this case was whether the husband stood in the place of a parent to the two older children, and, if so, how his child support payments should be calculated in light of this assumed parental role. The husband claimed that he did not stand in the place of a parent for these two children, and thus had no obligation to support them, because of the short length of the marriage... Posted on November 16, 2009 at 03:43 pm by Andrew Feldstein
Nov 14
Dawud v. Dawud – Non-Disclosure and Striking Pleadings

In this case, the mother brought a Motion in which she sought, among other things, the striking of the father's pleadings because of his failure to comply with court orders. The father failed to comply with a November 14, 2008 order requiring him to provide financial disclosure. Not only did the father fail to comply with this order, he also failed to provide the disclosure required by the Child Support Guidelines. The little disclosure that he did provide was described by the judge as... Posted on November 14, 2009 at 03:35 pm by Andrew Feldstein

Rank This Week: 723

Chicago Divorce Lawyer &...

Chicago Divorce Lawyer & Attorney Blog

Discusses how to avoid mistakes and obtain a better outcome in your divorce. By Marie Fahnert.

http://www.justdivorceblog.com/

Nov 11
It's been a while...

It has been a while since my last blog post. I was redesigning my website. It took a lot of effort. I think it was worth it. My new law firm website is more in-depth than the old one, it contains: Highlights some of my recent accomplishments (such as my recent win in the Supreme Court of Illinois), sections on my background, a review of my work from both lawyers and clients, and a cool Chicago divorce map. Please take a look at my Divorce Lawyers in Chicago website and tell me what you think! Posted on November 11, 2009 at 09:33 am by Marie Fahnert
Aug 13
Quote: Picking the good...

From the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider's web&#xe2€&#xa6 We must pick out what is good for us where we can find it. - Pablo Picasso via Quotewhore Posted on August 13, 2009 at 09:15 pm by Marie Fahnert
Jul 5
Dalai Lama's (divorce) lesson:

"Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk. When you lose, don't lose the lesson. Follow the three R's: - Respect for self. - Respect for others. - Responsibility for all your actions." -14th Dalai Lama of Tibet via On Her Way ........................................... My Note: I can't stress enough how important the "three R's" are reaching a successful outcome in your divorce. However, it is sometimes difficult to follow the rules during times of stress.... Posted on July 5, 2009 at 09:28 pm by Marie Fahnert

Rank This Week: 739

Georgia Adoption Law Blog

Covers adoption law issues in Georgia, including independent adoptions, agency adoptions, step-parent adoptions, relative adoptions, and international adoptions. by Stephen Worrall.

http://www.adoptionlawga.com/

Sep 11
New China Consulate Appointment Policy

As a result of changes under the Hague Adoption Convention, U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou will only schedule adoptions appointments for applicants who have both an approved I-600A or I-800A form and a current fingerprint clearance from the FBI. Until recently, they allowed agencies to make appointments for families even if the approval of an adoption petition, extension, or renewal of fingerprints is still pending. This will no longer be allowed. Families will be required to send copies of their... Posted on September 11, 2008 at 10:23 pm by Stephen Worrall
Sep 11
Helping adopted kids navigate school projects

A new school year brings all sorts of challenges: Will your child make friends? Is the teacher nice? What's the homework load like? Yet for families formed through adoption or foster care, or for children being raised by a non-parent relative, the challenges often go well beyond where to sit in the lunchroom. In fact, for students from non-traditional families, some of the most common school assignments and activities can present unintended challenges. Judith A. Stigger, director of... Posted on September 11, 2008 at 08:52 pm by Stephen Worrall
Aug 20
Fewer kids available for adoption by foreigners

Fewer Chinese children are available for adoption by foreigners because more affluent families at home have started adopting them, the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) said yesterday. "The number of Chinese couples applying to adopt children has risen substantially in recent years," said Wang Suying, a division chief of MCA's social welfare and social affairs department, which oversees adoption. About 52,500 children were registered for adoption in 2004, with foreigners adopting 12,500 of them,... Posted on August 20, 2008 at 03:18 pm by Stephen Worrall

Rank This Week: 782

California Divorce and Family Law

Covers celebrity marriages, child custody, child support, divorce, paternity, prenuptial agreements, post-nuptial agreements, remarriage and taxes. By Jeffrey Lalloway.

http://oc-divorce.typepad.com/california_divorce_and_fa/

Mar 11
Alimony--Using Craigslist to get out of paying?

/**/ Man offers to pay for someone to marry ex-wife Imagine sitting at your computer and you are browsing the classified ads on Craiglist and suddenly you come across the following ad: Nice well taken care of ex-wife. Mid 40's. Pretty and loyal. Never smoked and very little drinking. Will make someone a good companion (I know).... Will pay 10K to the man or woman who marries her in a way that stops me from having to pay her alimony. There's the hitch. The man, trying to end his alimony payments... Posted on March 11, 2009 at 10:30 am by jeff
Feb 25
Dating 101: How to Tell When You're Ready to Commit

Eight key questions to ask your mate -- and yourself There is something exhilarating about taking the big leap from dating to becoming a permanent "item" and making that final commitment. But before you run off into the sunset with your mate, make sure that the time you choose to commit is the right time -- and with the right person. As a divorce attorney, I have found over the years that most couples who wind up splitting do so because there are discrepancies or control issues over what I term... Posted on February 25, 2009 at 10:02 am by jeff
Feb 13
Picking the right divorce lawyer can help make the split less painful

Approximately half of all people who get married will end up getting divorced. A divorce can be a stressful and traumatic experience for men, women, children and for members of the extended family who are also impacted by the break up of a marriage. Having the right attorney can alleviate some of the emotional sting and reduce some of the stress which are integral parts of the divorce process. Conversely, having the wrong kind of legal representation, can make an already painful experience... Posted on February 13, 2009 at 03:04 pm by jeff

Rank This Week: 798

California Family Law Blog

Covers adoption, child support, divorce and other family law issues with a focus on California law. Published by Scott J. Sagaria.

http://www.californiafamilylawblog.com/

Nov 13
San Jose Bankruptcy Attorney comments the divorce, bankruptcy, and foreclosure that drove Jason Rodriguez to go on a shooting spree at his former employer.

San Jose Bankruptcy Attorney comments the divorce, bankruptcy, and foreclosure that drove Jason Rodriguez to go on a shooting spree at his former employer. America was horrified last week when Jason Rodriguez, a former engineer, returned to his former employer and began shooting, killing one and wounding five others. Rodriguez's life had been in a downward spiral for some time. His wife had filed for divorce, he was behind on child support, and he had lost his home to foreclosure and had filed... Posted on November 13, 2009 at 10:55 am by Scott Sagaria
Nov 11
San Jose Bankruptcy Attorney comments downward spiral of former NFL quarterback Bernie Kosar into divorce and bankruptcy.

San Jose Bankruptcy Attorney comments downward spiral of former NFL quarterback Bernie Kosar into divorce and bankruptcy. According to media reports, former NFL star Bernie Kosar's life after football has spiraled downward into a series of failed business ventures, divorce and bankruptcy. The former University of Miami and Cleveland Browns star quarterback's wife filed for divorce in 2007 alleging that Kosar was acting irrationally and giving away their money. Kosar filed for Chapter 11... Posted on November 11, 2009 at 10:43 am by Scott Sagaria
Nov 9
San Jose Family Law Attorney explains how judges may consider your financial situation, including bankruptcy, when establishing domestic support in a divorce.

San Jose Family Law Attorney explains how judges may consider your financial situation, including bankruptcy, when establishing domestic support in a divorce. If you are going through a divorce, you should know that judges can take a wide range of factors into consideration when establishing domestic support obligations, such as child support and spousal support or alimony. Whether you are the custodial parent or non-custodial parent, here are some thoughts to keep in mind. Income plays a large... Posted on November 9, 2009 at 09:00 am by Scott Sagaria

Rank This Week: 843

South Carolina Family Law Blog

Covers child custody, visitation, child support, divorce, separation, property and debt division. By Ben Stevens.

http://www.scfamilylaw.com/

Nov 19
The "Temporary" Nature of Temporary Hearings

This week, I have explained certain aspects of temporary hearings in Family Court cases in South Carolina. One of the things that I explain to all of my clients before these hearings is "No matter what happens, good or bad, this is only temporary." I also reassure my clients that I am not telling them that to prepare them for bad news, as I discuss this point all my clients, whether I think the hearing will go our way or not. Because the Court is only given certain slices of information by the... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 09:01 pm
Nov 13
How to Divide Personal Property in a Divorce Case

Some people choose to spend a lot of time, effort, and money fighting over personal property. However, as experienced family law attorneys know, there is a better way to handle those issues. The following post explains a common sense approach to dividing personal property in a divorce (or separation) case: The division of personal property in a divorce can be one of the most expensive, emotional, and wasteful parts of a case. Parties will often spend thousands of dollars arguing over a very... Posted on November 13, 2009 at 05:59 am
Nov 11
Do "Uncontested" Divorces Really Exist?

I read a very interesting blog post that analyzed the term "uncontested divorce" and I wanted to share it with my readers: Divorce attorneys frequently receive telephone calls from potential clients asking, "What do you charge for an uncontested divorce?" Unfortunately, this question is generally impossible to answer right off the bat. There are hundreds of variables which influence the costs of a divorce. Sometimes, a person says he or she wants an uncontested divorce because "I've decided... Posted on November 11, 2009 at 08:24 pm

Rank This Week: 847

Sanns Mediation World of ADR

Covers mediation, arbitration and family/divorce law in NJ. By Sanns Mediation.

http://www.sannsmediation.com/wordpress

Oct 31
Gamesmanship In A Lawsuit And Discovery Can Cost You

Much of what happens in a lawsuit is gamesmanship, especially during the discovery phase. Discovery comprises much of the pre-trial phase of litigation where each party seeks to understand what the other side(s) know, what documents they have pertaining to the litigation, what they will say under oath, etc. Discovery can be expensive. A Rand Corporation study found that 80% of litigation costs are incurred in the discovery phase. Since less than 2% of cases filed actually go to trial, discovery... Posted on October 31, 2009 at 07:56 am by Marvin Schuldiner
Sep 25
Check the Court’s Child Support Calculations

It was reported last week that there may be a error generated by the software family court uses to calculate child support payments. As a default (i.e. if there is no other agreement in place), NJ uses a formula known as the child support guidelines. The court uses software to to the calculations on each case where it is required. It seems that one litigant found an error in the software's calculations. The court is investigating the source of the problem. So, if the court performed the... Posted on September 25, 2009 at 12:12 am by Marvin Schuldiner
Sep 12
Trial Lawyers Task Force Recommends ADR and Mediation

In a previous posting, I discussed the American College of Trial Lawyers task force interim report on trials in America. The final report is out and here are the highlights as it pertains to mediation and getting your lawsuit settled: "Courts are encouraged to raise the possibility of mediation or other form of alternative dispute resolution early in appropriate cases. Courts should have the power to order it in appropriate cases at the appropriate time, unless all parties agree otherwise.... Posted on September 12, 2009 at 07:26 am by Marvin Schuldiner

Rank This Week: 848

Family Law Taxation

Covers adoption, dependents, divorce, community income, innocent spouse liability relief, and state taxation.

http://www.familylawtaxation.com/

Sep 30
FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES OF REGISTERED DOMESTIC PARTNERS: Does California's New Law Allowing Joint State Tax Returns and Granting Community Property Rights Have Any Federal Tax Impact?

California has enacted Senate Bill 1827 (SB 1827) which allows registered domestic partners to file joint state income tax returns or separate state income tax returns. SB 1827 also changes California community property law by providing that the earned income of registered domestic partners be recognized as community property, including the rights and obligations associated with such property rights. For an overview of SB 1827, see FAMILY LAW TAXATION here. As a result of the change in... Posted on September 30, 2006 at 11:59 pm by familylaw taxation
Sep 30
CALIFORNIA BRINGS REGISTERED DOMESTIC PARTNERS INTO THE TAX COMMUNITY: New California Law Allows Registered Domestic Partners To File Joint State Income Tax Returns and Possess Community Property Rights and Obligations

The California legislature has passed Senate Bill 1827 (SB 1827) which allows registered domestic partners to file joint state tax returns and provides them with community property rights and obligations. SB 1827 has been signed into law by the Governor and the text of SB 1827 can be found here (html or pdf version). Purpose of SB 1827: The purpose of SB 1827 is to: (1) eliminate the state income taxation inconsistency between spouses and registered domestic partners, (2) permit registered... Posted on September 30, 2006 at 11:58 pm by familylaw taxation
Sep 30
CALIFORNIA INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTIONS: New California Law Modifies Existing Standards and Procedures

The California legislature has passed Senate Bill 1393 (SB 1393) which addresses intercountry adoptions. SB 1393 has been signed into law by the Governor. The text of SB 1393 can be found here (html or pdf version). The California Legislature's summary of the bill is as follows: "Existing law authorizes, and in some cases requires, a state resident who has adopted a child in a foreign country through an adoption that is finalized in a foreign country to readopt the child in this state. Existing... Posted on September 30, 2006 at 11:57 pm by familylaw taxation

Rank This Week: 871

California Divorce Blawg

Covers current events in divorce. By John E. Harding.

http://californiadivorce.blogs.com/blog/

Nov 6
The New Take On Spousal Support

For years I have been telling my clients that the goals and purposes behind spousal support (commonly referred to as "alimony") are changing. It seems that change is gaining momentum. The on-line edition of the Wall Street Journal offers an insightful piece on the spousal support policy shift occurring across the country. Paul and Theresa Taylor were married for 17 years. He was an engineer for Boston's public-works department, while she worked in accounting at a publishing company. They had... Posted on November 6, 2009 at 10:04 am by John E. Harding, JD, CFLS
Oct 29
Are the LA Dodgers Community Property?

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his wife Jamie have split. The fireworks have begun in their California (Los Angeles County) divorce. In addition to requesting $448,000 per month in spousal support, Ms. McCourt is also asserting that she is a co-owner of the storied baseball franchise. Click here for more. Please be sure to visit www.hardinglaw.com, the website for the law firm of Harding & Associates, for more information on California family law. Posted on October 29, 2009 at 04:05 pm by John E. Harding, JD, CFLS
Oct 19
ABA Military Pro Bono Project Needs Volunteer Lawyers

The American Bar Association's Military Pro Bono Project connects active-duty military personnel to free legal assistance for civil legal issues beyond the scope of services provided by a military legal assistance office. The Project's web portal has been created to allow case-handling military attorneys to refer financially eligible servicemember clients to the Project, which will then make every available effort to place the case with a volunteer pro bono attorney qualified to assist the... Posted on October 19, 2009 at 08:59 am by John E. Harding, JD, CFLS

Rank This Week: 915

Illinois Divorce Lawyer Blog

Covers Illinois divorce law. From Michael Roe.

http://www.illinoisdivorcelawyerblog.com/

Oct 14
Kane County Divorce Issues

One of my valued clients, who happens to be an engineer by training and otherwise an interesting and dynamic person, made a comment at court today. She had been watching other cases taking place at the courthouse, and marveled at the amount of controversy over objectively small issues. She stated to me and a colleague that "I simply won't come to court unless the issue in dispute is over a substantial amount of money." Now, my colleague and I have both worked hard to keep court costs for... Posted on October 14, 2009 at 07:49 pm by Michael Roe
Oct 2
Illinois Divorce and Joint Custody Defined

I was involved in a child custody matter recently that was becoming difficult to settle, for a number of reasons. I represented the Dad in the case. One of the reasons for the impasse was the wife's refusal to consider joint custody. I had prepared a detailed Joint Parenting Agreement that was a healthy and proper plan for the parents and the children of the marriage, It was rejected. Here's what occurred. Shortly before trial, I took the wife's deposition. In the deposition, I began to inquire... Posted on October 2, 2009 at 09:34 pm by Michael Roe
Sep 15
Illinois Divorce and Parental Alienation

Many professionals that work with divorce and custody cases see cases of Parental Alienation. Parental alienation can be defined as a social dynamic, generally occurring due to divorce, when a child expresses unjustified hatred or unreasonably strong dislike of a "target" parent, making access by the rejected parent difficult or impossible. Dr. Amy Baker is a nationally recognized expert in parent child relationships, especially children of divorce, parental alienation syndrome, and emotional... Posted on September 15, 2009 at 02:33 pm by Michael Roe

Rank This Week: 922

New York Divorce Law Blog

Covers divorce, child custody, child support and equitable distribution for business owners and professionals. By David A. Gabay.

http://www.newyorkdivorcelawblog.com/

Oct 5
CHANGESTO NEW YORK INSURANCE LAW AFFECT DIVORCING COUPLES

Two recent changes to New York state insurance law will have a substantial impact on couples divorcing and separating. Those changes, signed into law on July 29, 2009, are: 1. COBRA coverage will now be available in New York for 36 months. 2. Families can now keep dependents on their insurance policies until age 29. Of course, neither of these new laws apply to self-insured companies. The practical effect of these extensions of insurance coverage will be to increase the value (or cost) of... Posted on October 5, 2009 at 08:13 pm
Oct 2
TIMING IS EVERYTHING: WHEN CLIENTS DECIDE TO BEGIN A DIVORCE

One of the great mysteries of my divorce practice is the question of when clients decide to begin a divorce. I've always wondered what it is that makes any particular client decide that today, now, is the time to commence an action. I'm sure I will never understand exactly what is in my client's mind at that unique point in time, so I suppose I'm going to be relegated to observing and commenting on what actually happens after the fact. Here are two (2) very different experiences I've had with... Posted on October 2, 2009 at 03:57 pm
Sep 29
NEW LAW HELPS RETURNING NEW YORK MILITARY IN CUSTODY DISPUTES

The return of a military parent from activation or deployment will automatically be considered a 'substantial change of circumstances' for the purpose of seeking to modify a custody or visitation order made while the member of the military was away on active duty or deployed The law takes effect on November 15, 2009. This new law compliments a law passed in 2008 which requires all custody and visitation orders issues when one parent is on active duty be deemed temporary and subject to revision... Posted on September 29, 2009 at 07:58 pm

Rank This Week: 923

Minnesota Divorce & Family Law...

Minnesota Divorce & Family Law Blog

Feature information and updates on Minnesota divorce and family law issues. By the Brown Law Offices.

http://www.mnfamilylawblog.com/

Jul 7
Divorce Lawyers Encouraged to Gather Evidence from Social Networking Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace

Minnesota Lawyer recently featured an article by Sylvia Hseih entitled Divorce Attorneys are Missing Evidence on Social Media Sites. She reports that sites such as Facebook and Twitter contain a "treasure trove" of legal evidence - especially in divorce cases. She writes, however, that most lawyers are missing the boat. Hseih points out that damaging messages and compelling photos can quickly lead a case to settlement if discovered and presented early. Citing the "adultery discovery," Hseih... Posted on July 7, 2009 at 07:15 pm
Apr 23
Minnesota Domestic Abuse Act: Order for Protection Summary

Acts of domestic abuse that occur during a marriage can have a substantial impact on custody proceedings. A finding of domestic abuse can prohibit parties from sharing joint physical custody of their children. Minnesota's Domestic Abuse Act is contained within Minnesota Statutes Section 518B. It defines domestic abuse as "physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or the infliction of imminent physical harm between family or household members" or "criminal sexual conduct committed against the... Posted on April 23, 2009 at 03:11 pm
Apr 22
Minnesota Divorce: Asset & Debt Division

Minnesota law categorizes property as marital or non-marital. Marital property is usually divided equally while non-marital property is allocated entirely to the party who maintains the non-marital interest. Non-marital property involves the interest a party has in property accumulated prior to a marriage or property received as a gift or inheritence by one spouse, individually, during a marriage. Marital property involves any property that the parties accumulate during their marriage,... Posted on April 22, 2009 at 07:35 pm

Rank This Week: 929

The Polar Digress

Covers feminism in Alaska, Alaskan and general family law policy, child and parent-raising, and the meaning of life.

http://thepolardigress.blogspot.com

Mar 31
2 Boys Found Dead; Mom Rips the Courts...

2 Boys Found Dead; Mom Rips the Courts - March 31, 2009 - Illinois (Excerpts from the Chicago Tribune article:) Amy Leichtenberg worried this day would come, and she begged the judicial system to prevent it. In court documents dating back to 2005, she detailed her estranged husband's threats against her family and fought unsuccessfully to keep him from having unsupervised visits with their two sons. Michael Connolly violated the orders of protection against him six times, police records said,... Posted on March 31, 2009 at 10:29 am by Copper Cursive
Dec 15
Mad Magazine's "Clueless" Game Here's...

Mad Magazine's "Clueless" Game Here's one I'll pass on this Christmas. At least in the old version Miss Scarlet was a likeable villain. Double click to enlarge so you can read the fine print. Posted on December 15, 2008 at 12:46 pm by Copper Cursive
Dec 5
Florida: Family therapist charged with...

Florida: Family therapist charged with domestic battery Florida: Miami Beach psychiatrist linked to prostitution bust Colorado: Psychotherapist lied about qualifications North Dakota: Former state mental hospital psychologist pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography Blogger's Note from the article: "Belanger often was asked to testify in court on whether convicted sex offenders were dangerous and should be confined indefinitely for psychiatric treatment. He was an expert witness in... Posted on December 5, 2008 at 05:44 pm by Copper Cursive

Rank This Week: 933

Texas Family Law Blog

An exploration of family law In Texas. By Sean Y. Palmer.

http://texasfamilylawblog.wordpress.com

May 13
Texas Frozen Embryo Case of Roman v. Roman Finally Over

On thing can be said for Augusta Roman, she certainly fought her legal case until the bitter end. In a Harris County, Texas divorce, she wanted to be awarded frozen embryos she had created with her husband when they were still together. Augusta wanted to implant the embryos and become pregnant even though her now ex-husband, Randy protested and said that [...] Posted on May 13, 2008 at 09:07 am by Sean Palmer
May 8
Custody of Your Pet in a Divorce

Many couples, because of age or by choice do not have children- at least the two legged type. For many couples, their beloved pets are considered their "children". This is why when divorce comes along, parties can feel just as much anxiety, concern and apprehension as they would in a divorce proceeding involving a child. However, [...] Posted on May 8, 2008 at 11:37 am by Sean Palmer
Apr 14
Texas Frozen Embyo Case Update: Wife To Try Last Desperate Legal Gambit

The ex-wife in the highly publicized Texas Frozen Embryo Custody case of Roman v. Roman was "devastated" upon hearing the news that the U.S. Supreme Court denied her the right to legal custody of several frozen embryos she had created with her ex-husband prior to their divorce. Augusta Roman, 46, has said that the embryos are her last chance [...] Posted on April 14, 2008 at 06:09 pm by Sean Palmer

Rank This Week: 943

Maryland Family Law

Provides general information and commentary on child custody, support, divorce and separation, and visitation. By Heather Sunderman.

http://mdfamilylaw.typepad.com/sunderman/

Nov 19
No legal marriages?

Yesterday, McClatchy.com reported on Texas's new constitutional amendment regarding marriage. The purpose of the amendment was to preclude any domestic partnerships or gay marriage, however the second part of the amendment is written a bit broadly, provoking controversy over whether the amendment may actually ban ALL marriages. I would argue that is an unlikely result should anyone bring a legal challenge. It is a maxim in legal interpretation that if a statute is ambiguous, one would then look... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 09:49 am by Heather Sunderman
Nov 15
The power of text messages

The National Law Journal published an article last week about the impact of text messages on family law cases. Such messages can provide evidence of an extramarital affair, or produce other damaging statements in divorce/custody/domestic violence cases. I have also found it is common for separated parents to communicate with each other about their children via text messages. The article provides a few specific examples of cases where text messages were central and valuable pieces of evidence.... Posted on November 15, 2009 at 05:01 pm by Heather Sunderman
Oct 28
Free Lawyers for Everyone!

The Wall Street Journal law blog reported on a new law in California which provides a right to counsel in civil cases such as child custody cases. My first thought of course was, how in the world would California of all places afford this given their woeful finances? Next, I wondered which state would follow next. Everyone well knows that an indigent (low-income) person who is arrested is entitled to a public defender representation. Typically in civil cases, however, people of limited means... Posted on October 28, 2009 at 07:38 am by Heather Sunderman

Rank This Week: 973

Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer Tips...

Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer Tips for You

Covers Rhode Island divorce and family law. By Chris Pearsall.

http://www.rhodeislanddivorcetips.com/

Nov 17
Rhode Island Divorce Tips by Attorney Chris Pearsall is on LawGuru.com

An excellent website that Attorney Pearsall has participated on as a panel attorney for the past few years is LawGuru.com It is a great resource for professionals and consumers alike. We will try to keep you informed of great sites such as these throughout the internet to help you with your legal rights in Rhode Island and elsewhere. My best to all our readers. Authored By: Christopher A. Pearsall, Attorney-at-Law Rhode Island's Full-Time Divorce* Lawyer is Now Rhode Island's Only Divorce and... Posted on November 17, 2009 at 06:09 pm by Attorney Christopher A. Pearsall
Nov 17
An Apology to My Readers

I apologize to my readers. I created this website with the purpose of providing articles that assist the people who come before the Rhode Island Family Court with their family law matters. Regrettably I diverged from this purpose and spent time and energy voicing my personal opposition to Judge Laureen D'Ambra for the open seat on our Rhode Island Supreme Court. While I do not waiver from my opposition, this is not the forum within which to address it. Therefore, I have removed the most recent... Posted on November 17, 2009 at 06:33 am by Attorney Christopher A. Pearsall
Nov 16
Rhode Island Divorce Attorney Shares his Opposition to Judge Laureen D'Ambra as Nominee for the Rhode Island Supreme Court!

The commission to submit the names of individuals to be considered for a position on the Rhode Island Supreme Court will reconvene Tuesday night, November 17, 2009 at 5:15 p.m. in the Department of Health Building's Lower Level Auditorium to take public comment on the candidates and vote on the candidates. It will select three to five finalists to send to Governor Carcieri, who will then choose one of them to become the new Supreme Court justice. Rhode Island law says that in choosing the... Posted on November 16, 2009 at 08:15 pm by Attorney Christopher A. Pearsall

Rank This Week: 995

Kevin Hickey Law Blog

Covers divorce, child custody and family law issues, focused on Arkansas law. From attorney Kevin Hickey.

http://blogs.feedburner.com/feedburner/

Nov 17
“He Bullied Me Into It!”

Wife signs over interest in real property due to her husband being the dominant party in the relationship and also because she owed a debt, needed money to pay the debt, and husband used that knowledge to his advantage. Is this enough for wife to save her interest in the property at the final divorce hearing? Court of Appeals says yes. Here it is&#xe2€&#xa6 McCracken v. McCracken Posted on November 17, 2009 at 04:22 am
Nov 11
Material Change in Circumstances Does Not Mandate a Change of Custody

It is generally assumed that a material change in circumstances will automatically result in a change of custody. But that is not the law. In Arkansas, the court will look to see if there has been a material change in circumstances. IF such a change has occurred THEN the court will determine what is in the best interest of the child - whether the child needs to stay with the current custodial parent or if a change to the noncustodial parent is warranted. In a case affirmed today by the Court of... Posted on November 11, 2009 at 04:20 am
Oct 29
Keeping Your Trick or Treaters Safe on Halloween

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers the following tips on costumes, treats and decorations to help your children trick-or-treat safely this year: Costumes: When purchasing costumes, masks, beards and wigs, look for flame-resistant fabrics such as nylon or polyester, or look for the label "Flame Resistant." Flame-resistant fabrics will resist burning and should extinguish quickly. To minimize the risk of contact with candles and other fire sources, avoid costumes made with flimsy... Posted on October 29, 2009 at 05:16 am

Rank This Week: 998

Minnesota Divorce and Family Law

Covers parenting, alimony, child support, divorce and more. By Gerald O. Williams.

http://minnesotadivorce.typepad.com/mndivorce/

Nov 15
Paternity Presumptions

Minnesota law provides for certain paternity presumptions that govern when there is a dispute over paternity. When a child is born to a married woman, the mother's husband is presumed to be the father. When a child is genetically linked to a man, the man is presumed to be the father. In cases in which the husband is not the genetic father, the case may hinge on who seeks to be the father. If the mother of the child separates from her husband, the genetic father may be adjudicated the child's... Posted on November 15, 2009 at 08:43 pm by Gerald Williams
Oct 20
Grandparent Visitation

Generally, a grandparent's right to see their minor grandchild is derivative of the child's parent's right to parenting time. That is, the maternal grandparents have access to the child during the mother's parenting time, and the paternal grandparents have access to the child during the father's parenting time. In most cases, grandparents do not have the separate right to their own visitation unless their child, who is the parent of the subject minor child, is deceased. However, Minnesota law... Posted on October 20, 2009 at 08:44 pm by Gerald Williams
Oct 4
Overnight Parenting Time with Infants and Toddlers

When parents have disputes about parenting time in cases involving infants or toddlers, the issue of overnights often arises. In 1999, the Minnesota Conference of Chief Judges approved a "Parental Guide for Making Child-Focused Parenting Time Decisions," prepared by the Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Task Force on Visitation and Child Support Enforcement. Regarding infants and toddlers, the Guide states (as follows in italics): Parents of infants should establish a parenting time schedule... Posted on October 4, 2009 at 07:30 pm by Gerald Williams

Rank This Week: 1011

Nolo's Divorce, Custody, and...

Nolo’s Divorce, Custody, and Family Law Blog

Covers divorce, chil support, child custody and mediation. From Nolo.

http://blogs.nolo.com/divorcefamily

Aug 31
Health Care Costs Encourage Divorce--For Economic Purposes Only

We're all familiar with the concept of a "marriage of convenience," where partners marry for reasons more practical than romantic. But in the current economy there's now an increase in what could be seen as a divorce of convenience--or even of necessity, with marriage becoming another casualty of the broken health care system. A New York Times opinion piece this week illustrates the most common scenario: contentedly married spouses encountering the certainty of future health care costs that... Posted on August 31, 2009 at 10:41 am
Aug 3
Divorce Not Conducive to Good Health

It seems that divorce is not only stressful and difficult in the short term--according to a New York Times article about a new study, both divorce and the death of a spouse can have long lasting negative health effects. It's long been known that married people are healthier than non-married people, but this University of Chicago study concludes that losing a spouse can contribute to health problems that last for the rest of a person's life and aren't mitigated by remarrying. In fact, the... Posted on August 3, 2009 at 03:33 pm
Jul 15
Opposites Attract, But Does it Last?

A recent New Zealand study says that while opposites may attract, after a while they begin to repel each other -- leading to a higher divorce rate than that of couples who are more alike. Differences in habits like smoking, drinking, and work, along with age differences, were the top oppositions leading to marital problems. From my perspective, it's probably not the differences themselves but a failure to communicate about them effectively that leads to marital discord, but either way, couples... Posted on July 15, 2009 at 01:50 pm

Rank This Week: 1070

New Jersey Family Law Blog

Covers divorce, alimony, child custody & support, college expenses, emancipation, family motions & appeals in New Jersey Superior Court. By Pieter M. Droppert.

http://njfamilymotions.typepad.com/blog/

Jun 15
Strategies to handle parental alienation

I came across the following slide presentation from Rajiv Dabhadkar of the National Human Rights Commission in Delhi, India. Although written for an Indian audience it offers practical advice on how to handle interactions with the alienating parent. Parental Alienation SyndromeView more OpenOffice presentations from guestacb4ca., Related articles by Zemanta Mom loses custody for 'alienating' kids from their dad (thestar.com) How to deal with 'toxic' parents (thestar.com) Debate: Custody... Posted on June 15, 2009 at 07:31 am by Pieter Droppert
Jun 15
Continental pilots "fake" divorce to obtain pension payout

Image via Wikipedia As reported by ABC news in Houston, Continental is suing nine pilots who allegedly obtained a sham divorce in order to trigger a cash pension payout to their ex-spouse, who they subsequently remarried. In a lawsuit filed in Federal Court, the company alleges the pilots obtained uncontested divorces in which the pilot would assign 90-100% of their pension benefit to the other spouse, who was then able to obtain a Domestic Relations Order (DRO) in state court that resulted in... Posted on June 15, 2009 at 01:51 am by Pieter Droppert
Jun 13
A parent should not benefit from overpayment of child support following death of a child

Image by chascarper via Flickr It is always a tragedy when a child dies early as a result of illness or an accident. Parents are distraught with grief and the last thing anyone thinks about is child support. Eventually, if child support is being paid then it has to be addressed. Intuitively, if the child is no longer in need of support, then the child support should end; death is an emancipating event. However, where child support is being paid for several children and a motion is made to... Posted on June 13, 2009 at 10:02 am by Pieter Droppert

Rank This Week: 1097

Kansas Family Law Blog

Coves alimony, assets and debts, domestic buse, financial issues, and mediation and collaborative family law. By Grant D. Griffiths.

http://kansasfamilylawblog.lexblog.com/

Oct 25
In-Court Acknowledgment of Divorce Settlement Becomes "Electronic Signature"

Here is a curious case. A divorce settlement calling for a transfer of real property is read into the record on the day set for trial. Both parties orally acknowledge the settlement in court, and the court's reporter duly transcribes their remarks. However, one party later refuses to sign the agreement. She claims, among other things, that enforcement of the settlement agreement would be unlawful because state law requires a writing to transfer real property. The Kansas Court of Appeals... Posted on October 25, 2007 at 02:25 pm
Sep 24
Clients Benefit From Fixed Fees in Family Law Cases

The South Carolina Family Law Blog posted his reasons for flat fees in family law cases today. In doing so, he gave us some of the benefits clients receive from hiring attorneys for a fixed fee: Clients know the total cost up front, which enables them to determine prior to retaining the attorney whether or not they can afford his/her services and to budget for the attorney's fees and costs.' Clients have another basis upon which to compare attorneys, both in the manner they charge for their... Posted on September 24, 2007 at 02:53 pm
Sep 24
Clients Benefit From Fixed Fees in Family Law Cases

The South Carolina Family Law Blog posted his reasons for flat fees in family law cases today. In doing so, he gave us some of the benefits clients receive from hiring attorneys for a fixed fee: Clients know the total cost up front, which enables them to determine prior to retaining the attorney whether or not they can afford his/her services and to budget for the attorney's fees and costs.' Clients have another basis upon which to compare attorneys, both in the manner they charge for their... Posted on September 24, 2007 at 02:53 pm

Rank This Week: 1167

Sanns Mediation Services Blog

Looks at mediation and family law in New Jersey.

http://www.sannsmediation.com

May 17
Taken for Granted

I found it rather surprising to learn that Belize -- a former British colony located in central America -- only recently had its first mediators trained (by professionals from Jamaica). Britain is the country that brought most of our modern legal prinicples to the world. One would have thought that mediation would be part and parcel to any legal system based on British common-law. Here in NJ, we have such an advanced program in the court system to encourage (or some would say force) parties to... Posted on May 17, 2007 at 09:22 am
May 9
Divorce and Retirement

Bankrate.com has a very nice article about not letting divorce derail your retirement. You can read the article here. Posted on May 9, 2007 at 03:59 pm
May 8
A Happy Outcome in Binding Mediation

Following up on the post about Binding Mediation, it seems that the mediator turned into an arbitrator and made his ruling. Even though this turned into an arbitration from a mediation, all sides appeared to be very happy with the process and the outcome. Both sides said the binding mediation process they entered after a one-day strike helped them arrive at almost identical positions in the end. "Looking at the final results, I think we can assume that both parties bargained aggressively but... Posted on May 8, 2007 at 11:57 am

Rank This Week: 1183

Family Law Prof Blog

By University of Missouri Kansas City Law Professor Barbara Glesner Fines and William Mitchell College Law Professor Nancy Ver Steegh.

http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/family_law/

Nov 21
IV World Congress on Child and Adolescent Rights

The IV World Congress on Child and Adolescent Rights will take place in Puerto Rico* from the 15th to the 18th of November 2010. This renowned event draws nearly 1,000 participants and more than 20 countries are represented. Its main... Posted on November 21, 2009 at 09:00 am by Family Law
Nov 20
Are Soap Operas Cruel Treatment?

BBC News reports on a Indian case in which the court found that husband's refusal to allow wife to watch soap operas amounted to cruel treatment. Read the story here. AC Posted on November 20, 2009 at 11:21 am by Family Law
Nov 20
Franck: "'So Hedge Therefore, Who Join Forever’: Understanding the Interrelation of No-Fault Divorce and Premarital Contracts"

Jens-Uwe Franck has posted 'So Hedge Therefore, Who Join Forever': Understanding the Interrelation of No-Fault Divorce and Premarital Contracts, 23 International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family 235 (2009), on SSRN. Here is the abstract: This article explores the... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 09:00 am by Family Law

Rank This Week: 1209

Fiancee Visa Blog

Covers fiance and fiancee K1 visas to the United States. Published by Michael Roe.

http://www.fianceevisablog.com/

Jul 31
USCIS and the new Fiancee Visa Form

The USCIS made an announcement this past week on their website to the effect that only the most recent edition of the Petition for Alien Fiancee (the 07/30/07 edition) could be used for newly filed petitions. This announcement sent something of a shock wave to the many petitioners who had used, and relied upon, the November 2006 form for the I-129(f). It can really help to have an AILA attorney representing you in your fiancee visa petition process. Would a "document service" or non-attorney... Posted on July 31, 2007 at 06:07 pm by Michael Roe
Jul 11
New Filing Addresses for Fiancee Visas

Having an attorney represent you in your fiancee visa petition can provide many possible upsides, including the fact that lawyers who are members of AILA stay up to the minute current on new developments in the law concerning the fiancee visa. How many visa "mills" and unlicensed "providers" know about critical new changes in the law, or even the upcoming (July 30) address changes for direct filing of fiancee visa petitions? Beginning on or after August 29, 2007, USCIS will reject any of the... Posted on July 11, 2007 at 06:04 pm by Michael Roe
Jun 12
The Fiancee Visa Attorney's G-28 Appearance: Kyiv and Moscow

It is always a good feeling when I submit my Notice to Kyiv or Moscow of my appearance, representing my client in their fiancee visa case. It's the first act in the process of filing the petition for the fiancee visa, letting the consular division know that I will be appearing for the petitioner, and: &#xd0&#x9f&#xd0&#xbe&#xd0&#xbc&#xd0&#xbe&#xd1&#x89&#xd1&#x8c &#xd0&#xb4&#xd0&#xbb&#xd1 &#xd0&#xb2&#xd0&#xb0&#xd1&#xd0&#xb5&#xd0&#xb9 &#xd0&#xb2&#xd0&#xbe&#xd0&#xb7&#xd0&#xbb&#xd1&#xd0&#xb1&#xd0&#xbb&#xd0&#xb5&#xd0&#xbd&#xd0&#xbd&#xd0&#xbe&#xd0&#xb9 ! The form is described by USCIS below: Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative Purpose of Form: This form is... Posted on June 12, 2007 at 09:25 pm by Michael Roe

Rank This Week: 1258

New York Lawyer Blog

Covers issues related to personal injury, estate planning, and criminal law. By New York Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates.

http://www.nylawyerblog.com/

Nov 17
Brooklyn Firefighter pinned under his truck and suffers an injury. If this were to happen to you, you would need a New York Injury Lawyer

Robert Puppa, a 33 year old Brooklyn firefighter was responding to a call when the fire truck he was in was involved in an accident. The accident occurred on Ashford Street in East New York. Another fire truck crashed into his and caused his truck to flip over, pinning him beneath it. He was stuck for two hours before workers were able to cut through the truck to rescue him. Puppa and 11 other fireman sustained injury during the crash. They were taken to Brookdale University Hospital; located... Posted on November 17, 2009 at 11:00 am
Nov 16
Brooklyn building’s collapse leaves victim’s needing a New York Personal Injury Lawyer

A Myrtle Ave., Brooklyn NY, apartment building collapsed leaving four people injured. The building had been cited by the city for having a crack that ran from the third to the first floor. Though the crack was reported on May 1, 2009, the owner claims it has been there for at least ten years. The building had been undergoing repairs for more than a week and a half. The building shook violently before it collapsed, which alerted the people inside. When the building fell it took down part of the... Posted on November 16, 2009 at 09:36 am
Nov 14
Another PATH train accident leaves numerous passengers with injury. It appears the injured parties will need an aggressive New York Injury Lawyer

Recently, a morning PATH train got into an accident while passengers were still aboard. PATH; which stands for Port Authority Trans Hudson; run from New Jersey to New York. The train that caused the accident was coming out of Hoboken, NJ and heading towards the World Trade Center Memorial. The train had approximately 450 passengers on it when it collided with a "bumper block" (a mechanism used to stop the train) at the 33rd Street Station in New York City. Fourteen people including the... Posted on November 14, 2009 at 09:29 am

Rank This Week: 1278

New Hampshire Family Law Blog

Information and insight for people struggling with divorce and family law matter. By Kysa M. Crusco of Crusco Law Office.

http://www.nhfamilylawblog.com/

Nov 6
Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act comes to NH in December 2010

/**/ New Hampshire has recently taken steps to protect parents and children from cross border kidnapping by adopting the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA). The UCCJEA, drafted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) in 1997, becomes effective in New Hampshire on December 1, 2010. Vermont and Massachusetts remain the only states that have not adopted the UCCJEA. Prior to NH's adoption of the UCCJEA, we were operating under the... Posted on November 6, 2009 at 08:16 pm
Nov 5
New marital master assignments coming soon

Effective upon the opening of the new Manchester Family Division on November 12, 2009, the Administrative Office of the Courts has announced the following changes to the Family Division marital master assignments: Marital Master Bruce Dalpra Dover Family Division Brentwood Family Division (2-3 days per month) Marital Master Robert Foley Rochester Family Division Marital Master Nancy GeigerManchester Family Division Marital Master Leonard Green Franklin Family Division Hooksett Family Division... Posted on November 5, 2009 at 05:45 am
Nov 4
Maine repeals same-sex marriage law:

Yesterday Maine voters repealed the state's same-sex marriage law, six months after the law was passed by the legislature. In doing so, Maine became the thirty first state to oppose same-sex unions in a popular vote. Five states, Iowa, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont are performing same-sex marriages, with the District of Columbia and New York recognizing the marriages but not performing them. New Jersey and California allow for civil unions. Question 1, brought forward... Posted on November 4, 2009 at 07:23 pm

Rank This Week: 1290

bloody relations

Covers UK family law.

http://bloodyrelations.blogspot.com/

Jul 25
Preserving Your Wealth With Woolley & Co

I reviewed the website of a firm called Woolley & Co on the Family Law Week blog . The firm has recently sent me a press release promoting their service in drawing up cohabitation agreements. "Economic reports for the last twelve months have been grim with the UK and indeed the world, in the grip of the worst recession on record. Now the family law specialists at Woolley & Co , are encouraging the public to make savings, cut back on their costs and preserve the wealth they have. Despite... Posted on July 25, 2009 at 03:29 am by jacquig
Jul 25
Baby Barista and the Art of War

No doubt a number of pupils were secretly rather relieved when the identity of the author of the Time's Baby Barista blog was finally revealed in the Times to be Tim Kevan so that the finger of suspicion was no longer pointing at them. I have long been a fan of the blog describing its style elsewhere as Henry Cecil on speed. Every new pupil of mine (Natasha, take note) is lent a copy of Brothers-in-Law by Henry Cecil which, although now a little dated, describes the life of a post-war pupil... Posted on July 25, 2009 at 03:24 am by jacquig
Jun 30
Biking for Children In Care

I am sorry the blog has been a bit neglected in June. For some of the time I have been off cycling 250 miles to raise money for the Who Cares? Trust with Biking for Children in Care 2009 - in the Loire Valley. This is the 4th year I have joined the team which has raised a fantastic &#xc2&#xa3290,000 to put towards improving the lives of children in care. I was in great company as usual as the picture shows - Judy Bishton, Barbara Hopkin, Deborah Marsden, Claire Holland, Kate Tindale and myself were the... Posted on June 30, 2009 at 11:22 am by jacquig

Rank This Week: 1308

My Colorado Divorce Lawyer

Covers Colorado divorce law. By Peter Mullison.

http://www.mycoloradodivorcelawyer.com

Mar 22
Negotiating Your Separation Agreement

Under Colorado divorce law, your divorce decree will likely include a separation agreement that sets forth the terms of your dissolution, including such things as property division, spousal maintenance (formerly known as alimony), child support, and so forth. Once your divorce becomes final, you may not be able to ask for a modification. You want to make sure that you've thought of everything. Here are some issues to consider: Retirement Plans: Due to the phased increase in normal Social... Posted on March 22, 2007 at 06:55 am by Peter Mullison
Mar 19
Separation Agreements

Under Colorado divorce law, the parties will sometimes enter into a written separation agreement that sets forth the terms of the divorce including those related to spousal maintenance, parenting time and parental responsibilities, child support, and disposition of property. The court will review the agreement to make sure that it is not unconscionable, meaning that it doesn't unfairly favor one spouse over the other. Below is the statute regarding separation agreements: Colorado Revised... Posted on March 19, 2007 at 05:46 am by Peter Mullison
Mar 15
Uniform Services Former Spouses’ Protection Act Overview

Many issues arise when a service member and his or her spouse decide to get a divorce. The military spouse's continuing eligibility for commissary, exchange and health care benefits, as well as his or her eligibility for a portion of the servicemember's military retired pay are a large concern. The Uniform Services Former Spouses' Protection Act (USFPA) addresses these concerns. The USFPA does not automatically give a former spouse any of the member's retired pay. Rather, the law permits a... Posted on March 15, 2007 at 06:07 am by Peter Mullison

Rank This Week: 1322

DadsDivorce.com Podcasts

Weekly podcasts from DadsDivorce.com featuring Joseph Cordell, Principal of Cordell and Cordell, PC.

http://www.dadsdivorce.com/

Nov 18
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Nov 10
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Rank This Week: 1330

Los Angeles Divorce Lawyer Blog

Covers California divorce, child custody, child support, child visitation, and paternity. By Clarke Logan Young.

http://blog.clarkeyoung.com/

Sep 16
Divorce "Move-Aways" from Los Angeles

WARNING: Never attempt to litigate a "move-away" case on your own. As every divorce attorney in California who has filed or defended a "move away" case will tell you, this area of law is fraught with fatal technicalities and a single innocent mistep can cost you your relationship with your children. The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act ("UCCJEA") is the controlling law. This statute has been adopted, with some minor modifications, in every state. We have litigated a number... Posted on September 16, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Sep 11
Consulting with Local Counsel

We receive calls from all over the United States and Europe and from as far away as India asking for help in dealing with, among other things, Borderline Personality Disorder cases. These inquiries typically fall into one of four categories. First, many callers want to know if we know an attorney in their area who specializes in Borderline Personality Disorder. Unfortunately, with the notable exception of one attorney in San Diego, California, I do not. Second, because I am a Los Angeles... Posted on September 11, 2009 at 06:58 pm
Sep 7
Why Must Divorcing Borderlines Be Identified?

As a Los Angeles divorce attorney whose practice emphasizes Borderline Personality Disorder, I am frequently asked why is identifying Borderline Personality Disorder so important in divorce and custody cases? Inevitably, this question is posed by someone unfamiliar with Borderlines for if they had ever been in an interpersonal relationship with a Borderline, they would have no need to ask the question. This is not an easy question to answer for the uninitiated within the limits of a blog. In a... Posted on September 7, 2009 at 05:40 pm

Rank This Week: 1355

Alabama Divorce & Family Law...

Alabama Divorce & Family Law Attorney Blog

Covers Alabama divorce and family law issues. By Steven D. Eversole.

http://www.birminghamdivorceblog.com/

Nov 20
Alabama Divorce Update: Important Legal Definitions for Divorce and Legal Separation -- Part 2

When considering divorce it is always a good idea to find a qualified family law attorney or divorce lawyer to help guide you through the labyrinth of laws and legal requirements. As a Birmingham divorce attorney I look out for the best interests of my clients went representing them in divorce court. Whether you are a husband or wife, this is a stress-filled time for many people, and my approach to compassionate representation during all phases of legal separation, divorce, child custody and... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 08:19 am
Nov 13
Alabama Divorce Update: Important Legal Definitions for Divorce and Legal Separation -- Part 1

Going through a divorce can be a stressful time for most people. When a marital relationship fails, all parties, not just the husband and wife are affected; dependant children, relatives and friends all feel the pain of separation and ultimately legal divorce. As a Birmingham, Alabama, divorce lawyer and family law attorney, my job is two-fold: First, to provide my client with a strong and well-planned approach to the legal aspects of the separation, and second, to offer compassionate and... Posted on November 13, 2009 at 08:51 am
Nov 6
Alabama Divorce News: Lindsay Lohan's Father Faces Jail Time over Child Support Non-payment

As a Birmingham, AL, divorce lawyer and family law attorney I have represented numerous clients facing jail time, fines and court costs over non-payment of child support and other court-ordered obligations. A recent news article shows that anyone can be hit with sentence of jail time due to not paying support to a spouse for either child support or alimony. While this is a serious issue here in Alabama and elsewhere, in many cases there may be extenuating circumstances surrounding the... Posted on November 6, 2009 at 08:31 am

Rank This Week: 1427

Lee's Divorce & Family Law...

Lee's Divorce & Family Law Blog

Covers divorces in Alabama. By Lee Borden.

http://divorceinfo.com/blog

Nov 15
Sick Women Six Times More Likely To Divorce

A married woman diagnosed with a life-threatening illness is six times more likely to divorce than a man in the same position. How's that for a headline? Here's the article from MSNBC. The overall divorce rate of people receiving diagnoses of life-threatening illness (in this case cancer and multiple sclerosis) was about in line with the national [...] Posted on November 15, 2009 at 07:07 am by Lee Borden
Nov 13
A Divorce Lawyer Contemplates the Divorce Fair

I've spent a lot of time around divorce and people going through it. But I have to admit this is a new one even for me. Thousands of Parisians took part in a "Divorce Fair" last Sunday. If you're wondering what goes on at a divorce fair, you can read the AP article about it and [...] Posted on November 13, 2009 at 04:35 am by Lee Borden
Nov 9
A Pointless Appeal?

Mom has won her appeal, but I can't for the life of me figure out what she accomplished by filing it. The case is Powell v. Powell, Case No. 2080518 (Ala. Civ. App. September 18, 2009). Mom and Dad have one child; the Dallas County Circuit Court divorced them and ordered Dad to pay child support [...] Posted on November 9, 2009 at 07:05 am by Lee Borden

Rank This Week: 1464

Florida Divorce & Family Law...

Florida Divorce & Family Law Blog

Covers current events related to divorce and family law matters in Florida. By Christine Bauer.

http://bauerfamilylaw.blogspot.com/

Nov 10
Alimony....Till Death Do Us Part?

In a long term marriage, when permanent periodic alimony is a given, we often speculate when someone can retire and possibly eliminate or severely reduce a monthly alimony amount. Often times, if someone retires at a normal retirement age, alimony can be eliminated or reduced at retirement. However, a judge in Massachusetts has ruled that a person may have to continue working or seek part-time Posted on November 10, 2009 at 03:30 am by Christine Bauer
Sep 22
Feline and Canine Victims in Divorce

There are always victims of collateral damage in a divorce, and sometimes the victims are the family pets. I have seen couples fight over who is going to get the animals in a divorce and in other circumstances, people decide to give their animals up because there is either too much going on and neither party can take care of them, or it is decided that it is too expensive to continue to care for Posted on September 22, 2009 at 10:38 am by Christine Bauer
Sep 20
Divorce and Depression

I read an article online about a man in California who murdered his two children and then took his own life. He was going through a divorce and had recently lost his job. From the articles that I read, no one said whether there were signs that this gentleman was depressed, acting unusual or had a violent history. I see many people come through my office who are depressed, angry, lonely, or Posted on September 20, 2009 at 01:10 pm by Christine Bauer

Rank This Week: 1478

Domestic Diversions

Covers relationships, families and family law.

http://domesticdiversions.com

Nov 8
The kids are alright: How children of same-sex couples are doing

The New York Times shows how children of same-sex couples are doing just fine, highlighting research by Abbie E. Goldberg, an assistant professor in the department of psychology at Clark University and author of "Lesbian and Gay Parents and Their Children." Lisa Belkin writes (excerpt): More enlightening than the similarities, however, are the differences, the most striking [...] Posted on November 8, 2009 at 08:34 am by David C. Sarnacki
Nov 4
Appreciating strengths: Accepting different ways of parenting

The New York Timesdiscusses a study about involving fathers, as well as the benefits of co-parenting or parallel parenting. Laurie Tarkan writes (excerpt): . . . [T]he critical difference was not greater involvement by the fathers in child-rearing but greater emotional support between couples. "The study emphasizes the importance of couples' figuring parenting out together and accepting [...] Posted on November 4, 2009 at 03:20 am by David C. Sarnacki
Nov 3
A bit foreign, scary even: Collaborative divorce

Single Parent Gossip shares the method for using collaborative law to resolve your divorce out of court. Talibah Mbonisi writes (excerpt): . . . In this cooperative framework, both parties also agree to: - Act in their children's best interests to minimize any negative impact that the situation could have on them. - Be respectful to one another, stay [...] Posted on November 3, 2009 at 05:52 am by David C. Sarnacki

Rank This Week: 1480

Chicago Family Law Blog

Covers child custody, child support, divorce and property division. By Alan Pearlman.

http://www.chicagofamilylawblog.com/

Nov 5
Establishing Rights and Obligations of Unmarried Couples

The number of couples living together without choosing to get married has more than tripled in the past two decades. Unless the cohabiting couple lives in a state which recognizes common law marriages, living together does not automatically provide them with the legal rights and protections of a traditional marriage. Accordingly, upon separation or death of one cohabiting partner, the law may treat the couple as complete strangers. To prevent such a result, unmarried couples can opt to legally... Posted on November 5, 2009 at 09:21 am
Nov 5
About The Firm

Since 1974 Alan Pearlman, Ltd. has been helping the people of Chicagoland and Lake County with their family law problems. From that time to the present Mr. Pearlman has focused on Family Law matters. The firm is made up of Mr. Pearlman, who will personally handle your matter, as well as an office manager. The firm is located on the south end of Lake County in Northbrook, Illinois, and is adjacent to the Edens Expressway, with easy access to the offices at 707 Skokie Boulevard. Mr. Pearlman has... Posted on November 5, 2009 at 08:54 am
Sep 15
Agency Adoption vs. Independent Adoption

/**/ Adoption is the process by which an adult becomes the legal parent of an individual who is not their biological child. A finalized adoption severs all legal ties between the child and the natural parents, thereby terminating all parental rights. However, adoption also creates new obligations on the part of the adoptive parents. The new parent-child relationship establishes legal responsibility for child support, rights to an inheritance and/or custody. Typically, adoption laws vary by... Posted on September 15, 2009 at 11:23 am

Rank This Week: 1484

Pennsylvania Family Law Blog

Discussion of family law issues in Pennsylvania and beyond, including divorce, support, child custody and property distribution.. By Mark E. Jakubik.

http://pennfamilylaw.com

Oct 12
Texas Court Rules Gay Couple Can Divorce

A surprise court ruling from last week has heated up the gay-marriage debate in the state of Texas. A Dallas judge has permitted a gay couple, who had married in another state, to get a divorce even though Texas has banned gay marriage. Judge Tena Callahan of the Family District Court ruled in favor of the [...] Posted on October 12, 2009 at 07:57 pm by Mark Jakubik
Oct 12
Some Practical Advice About Money

There are two reasons family law will always be a busy area of practice. The reasons are that there are two subjects we do not teach in school: conflict resolution and money management. If people could manage their money or the conflict in their lives, the divorce business would be in for a major downturn. Practical [...] Posted on October 12, 2009 at 04:26 pm by Mark Jakubik
Sep 21
Coming Back Soon

I've been on a very long hiatus from posting here - my apologies. There will be much new content coming very soon. Thanks for reading! Posted on September 21, 2009 at 07:33 pm by Mark Jakubik

Rank This Week: 1506

New Jersey Family Law Blog

Covers alimony, child support, child custody, divorce and more. By the Rotolo Law Firm.

http://www.newjerseyfamilylawblog.com/

Jun 18
New Ruling on Child Support Modification

Parties' daughter was killed in an automobile accident on October 6, 2007. On January 10, 2008, the plaintiff filed a pro se motion seeking, inter alia, to reduce child support. The plaintiff argued that any modification should be retroactive to the date of the daughters death, while the defendant posited that the filing date of the plaintiff's motion should go The applicable law is N.J.S.A. 2A:17-56.23(a), which basically states that child support can not be made retroactive and will only be... Posted on June 18, 2009 at 07:44 am
Jun 12
Rotolo Law Firm key in New Jersey High Court Enunciating New Test for Tolling Child Sex Abuse Statute of Limitations

Court Enunciates New Test for Tolling Child Sex Abuse Statute of Limitations By Michael Booth New Jersey Law Journal June 11, 2009 The state Supreme Court on Thursday set out a two-stage analysis that trial judges must conduct to decide whether and for how long the two-year statute of limitations in child sexual abuse suits can be tolled. The formula, which includes objective and subjective elements, will determine whether a Morris County man can pursue a suit, filed in 2004, alleging that his... Posted on June 12, 2009 at 07:19 am
Jun 1
Fighting over Child Support After the Pink Slip Arrives

New York Times By: Julie Bosman The same story echoed a dozen times through Room E8 of Manhattan Family Court in a single day: fathers, pinched by the recession, pleading for a reduction in child support. A salesman at Saks Fifth Avenue who is estranged from his teenage daughter said he feared he would be included in the next round of layoffs expected at his store. A man who had been laid off from a factory said he managed to find work at Mets games, but for less pay, $9 an hour. Another man,... Posted on June 1, 2009 at 02:07 pm

Rank This Week: 1533

Florida Family Law Blawg

Covers Florida family law cases and news. By Christopher Chopin.

http://flafamlaw.blogspot.com/

Jun 13
Fifth DCA Rejects Support Arrearage

In the Wales v. Wales opinion issued Friday, the Fifth District rejected an award of support arrearages based on the lack of support in the record for the award and the lack of any testimony that the Wife's needs were not met during the subject period. Posted on June 13, 2009 at 06:39 pm
Jun 13
Fifth District Rejects Timesharing, Rehabilitative Alimony, Attorneys Fee Award

The Fifth DCA ruled Friday in Lovell v. Lovell, and in so doing rejected several parts of the ruling below. First and foremost, the Fifth found error with the lower tribunal's ruling prohibiting the children from exposure to the Husband's new wife during timesharing, despite the lack of any evidence of detriment from such contact. Next, the Court rejected an eight year, four thousand dollar a month rehabilitative alimony award (but not the award itself) as needing a clearer plan for... Posted on June 13, 2009 at 06:37 pm
Jun 10
Fifth District Finds Error in Failure to Set Religious Timesharing Schedule

The Fifth District Court last week issued a substituted opinion in Arcot v. Balaraman. Of particular interest was the fact that both parties were practicing Hindis, and the lower tribunal was specifically found to have erred in failing to set a schedule for the children to observe the religious holidays respected by that religion. This would of course seem to apply to any children traditionally raised as practicing members of virtually any faith. Posted on June 10, 2009 at 04:15 am

Rank This Week: 1535

Alabama Family Law Blog

Covers family law issues in Alabama. Published by Michael Sherman, of Michael Sherman, LLC.

http://www.alabamafamilylawblog.com/

Oct 28
Marriage Advice from a Divorce Lawyer?

Seems ironic that a divorce lawyer might offer marriage advice. When the Minister of Education at my church asked me to teach Sunday School to the Newlyweds, I gave him a hard time about bringing in a divorce lawyer to teach to these young married couples. But, I really don't know someone more qualified to tell you what to do and not do in your marriage than a divorce lawyer. In my divorce practice in Mobile and Baldwin County, I have seen all the problems that tend to contribute to the... Posted on October 28, 2008 at 11:45 am by Michael Sherman
Jul 11
Help choose the cover for my Alabama Divorce book

I am finishing up work on my new book about divorce in Alabama. The working title is The Practical Guide to a Civilized Alabama Divorce. And, I am asking for my readers' help. The graphic design team that is doing the cover just sent me 6 samples of covers. Since most of the readers of this blog would be the people most likely to be interested in the book, I thought I'd find out what you guys think of them. I am attaching two pdfs to this post. Take a look and let me know what you like or don't... Posted on July 11, 2008 at 03:49 pm by Michael Sherman
Jul 10
Do I need a Prenup?

I get a lot of questions about prenuptial agreements. Usually the questions are about whether they are enforceable under Alabama divorce law (they are if certain requirements are met) and whether and why to have a prenup. I recently came across a nice blog dedicated to prenuptial agreements. It is www.prenuptialagreements.org. One of the better posts I found on the blog so far was titled 8 Reasons Why You Should Have a Prenup. The 8 Important Reason pointed out in the blog are: 1. You are much... Posted on July 10, 2008 at 03:07 am by Michael Sherman

Rank This Week: 1558

Georgia Collaborative Divorce and...

Georgia Collaborative Divorce and Family Law Blog

Covers collaborative divorce and family law issues in Georgia. By Stephen Worrell.

http://www.gacollaborativelaw.com/

Sep 17
5 Tips for Getting out of an Impasse

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, it seems like you reach a dead end with your spouse on an issue in a Collaborative Law case. It happened while you were together, and it shouldn't be surprising that it still happens after you split up. You've thought about possible approaches and made plenty of suggestions, but no agreement seems forthcoming. While persistence can be a virtue in some situations, it can simply lead to frustration in others. If you keep trying the same tactics that haven't... Posted on September 17, 2008 at 06:29 pm by Stephen Worrall
Sep 8
Program aims for peaceful divorces

The "collaborative law" process tries to get all parties to work together to reach agreement. Few words in modern parlance carry uglier connotations than "divorce." Yearslong court battles. Fights over division of property. Never-ending custody disputes that put children at the center of a tug of war. A small group of Roanoke lawyers, all too familiar with the potential nastiness of divorce, are determined to spread the word that there's a less destructive way to navigate this already painful... Posted on September 8, 2008 at 05:39 pm by Stephen Worrall
Sep 8
Benefits of Collaborative Family Law?

Why Collaborative Family Law? Avoid Court - Everyone can focus on a settlement without the constant threat of "going to court." Cooperative Approach - You are each supported and represented by your own lawyer and, yet, you can cooperate confidently with your spouse and his or her lawyer in resolving your issues. Client Participation - You are a vital part of the settlement team (consisting of both parties and both attorneys). Clients in Charge - The process is empowering, informative, and less... Posted on September 8, 2008 at 05:30 pm by Stephen Worrall

Rank This Week: 1563

Georgia Prenuptial and Postnuptial...

Georgia Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements Blog

Covers Prenuptial Agreements, Postnuptial Agreements and Reconciliation Agreements in Georgia. By Stephen Worrall.

http://www.gaprenuptial.com/

Aug 1
5 Myths About Premarital Agreements

California attorney and mediator Diana Mercer has published an excellent article (reprinted below) on a number of myths about prenuptial agreements. Diana Mercer, Attorney-Mediator, is the founder of Peace Talks Mediation Services in Los Angeles, which mediates premarital agreements. Visit http://www.premaritalmediation.com for a free premarital agreement checklist and more information about prenups, mediation, and premarital mediation. For more information about divorce and divorce mediation,... Posted on August 1, 2008 at 06:54 pm by Stephen Worrall
Feb 13
Protect your assets with a prenuptial agreement

Traditional marriage vows are increasingly being revised to delete the words "till death do us part." Since almost half of all marriages end in divorce, many people who have children from a prior marriage or desire to protect assets such as ownership interests in a business choose to enter into a prenuptial agreement. Approximately 40 percent of marriages include a spouse who has been married before. All 50 states recognize prenuptial agreements. They are simply contracts between prospective... Posted on February 13, 2008 at 12:12 pm by Stephen Worrall
Dec 28
What to cover in your prenup

Jeff Lalloway of the California Divorce and Family Law Blog posted a series of articles last year on what to include in a prenuptial agreement. Thanks to PrenuptialAgreements.org for its recent post alerting me to this series: If you have smartly decided to get a prenuptial agreement before you marry, there are many areas you may want to cover. You can cover as few or as many of the items as you want. Some of the items may not be relevant to your situation. Be sure that if you follow the list,... Posted on December 28, 2007 at 09:31 am by Stephen Worrall

Rank This Week: 1569

The Orsini & Rose Divorce and...

The Orsini & Rose Divorce and Family Law Blog

By Brent Rose.

http://attorneysusa.com/familylawblog/

Jul 2
Read their lips: new taxes!

We've been telling prosepctive clients that they need to get their cases filed quickly due to the filing fee increases. Divorces already had the highest filing fees of any type of case except adoptions, but as of July 1, they went up even more. It now costs $418 to file for divorce, including the fee for issuing a summons, even if it's an uncontested divorce. What's worse, you now have to pay to file a counter-petition. That's when you sue someone back for divorce who is suing you for divorce.... Posted on July 2, 2008 at 08:34 pm
Jun 7
In a family law case, who's paying for the lawyers?

The short answer is, probably you. But there's a lot more to it than that, especially in a Florida family law case. Many lawmakers have suggested that we have the "loser pays" rule in the U.S., which is where the loser in the lawsuit has to pay the attorney fees and court costs of the winning side. These legislative and congressional bills are usually killed by insurance company lobbyists (that's right, the same ones crying about the "litigation crisis") because they know insurance companies... Posted on June 7, 2008 at 03:05 pm
May 21
Can stimulus checks be seized for back child support?

Apparently the IRS thinks so. They've decided to seize stimulus checks as if they were tax refunds. Moreover, take this scenario: Suppose a child support payor has remarried and the payor and the new spouse are both receiving a stimulus payment (let's say $600 for the payor and $600 for the payor's spouse). Do you think the IRS can hold the portion of the check which is due to the payor's spouse? In other words, can they take the whole $1200, or just the $600 that would be coming to the child... Posted on May 21, 2008 at 03:00 pm

Rank This Week: 1571

The Law Office of Brian E. Sipe

Covers personal rights in Pennsylvania, especially family law.

http://www.attorneysipe.com/

Jun 17
23 Pa.C.S. 3508. Conveyance of Entireties Property to Divorced Spouse.

Whenever married persons have acquired real estate as tenants by entireties and thereafter are divorced, either former spouse, except as otherwise provided by an order made under this chapter, may convey to the other, without the joinder of the other, the Appendix 9B Statutes (Pennsylvania Divorce Code) 620 grantor.s interest in the real estate so that the grantee holds the real estate in fee simple, freed from all right, title and interest which the grantor had in the real estate as a tenant... Posted on June 17, 2008 at 01:24 am
Jun 17
23 Pa.C.S. 3104. Bases of jurisdiction

a) Jurisdiction. The courts shall have original jurisdiction in cases of divorce and for the annulment of void or voidable marriages and shall determine, in conjunction with any decree granting a divorce or annulment, the following matters, if raised in the pleadings, and issue appropriate decrees or orders with reference thereto, and may retain continuing jurisdiction thereof: 1) The determination and disposition of property rights and interests between spouses, including any rights created by... Posted on June 17, 2008 at 01:22 am
Jun 17
23 Pa.C.S. 3501. Definitions.

a)General rule..As used in this chapter, .marital property. means all property acquired by either party during the marriage and the increase in value of any nonmarital property acquired pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (3) as measured and determined under subsection (a.1). However, marital property does not include: (1)Property acquired prior to marriage or property acquired in exchange for property acquired prior to the marriage. (2)Property excluded by valid agreement of the parties entered... Posted on June 17, 2008 at 01:19 am

Rank This Week: 1575

Indiana Family Law

Encouraging no-conflict resolution of family law matters. By William L. Wilson.

http://aaklaw.com/indianafamilylaw

Jun 5
The move is complete!

This blog has moved to its new home. Please update your bookmarks, links, etc.: [wlw-atty.com] is the direct link, although http://indianafamilylaw.net/ now points to the new location. Posted on June 5, 2008 at 02:11 am by admin
Jun 4
Moving to a new server

We're moving this blog to a new server today, so if things look a little messed up, that's why. Posted on June 4, 2008 at 05:23 pm by admin
May 30
Dealing with the past in family law cases

If there's one obstacle that can make it difficult to resolve a family law issue, it's things that happened in the past. Human nature seems to be such that we remember the negative things in the past and continue to hold a grudge. We lawyers see it in cases all the time. Tammy Lenski over at Conflict Zen has another excellent post about two monks and a small conflict. The story reminds me of a scene in Disney's The Lion King. Shama Rafiki whacks Simba on the head with his staff. Annoyed, Simba... Posted on May 30, 2008 at 09:37 am by admin

Rank This Week: 1577

Colorado DivorcePoint!

Covers Colorado divorce law. By Lawrence King and Christopher Griffith.

http://www.coloradodivorcemediation.com/blog/index.htm

Jun 13
Colorado Divorce Online Records - 2007 Divorce Law Changes

Changes to Colorado divorce law now limit access to Colorado divorce online records. Effective January 1, 2007, the Colorado Department of Public Heath and Environment has adopted a policy which interprets and includes their official reports of Colorado divorce and family law (domestic relations) records as confidential "vital records" within the definition of Colorado's vital statistics records laws. As a result, online access to the statewide database for Colorado dissolution of marriage... Posted on June 13, 2007 at 06:25 am by Larry
Aug 8
Chocolate Pudding Brings Peace of Mind!

As a divorce professional, I don't often fall in love with new children's books about divorce; there are simply too many fine ones already out there. Sandra Levin's Was It the Chocolate Pudding?: A Story for Little Kids About Divorce, however, is a welcome exception, a total delight! Chocolate Pudding perfectly captures the powerful confusion divorce ushers into the world of a six-year-old boy and his little brother. The boy just knows his mom moved out of their home, suddenly and without... Posted on August 8, 2006 at 07:53 am by Larry
Mar 26
Colorado Law Blogs (Blawgs) in the News!

Our Colorado divorce law blog and divorce and family mediation practice blog are among "the handful of attorney-run blogs" featured in a first page article of this Sunday's Business section of the Denver Post, "They Blog the Law, and the Law Wins." Post staff writer Greg Griffin examines the phenomenon of legal-minded or law blogs, known as "blawgs" - noting they are a natural way for web visitors and potential clients with a need for professional services to stay current in an ever-changing... Posted on March 26, 2006 at 04:49 am by Larry

Rank This Week: 1631

JuvieJournal

Covers the experiences of a child welfare lawyer.

http://juviejournal.com

Nov 9
Ghetto Pets

Disclaimer: Before you get to the potentially offensive blog entry below, I would like you to keep the following in mind. Even though I come from a wealthy family, due to a complicated series of events I spent several of my formative years living below the poverty line. I concur with Martin Luther King, Jr. that poverty is one of the major evils plaguing the modern world. Every day I am faced with its obstacles and I have great respect and affection for the families I work with who are... Posted on November 9, 2006 at 07:33 pm by JuvieJournal
Nov 7
Practicing Dirty

There is nothing I hate more than lawyers who insist on practicing dirty. They are lawyers who work hard to earn us all the reputation of being total assholes. Even doing public interest work you come across these scoundrels who just cannot resist being underhanded. I am at the beginning stages of a temporary custody hearing. A social service agency removed my client's child from her, placed her in foster care even though there was a relative available to take her, and then never produced any... Posted on November 7, 2006 at 07:34 pm by JuvieJournal
Oct 31
Invasion of the Bodysnatchers

My whole life I thought I knew that drugs were bad. I can honestly say that I never went near an illegal substance. I had a certain amount of fear that kept me from ever having any interest in that sort of thing. I thought I knew why I should be afraid. It was not until I began doing this work that I truly understood what there was to fear. I suppose everyone has heard stories of people losing everything they owned because of drugs. They lost their job, they lost their home, and then their... Posted on October 31, 2006 at 08:53 pm by JuvieJournal

Rank This Week: 1652

Tennessee Family and Probate Law

Examines statute and case law developments in Tennessee Family and Probate Law. By Al Frazier.

http://tennesseefamilylaw.blogs.com/weblog/

Jul 25
When does a child bear the father's name?

When a child is born out of wedlock, the issue of the child's last name is governed by statute, Tenn. Code Ann. &#xc2&#xa7 68-3-305. The most common scenario that this becomes an issue is when the Mother was unmarried at... Posted on July 25, 2006 at 04:46 pm by frazieratty
Jun 28
File this under stupid, Part 2.

In the Missouri case of Richardson v. Richardson, the Wife was awarded non-modifiable alimony payable over a definite amount of time. In the State of Tennessee, this would be considered alimony in solido, as it is non-modifiable. The wife then... Posted on June 28, 2006 at 03:33 am by frazieratty
Jun 26
What is "Continuing and Exclusive Jurisdiction"?

To the layperson, legal terms such as "continuing and exclusive jurisdiction" create a haze over one's eyes. Often, a lawyer (including those with the Department of Children's Services) can forget that words in our statutes are carefully chosen. This second... Posted on June 26, 2006 at 03:16 am by frazieratty

Rank This Week: 1670

Maine Divorce Law Blog

Covers Maine family law, including divorce, separation, child support, mediation, spousal support, child custody and property rights. By Alan R. Nye.

http://www.mainedivorcelawblog.com/

Rank This Week: 1683

DadsDivorce

Provides information for men at all stages of divorce.

http://www.dadsdivorce.com

Nov 21
Ask A Divorce Lawyer: How Do I Make The Most Of Her Amicable Divorce Attitude?

Question: My wife has just told me that she wants to rent a town house for her and our 4 children to live in. She says that she has been on a waiting list for 2 years. She has told me that she will not be filing for a legal separation, nor will she be contacting the friend of the courts to pursue child support. Further more she also says she wants me to live in our house so the kids can alRead More... Posted on November 21, 2009 at 08:00 pm
Nov 20
Ask A Divorce Lawyer: Dealing With Conflict of Interest With Divorce Attorney

Question: I recently hired an attorney. I have found out that he is good friends with my ex-wife's attorney. I would have thought that this wouldn't matter to a professional, but he did nothing to further my case. After terminating his services, he made several excuses about returning my original documents. He is in possession of all original documents pertaining to my case prior to hiringRead More... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 08:00 pm
Nov 20
DadsDivorce In The Studio: 11-20-09

DadsDivorce.com editor, Rick Ortiz, tells you about what's new on DadsDivorce. Posted on November 20, 2009 at 06:33 am

Rank This Week: 1698

Rochester Family Lawyer Blog

Covers child support, domestic relations, and family law in New York. By Alexander Korotkin.

http://rochesterfamilylawyer.korotkinlaw.com

Nov 21
Can Social Abandonment By A Spouse Be Sufficient As Grounds For Divorce?

While New York continues to be the last state that insists upon fault-based divorce, that has not stopped various attempts to broaden present grounds for divorce available under the Domestic Relations Law. In a recent decision, Davis v. Davis, 2009 N.Y. Slip. Op. 08579 (2nd Dept. 2009), the Appellate Division, Second Department, held that "social abandonment" of one spouse by the other, does not meet the definition of constructive abandonment, and can not be used as grounds for divorce. This... Posted on November 21, 2009 at 06:10 pm by alexkorotkin
Nov 14
Divorce, Equitable Distribution and Appreciation of Separate Property

One issue that comes up periodically in divorce cases has to do with appreciation of separate property brought into the marriage by one spouse. If that separate property is a business that appreciated during the marriage, did that appreciation come as active spousal effort, which would render the appreciation marital property, or did the appreciation come as a result of passive, non-spousal effort, and therefore should be treated as separate property? In other words, what was the comparable... Posted on November 14, 2009 at 05:49 pm by alexkorotkin
Nov 8
Non-Titled Spouse, Enhanced Earnings and Substantial Contribution

I have previously written about several issues related to distribution of enhanced earnings during the equitable distribution portion of the divorce action here, here, here and here. One of the critical issues facing a divorce lawyer, seeking seeking equitable distribution of a portion of such earnings for his/her client, is the burden of proof with respect to the non-titled spouse's contribution to enhanced earning capacity. The non-titled spouse seeking a distributive share of enhanced... Posted on November 8, 2009 at 08:17 pm by alexkorotkin

Rank This Week: 1701

Orange County Divorce Lawyer Blog

Cover California divorce and family law issues. By The Law Office Of David P. Schwarz.

http://www.orangecountydivorcelawyerblog.com/

Nov 21
A Very Unusual California Divorce Claim

Here's an unusual twist on California divorce: according to a report in the San Mateo County Times, a Bay area man is suing the San Francisco airport, claiming noise from the planes landed him in California family court resulting in the end of his marriage and his loss of California child custody of the company's triplets. Sixty-year-old Stanley Hilton of Hillsborough (which is actually about two miles from the airport and, according to the newspaper, does not lie beneath the flight paths)... Posted on November 21, 2009 at 01:06 pm by David P. Schwarz
Nov 19
Can I change my Will in the middle of my divorce?

Unless you want your soon to be ex-spouse to inherit your share of the community estate, you ought to consider immediately changing your will pending your divorce. If you wait until your divorce is final, it could cause the wrong result in the event of your untimely death. Typically, if you are married, your will might provide that your surviving spouse act as the executor of your estate. Your will might include provisions that all assets you own pass to your surviving spouse. If there is no... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 02:55 pm by Winiviere G. Sy
Nov 18
Shaq's California Separation Highlights Residency Issues

Word that basketball star Shaquille O'Neal's wife Va'shaundya filed Los Angeles family court papers seeking a California legal separation last week may have come as a bit of a surprise. Most people thought the O'Neals lived in Florida (Shaq played with the NBA's Miami Heat from 2004-2008, but now plays for Cleveland). According to a report in People magazine, Va'shaundya flew to California and declared herself a resident of the state on November 8, a day before her lawyers filed the California... Posted on November 18, 2009 at 01:11 pm by David P. Schwarz

Rank This Week: 1711

Ohio Family Law Blog

Provides family law and divorce information for Ohio families. By Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues.

http://www.hcmmlaw.com/blog

Nov 21
Your Thanksgiving Doesn’t have to be a Turkey!

Karen Armstrong, a human development extension agent with North Dakota State University, posted an excellent Thanksgiving piece two years ago. Her suggestions and insights bear repeating. Plus, I liked her Thanksgiving Quiz! She was kind enough to allow me to republish it. The holiday season can be stressful enough on its own. Families who have changed the make up of their household because of divorce or marriage since last year have some new challenges. If this describes your family, watch... Posted on November 21, 2009 at 02:00 am by Robert L. Mues
Nov 18
Upcoming Parenting Seminar Featuring Dr. Gregory Ramey, Ph.D.

Dr. Gregory Ramey, a child psychologist at Dayton Children's Hospital and author of the Family Wise Column in the Dayton Daily News, as well as a guest contributor to the Ohio Family Law Blog, will be presenting a parenting seminar at 6:30 p.m., December 3, 2009, at Dayton Children's Outpatient Care Center in Springboro. Don't miss it! Dr. Ramey will discuss "Kids and their Technological Worlds" and will provide recent research on internet usage, cell phones, and television, and some concrete... Posted on November 18, 2009 at 02:00 am by Robert L. Mues
Nov 14
Planning Parenting Time for the Holidays – Tips to Follow

As we are now into the month of November, it is not too early for divorced and divorcing parents to look ahead to the upcoming Christmas Holiday. Here are some "tips" regarding the "nuts and bolts" of handling the Christmas holiday season. Read and examine the Parenting Time Schedule for your particular County which should be attached as part of your Final Decree or Court Judgment. The Domestic Relations Court and Juvenile Court of each County have differing schedules. If your parenting time... Posted on November 14, 2009 at 02:00 am by Anne Shale

Rank This Week: 1741

Legal Commentary on Proposition 8...

Legal Commentary on Proposition 8 and the Right to Marry

Articles and comments by attorneys and legal scholars, and related legal news. From Michael Ginsborg.

http://prop8legalcommentary.blogspot.com/

Nov 20
Legal battle over D.C. Marriage Intiative petition

In May, the D.C. Council adopted the the Jury and Marriage Amendment Act of 2009 (JMAA), which confers recognition of same-sex marriages licensed in other states. JMAA opponents included D.C resident Bishop Harry Jackson, senior pastor of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Maryland. They sought to qualify a referendum on the law, but in June, the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics ruled that the referendum would violate the Human Rights Act by discriminating on the basis of sexual... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 11:43 pm by Michael Ginsborg
Nov 20
NY Court of Appeals recognizes out-of-state, same-sex marriages for purpose of public employee health insurance and county government benefits

11/19/09 NY Times: ALBANY - The state's highest court on Thursday upheld policies giving some government benefits to same-sex couples who are legally married outside the state, but did not rule on whether gay marriage should be legal in New York, leaving that issue for the Legislature to decide. Though the majority in the 4-to-3 decision focused its decision on the narrow question of benefits, the three judges in the minority went further and said the court should have upheld the policies... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 04:12 am by Michael Ginsborg
Nov 20
9th Circuit Chief Judge Alexander Kozinski rules that lesbian spouse of circuit court staff attorney must receive health care benefits

11/19/09 order by Chief Judge Alexander Kozinski In the Matter of Karen Golinski: On November 18th, 9th Circuit Judge Stephen Reinhardt ruled that federal public defender Brian Levenson must be compensated for loss of health care benefits to his gay spouse when the Office of Personnel Management rejected his spousal benefit claims. The next day, Chief Judge Alexander Kozinski ruled that Karen Golinski, a circuit court staff attorney, must be allowed to pursue her claims of health care benefits... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 01:50 am by Michael Ginsborg

Rank This Week: 1748

Divorce 101

Covers New York divorce and family law. By Charles Messina.

http://charlesamessina.com

Nov 20
Paging Dr. O’Brien… Enhanced Earnings Claims

New York State is a funny place to get a divorce&#xe2€&#xa6 it is so generous! In 1985, Dr. O'Brien divorced his wife. Mrs. O'Brien, being the smarty pants that she was (or maybe that her attorney was the smarty pants)decided that she would seek a distribution of her husband's newly acquired medical license in equitable distribution. In English, she thought she should be paid for all the money the good doctor would make over the course of his working life by virtue of the fact that he got a medical... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 07:13 pm by Charles Messina
Nov 19
What About the House???

In the course of a Divorce, the one asset that often causes much consternation is the house. Who gets it? Does it have to be sold? Can he buy me out? The questions are many&#xe2€&#xa6 but so are the solutions! The biggest asset in any marriage is usually the house. If the parties don't own a house, but lease or rent, there is nothing for a Court to consider in equitable distribution and there is one less thing to fight over. But houses come in all shapes and sizes; some are acquired before the marriage... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 09:36 am by Charles Messina
Nov 14
5 Considerations Before Going To Family Court

In New York State, we have Family Court. Family Court is a Court of "limited jurisdiction." This means that Family Court can only hear matters that are specifically set forth by statute. The statutes that tell us what matters Family Court may hear are the Family Court Act (FCA), the New York State Constitution (yes, there IS a state constitution) and to some extent the Domestic Relations Law (DRL). While Family Court is generally touted as "user friendly" and informal, it can be a scary place,... Posted on November 14, 2009 at 01:11 pm by Charles Messina

Rank This Week: 1761

Fort Lauderdale Divorce Lawyer...

Fort Lauderdale Divorce Lawyer Blog

Covers divorce, custody, and child support. By Sandy T. Fox, P.A.

http://www.fortlauderdaledivorcelawyerblog.com/

Nov 20
Divorces Are Slow In Miami-Dade And Broward Due To South Florida Economy

The Miami Herald is reporting that many couples in Miami-Dade, Broward and South Florida are staying together or appearing pro se (without a lawyer) because they are unable to pay a divorce attorney. Some divorce lawyers in Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami, Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale state that their divorce business is down as much as 35%. In addition, many potential new clients do not appear for their consultation because they are embarrassed that they can not afford the consultation... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 05:23 pm by Sandy T. Fox
Nov 19
The Effect Of A Supportive Relationship On Permanent Alimony After A Ft. Lauderdale Divorce

During a Broward divorce, your Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer may request that you be awarded alimony. A Florida marital and family court can award you bridge-the-gap, temporary, lump sum, rehabilitative or permanent periodic alimony. However, after the conclusion of your Broward divorce case, one spouse may have their Broward child support, child custody and divorce attorney ask the judge to reduce or terminate the alimony because of a statutorily created supportive relationship. In... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 06:56 pm by Sandy T. Fox
Nov 15
Recovering After Your Fort Laudedale Divorce

Your divorce in Broward was most likely an extremely difficult process. While your Fort Lauderdale divorce attorney is not your therapist, it is important for you to let go and move on after your divorce. You should learn to incorporate different specific skills to assist you with emotionally recovering after the child custody, time-sharing, alimony and child support aspects of your Cooper City divorce. You should take back control of your life by letting go of the pain, resentment and regret.... Posted on November 15, 2009 at 08:44 pm by Sandy T. Fox

Rank This Week: 1772

NJ Family Issues

Focuses on New Jersey divorce and estate planning. By Paul G. Kostro.

http://www.kostrolaw.com/NJFamilyIssues

Nov 20
Divorce is around the corner — how do you protect your financial interests while your marriage dissolves

Divorce is around the corner - how do you protect your financial interests while your marriage dissolves - read: Financial Decisions to Make as You Divorce, by RON LIEBER, published in The New York Times. Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. This Blog/Blawg, NJ Family Issues, is managed by Paul G. Kostro, Esq., an attorney/lawyer/mediator in Linden, Union County, New Jersey. My legal and mediation services are offered to Polish-speaking and... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 01:55 pm by PaulKostro
Nov 20
Yous, Mine & Ours

Yous, Mine & Ours When you are considering marriage, there are so many things to think about and discuss: assets, liabilities, earnings, in-kind contributions, child-rearing, chauffeur and other family services, home-maker; who is responsible for what; who owns what; who contributes what? For one person's experience, read: When Bankers Get Too Personal, by Nicole Collins, published in The New York Times. Premarital mediation and a Pre-Nuptial Agreement may be helpful to some - if you agree,... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 01:24 pm by PaulKostro
Nov 19
WHAT IS CHILD WELFARE MEDIATION?

WHAT IS CHILD WELFARE MEDIATION? Mediation in child welfare cases is a way for parties to make decisions and resolve issues themselves. A neutral, trained person, called a mediator, meets with the parents, caseworker, attorneys, and other interested persons outside of the courtroom setting to discuss issues concerning a child in the care of the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS). The mediator can help the parties to reach their own agreement. For more information, see Directive #... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 08:43 am by PaulKostro

Rank This Week: 1798

Maryland Divorce Attorney Blog

Covers Maryland marital property, child support and child custody issues. By Robert Flanagan.

http://www.marylanddivorceattorneyblog.com/

Nov 20
Valuation of Closely Held Business

In my last blog, I gave an overview of how closely held businesses will be treated under Maryland's Marital Property Law. Most owners have poured their heart and soul into making their business a success. Therefore, it is not surprising that the combination ending a marriage and subjecting the business to judicial scrutiny, may create an emotionally charged atmosphere. In such instances, the experience and skill set that is needed is that of a Maryland divorce lawyer with business litigation... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 12:32 pm by Robert Flanagan
Nov 16
Closely Held Businesses Treatment Under Maryland Marital Property Law

The Baltimore-Washington Corridor including Howard County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Harford County, Prince Georges County and Montgomery County is blessed with many successful privately held business that create a special issue for Maryland Divorce Lawyers. A closely held business is one that is privately owned as opposed to one whose stock is publicly traded. In Separation and Divorce, an interest in a closely held business can become quite contentious. In such cases, it is... Posted on November 16, 2009 at 10:57 am by Robert Flanagan
Nov 10
Domestic Violence Cases Move Quickly

As a Maryland lawyer experienced in Domestic Violence cases and a former member of the Maryland General Assembly, I have witnessed the strengthening of our state's Domestic Violence laws. The District Courts are open 24 hours a day to accept petitions for protective orders and conduct ex parte hearings. At an ex parte hearing, if a court finds reasonable grounds to believe that abuse of a person eligible for relief under Section 4-501 Family Law Article has occurred, the Court may enter a... Posted on November 10, 2009 at 01:53 pm by Robert Flanagan

Rank This Week: 1814

Iowa Law Blog

Covers business, employment, trust & estates family, real estate, regulatory compliance and utility law. By Sullivan & Ward, PC.

http://www.iowa-lawblog.com/

Nov 20
New Tenant Eviction Requirements in Iowa

The eviction process (also called a "Forcible Entry and Detainer" or "FED) in Iowa is just a little more strict. A ruling from the Iowa Supreme Court today now requires that the landlord give personal service notice of the eviction hearing. Previously, under the Iowa Uniform Residential Landlord Tenant chapter of the Iowa Code (Iowa Code 562A), if a landlord was ready to evict and had followed the necessary "notice to quit" requirements, the landlord could give the tenant notice of the eviction... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 11:42 am
Oct 28
Read the Entire Agreement - Personal Liablity May be Lurking in the Document

We've previously posted on the subject of the danger of personal guarantees when entering into contracts through a business entity. Normally, the officer/agent of the company needs to sign such an agreement in his or her capacity in the company, and not in their individual capacity in order to avoid personal liability. A recent case out of the Iowa Court of Appeals clarifies that signing in your corporate capacity isn't enough on its own to limit your personal liability. In this case, which was... Posted on October 28, 2009 at 04:39 pm
Oct 16
Steve McNair - Another Failure to Plan

Former NFL football player Steve McNair is just another too-common of an example of someone who failed to plan their estate with so much at risk. As Todd Ratner on the Estate Planning Bits blog noted in his post, there are several legal issues associated to the unfortunate demise of Steve McNair that will likely result in significant cost and struggle to his family. Fame and fortune alone won't guarantee you a structured estate plan. And you don't have to be a Steve McNair to have the same... Posted on October 16, 2009 at 04:10 pm

Rank This Week: 1824

New York Divorce and Family Law...

New York Divorce and Family Law Blog

Covers child custody, child support, divorce, equitable distribution, marriage, spousal maintenance, and visitation. By Daniel E. Clement.

http://divorce.clementlaw.com/

Nov 20
New York's Highest Court Up-holds Same Sex Marriage

The New York Court of Appeals narrowly upheld same sex marriage in New York. The Court, in a 4-3 decision did not settle the question of whether same-sex marriages performed in other states should be recognized. Judge Eugene F. Pigott Jr., writing for the majority, expressed "hope that the Legislature will address this controversy." The three judges in a concurring decision,said that the court should have addressed the wider issue because New York law already allows for the recognition of... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 08:22 am
Nov 16
Divorce Risk Higher When Wife Gets Sick

A recent study found that women who were told they had a serious illness were seven times as likely to become separated or divorced as men with similar health problems. Tara Parker-Pope reports in the Well Blog that: When the man became ill, only 3 percent experienced the end of a marriage. But among women, about 21 percent ended up separated or divorced. Among couples who split up, divorce occurred, on average, about six months after the diagnosis, although there was wide variability in the... Posted on November 16, 2009 at 08:43 pm
Nov 10
Financial Issues That Destroy The Best of Marriages

I have long felt that since money and money issues are the leading cause of divorce, the economic health of a marriage is a good barometer of the overall health of marriage. Ron Lieber, in his "Your Money" column in the New York Times identifies five, often unanticipated, economic stressors capable of destroying even the strongest of marriages. Often, the tensions brought on by financial issues have been exacerbated by a failure of communication. The parties may be foreclosed from solutions... Posted on November 10, 2009 at 07:51 am

Rank This Week: 1862

DIY Divorce in Florida

Offers free legal tips to people representing themselves in Florida divorces. By Pamela S. Wynn.

http://diydivorce.typepad.com/diy_divorce_in_florida/

Nov 20
Legal Research Help for Do It Yourself Divorce - Compliments of Google

Google is bringing you free legal research through it's latest offering, Google Scholar. Posted on November 20, 2009 at 04:46 am by Pamela
Nov 17
Change # 7 2009 Florida Child Relocation Changes: Time Frames

Florida law changed again with respect to relocating a child during & after divorce. Effective October 1, 2009, the Florida Legislature revised the child relocation law Posted on November 17, 2009 at 05:25 am by Pamela
Nov 10
Change #6: 2009 Florida Child Relocation Procedure - No Objection = No Hearing

During or after a Florida divorce, what happens when the non-moving parent does not file an objection (on time) to the relocation of the children? Posted on November 10, 2009 at 05:34 am by Pamela

Rank This Week: 1916

Jacksonville Divorce Lawyer Blog

Covers divorce, child custody, and chid support in Florida. By Wolf, Atter & Wolf, P.A.

http://www.jacksonvilledivorcelawyerblog.com/

Nov 20
TV Food Celebrity (Mary Jo Eustace) Dumped by Husband (Dean McDermott) for TV Star Tori Spelling, Tells All in New Book

TV cooking show host Mary Jo Eustace was not very well known until her husband, actor Dean McDermott, divorced her to marry heiress and famous Hollywood actress Tori Spelling in 2006. McDermott and Spelling met on the set of a lifetime movie they were working on together. Ms. Eustace has said she was taken by surprise when her divorce garnered major media attention. Ms. Eustace has said that her divorce was a shocking surprise as well as very public and humiliating. One of the insults the newly... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 03:25 am by Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A.
Nov 19
British Couples Recently Break Records for Oldest Divorcees and Oldest Newlyweds

Bert and Jesse Wood had been married for 36 years when they filed for divorce last year in Great Britain. The marriage was the second for both of them, and at the time of the decree of divorce they were both 98 years old - making them the oldest couple on record to divorce. They have not publically stated the reason for their divorce, and their children are not making comments to the press. Wood died shortly after the decree was issued, and Ms. Wood now lives in a nursing home. In the next... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 03:59 am by Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A.
Nov 18
Murrieta, Georgia – Woman (Teri F. Scott) Allegedly Knifes Other Woman (Unnamed) in Child Custody Argument

According to Murrieta, Georgia Police Sargeant, Jon Flavin, police were called to respond to a fight taking place late one morning. When they arrived at the scene, they found a woman, bleeding from a cut near her right ear. She reportedly told police that she had been attacked with a knife by an acquaintance of hers, during a heated exchange over a child custody issue. Apparently there were children present during the fight. They allegedly witnessed the attack and were put in danger because of... Posted on November 18, 2009 at 03:57 am by Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A.

Rank This Week: 1931

South Carolina Family Law Blog

Information and insight on family law issues in South Carolina.

http://www.scfamilylaw.com/

Nov 19
The "Temporary" Nature of Temporary Hearings

This week, I have explained certain aspects of temporary hearings in Family Court cases in South Carolina. One of the things that I explain to all of my clients before these hearings is "No matter what happens, good or bad, this is only temporary." I also reassure my clients that I am not telling them that to prepare them for bad news, as I discuss this point all my clients, whether I think the hearing will go our way or not. Because the Court is only given certain slices of information by the... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 09:01 pm
Nov 17
Tips to Help You Write Persuasively

Earlier this week, I discussed temporary hearings and explained how issues are presented as being "black" or "white". Every document prepared for the temporary hearing (including the pleadings drafted by the attorney and the Affidavits drafted by the client and witnesses with the attorney's guidance) should be written with the goal of persuading the Judge to decide in your favor. Allison Shields recently listed several tips for persuasive writing on her blog, and I believe that they are... Posted on November 17, 2009 at 09:01 pm
Nov 15
Temporary Hearings - Black vs. White

In South Carolina, the majority of Family Court cases begin with a "temporary hearing", which is scheduled as a result of one party filing a Motion for Temporary Relief. At this hearing, the Court determines what will happen between then and the final hearing, which is typically held many months in the future. The main types of issues decided at this hearing include which party will have temporary custody of children, what visitation the other party will have, how much child support will be... Posted on November 15, 2009 at 09:01 pm

Rank This Week: 1979

BV Source

Covers business valuation and divorce litigation. By Brian C. Vertz.

http://www.bvsource.com/blog/

Nov 19
Parent Held Not Liable under “Verbal Agreement” to Pay College Expenses

In Mackay v. Mackay (2009), a parent attempted to enforce a casual conversation about college plans for their young children as a "verbal agreement" to pay college expenses. Posted on November 19, 2009 at 10:52 am by Brian Vertz
Nov 18
Effectively Waiving Retirement Benefits in a Settlement Agreement

During the statewide broadcast of PBI's Family Law Update today, my colleague David Ladov asked me to post the features that a marital settlement agreement would have to contain in order to qualify as a QDRO (qualified domestic relations order). A QDRO is one of two possible ways that someone may waive his or her right to receive a share of his or her ex-spouse's retirement benefits (the other being a beneficiary designation form). Posted on November 18, 2009 at 04:09 pm by Brian Vertz
Oct 23
Official PA Child Support Calculator

I have added a page to my site with links to the official Pennsylvania child support calculator, published by the Pennsylvania Automated Child Support Enforcement System (PACSES). Posted on October 23, 2009 at 12:36 pm by Brian Vertz

Rank This Week: 2056

Collaborative Divorce Northwest...

Collaborative Divorce Northwest Blog

Covers collaborative divorce and family law. By Stephens Margolin P.C.

http://www.collaborativedivorcenorthwest.com

Nov 19
The British are celebrating American style Collaborative Divorce

Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore, a justice in the UK's new Supreme Court, said that there had been an "impressive" expansion in the use of what is called the "collaborative" approach to divorce. In 2003, only four lawyers in England were offering the new out-of-court method, he said. Now the number had risen to 1408 in England and Wales and 100 in Northern Ireland - with a rise of 87 per cent in cases to an estimated several thousand a year. Lord Kerr, a former Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland,... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 10:39 am by Daniel Margolin
Sep 22
Collaborative Family Law and the Courts

In general, the courts have been slow to accept collaborative divorce. In Oregon, there are no formal court pleadings associated with the collaborative process. New York has taken the lead with collaborative divorce and opened teh Collaborative Family Law Center, the first court-based collaborative law center in the country. The center will provide divorcing spouses with the chance to work with collaboratively trained attorneys. Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman said, "The Collaborative Family Law... Posted on September 22, 2009 at 01:36 pm by Daniel Margolin
Sep 8
Divorce and separations can send pets into legal limbo

In today's Oregonian, Jacques Von Lunen wrote an article on the affect of divorce on pets. Specifically, what the law provides with respect to pet visitation and custody. Dan Margolin was interviewed for the story and discussed how the collaborative process can benefit parties with pet issues are part of their divorce. The artice can be found here: http://www.oregonlive.com/pets/index.ssf/2009/09/divorce_and_separations_can_se.html Tweet This Post Posted on September 8, 2009 at 01:44 pm by admin

Rank This Week: 2059

THE OREGON DIVORCE BLOG

Provides divorce and family law information. By Stephens Margolin P.C.

http://oregondivorceblog.com/wordpress

Nov 19
Can a parent “take the child and run?”

If a custody matter has not yet been filed, then under Oregon law, the parent with whom the child was living at the time paternity of the child was determined is determined to have legal custody of the child. ORS 109.175 provides: (1) If paternity of a child born out of wedlock is established pursuant to a petition filed under ORS 109.125 or an order or judgment entered pursuant to ORS 109.124 to 109.230 or ORS 416.400 to 416.465, or if paternity is established by the filing of a voluntary... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 10:34 am by Daniel Margolin
Nov 12
How to divide personal property in a divorce

The division of personal property in a divorce can be one of the most expensive, emotional, and wasteful parts of a case. Parties will often spend thousands of dollars arguing over a very inexpensive piece of personal property. Personal property, meaning furniture, art, family photos, pets, and other general property, in a divorce is treated no differently than the division of other assets. A dollar value figure is placed on the property and the allocation of property is dealt with as part of... Posted on November 12, 2009 at 03:30 pm by Daniel Margolin
Nov 7
Divorce Myth: Oregon has common law marriage

As divorce lawyers based in Portland, Oregon, we get a surprising number of questions about common law marriage. Common law marriage is where a legal marriage is created without a marriage license or marriage ceremony. Usually the couple has to (1) live together for a significant period of time, (2) hold themselves out as a married couple, (3) and intend to be married. I am surprised by how many people believe Oregon has common law marriage. We don't, hence the myth. If you live together in... Posted on November 7, 2009 at 09:10 pm by csstephens

Rank This Week: 2060

Pink Tape

Covers family law the the family justice system in the United Kingdom.

http://pinktape.co.uk

Nov 19
OPENNESS OF FAMILY COURTS

Today's press release from the MoJ in respect of proposed legislative reform to further open up the Family Courts. Hmmm&#xe2€&#xa6.More on this when I've had time to look properly&#xe2€&#xa6 Posted in stuff Posted on November 19, 2009 at 08:27 am by familoo
Nov 15
Sunday Smorgasbord

This weekend I am proud to say that I have had time to read THREE whole weekend newspapers. This is not a common occurence. In celebration of these heady heights of leisure I have put together this mishmash of interesting things that I have found: The Times reports that 'a lawyer was dismissed from her &#xc2&#xa3150,000 [...] Posted on November 15, 2009 at 01:59 pm by familoo
Nov 13
CAFCASS Judicial Review

Well, it had to happen sooner or later. I'm only surprised it wasn't sooner - mutterings about this petered out some months ago on the issue of the President's interim Guidance on managing the CAFCASS crisis. But now a firm of solicitors acting for a child involved in proceedings have secured public funding to launch a [...] Posted on November 13, 2009 at 08:27 am by familoo

Rank This Week: 2086

Hattiesburg Divorce Lawyer

Covers Mississippi divorce and family law. By Timothy J. Evans.

http://www.hattiesburgdivorcelawyer.com/

Nov 19
Visitation Must Be Specific

I have clients who wonder why I want to be so specific on establishing visitation between the children and the non-custodial parent. The answer is simple; the more specific you are, the less ambiguity (usually) exists. Also, based on my own experience as a divorce parent, I think specificity helps when it comes to planning future visitation. For example, I believe establishing visitation on the first, third, and (when applicable) fifth weekends of the month to be preferable than saying... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 07:31 am by Tim Evans
Oct 1
How soon can I get to court?

One of the most common questions I get is "How long is this going to take?" People want to know how long will they be tied up in litigation, and when can they get on with their lives. Like so many things were the legal process is concerned, there are no clear answers. There are processes where a true emergency may be heard by a court in a matter of days. Even in these cases, though, this is just an initial hearing, and it must soon be followed up within a few days with another hearing to give... Posted on October 1, 2009 at 05:48 am by Tim Evans
Oct 1
When Worlds Collide

People like to classify things. That includes laws and lawyers. Both the public at large and we attorneys like to talk about different areas of the law as if they were nice and neat-totally separate from one another. For example, we talk about family law (or divorce law), personal injury law, contract law. "Oh," we might say, "he's a bankruptcy lawyer," or, "she's an elder law attorney." Unfortunately life, including law, is rarely that nice, neat, and organized. No, the reality is that a case... Posted on October 1, 2009 at 05:37 am by Tim Evans

Rank This Week: 2100

NJ Family Legal Blog

Covers New Jersey family law. Published by Fox Rothschild, LLP.

http://njfamilylaw.foxrothschild.com/

Nov 19
Divorce From Bed and Board - New Jersey's Answer to Legal Separation?

Many times I have been asked whether New Jersey has a form of legal separation. The answer? The closest form of legal separation is what is known by statute as divorce from "bed and board," also known as a "limited divorce." In simple terms, it means that two spouses have obtained a divorce from a financial standpoint, but they are still actually, legally married. Assets are distributed, support is determined. Notably, both parties must agree and request to a divorce in this form pursuant to... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 04:18 am
Nov 18
YET ANOTHER CELEBRITY DIVORCE - DODGER STYLE

Since they have been in the news a lot lately, I have bloged a lot recently on celebrity divorces, be it John & Kate, Stephanie Seymour or Jim Nantz. That is why the article from Billy Witz that recently appeared in the New York Times about the divorce of Frank McCourt and Jamie McCourt, the owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers got my attention. Both parties claim to own the team - though Frank claims to be the sole owner. Both worked for the team until recently, when Jamie was fired. As a... Posted on November 18, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Nov 17
ALIMONY TERMINATES AT REMARRIAGE, DOESN'T IT?

Alimony terminates at remarriage, doesn't it? At least that is what we have learned. In fact, there is even a statute, N.J.S.A. 2A:34-25, that says permanent or limited duration alimony terminates upon death or remarriage of the recipient. This is not the case for reimbursement or rehabilitative alimony, per the statute, absent an agreement to the contrary or good cause. Fast forward to November 17, 2009, the date of the release of the unreported (non-precedential) Appellate Division opinion in... Posted on November 17, 2009 at 11:22 am

Rank This Week: 2125

Divorce Manual

Looks at the British Family Justice System which encourages reform through Collaborative Law and legislation. By Natasha Phillips.

http://divorcemanual.blogspot.com/

Nov 19
Westminster Debate for KIDS: Further Related Coverage

The Guardian, Thursday 19th November The Telegraph, 16th November The Mirror, 16th November Family Law Week Mishcon De Reya, Monday 16th November Family Lore Focus, Wednesday 11th November Dads House, November 2009 Posted on November 19, 2009 at 04:15 am by Natasha Phillips
Nov 16
Westminster Debate in The Times

Today, The Times reported on the Westminster Debate for KIDS, which took place on November 9th, 2009. You can read the article here. Posted on November 16, 2009 at 02:56 am by Natasha Phillips
Nov 10
Westminster Debate for KIDS (Kids in Divorce or Separation)

In commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Children Act 1989, Divorce Manual and Mishcon de Reya hosted a debate in the Houses of Parliament last night on the welfare of the child and the significance of that welfare in private family law. At the heart of this debate was the notion that although the Children Act 1989 specifically insists that the welfare of the child be of paramount consideration in every family law case, the reality is such that this is just not happening. As a result the... Posted on November 10, 2009 at 04:12 am by Natasha Phillips

Rank This Week: 2126

Family, Criminal, Personal Injury,...

Family, Criminal, Personal Injury, in Nevada

Covers Nevada Supreme Court cases and laws involving criminal, civil, and family issues. By Anthony Wright.

http://wrightlawnv.blogspot.com/

Nov 19
FAMILY: Court Costs are Expensive for Divorces, Beware of False Ads

Beware of advertisements wherein someone tells you they will handle your divorce for a couple hundred dollars. That is virtually impossible to do. Let me explain. To file for divorce in Clark County, Nevada (Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City) the current filing fee is $289.00 (November 2009). Add several more dollars to that for copying costs. Then, you will have to have a process server serve your soon to be ex. If you go with a professional server (recommended) it will cost... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 03:42 am by Anthony Wright--The Wright Law Offices--Las Vegas
Nov 16
Search Warrant Only if Police want into your Home

linkHOME - INJURY - FAMILY - CRIMINAL - TRAFFIC - PROCESS - COURTS - ARTICLES - LINKS Posted on November 16, 2009 at 03:08 am by Anthony Wright--The Wright Law Offices--Las Vegas
Nov 14
How to Not Consent to a Search when Officers Request...

linklinkHOME - INJURY - FAMILY - CRIMINAL - TRAFFIC - PROCESS - COURTS - ARTICLES - LINKS Posted on November 14, 2009 at 04:47 pm by Anthony Wright--The Wright Law Offices--Las Vegas

Rank This Week: 2132

Connecticut Lesbian and Gay Law

Covers gay marriage, civil unions, and step-parent and co-parent adoptions. By Irene C. Olszewski.

http://ctlgbtlaw.wordpress.com

Nov 18
Lambda Legal Files Lawsuit to Fight Unequal Pay for Same-Sex Domestic Partners in Arizona

On November 17, 2009, Lambda Legal filed a federal lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Tucson, Arizona to block a move to strip gay and lesbian state employees of domestic partner benefits. Read Fighting Unequal Pay in Arizona on Lambda Legal's site. Posted on November 18, 2009 at 09:04 pm by ireneolszewski
Nov 17
U.S. House Bill Would Reduce Taxes on Healthcare Owed By Gay & Lesbian Couples

Editor's note: I read with interest the following post on Gay Couples Law Blog: The new health care bill passed by the U.S. House on Saturday would do more than help reduce the amount of people without health insurance. It also would reduce the taxes usually owed by gay couples. Currently, employees must pay [...] Posted on November 17, 2009 at 11:01 pm by ireneolszewski
Nov 17
Home Study Required for Co-Parent Adoptions but May Be Waived for Step-Parent Adoptions in Connecticut

If you and your partner have not entered into civil union or marriage and one of you desires to become the legal co-parent of the other person's biological child in the State of Connecticut, the Probate Court will require that a home study be conducted in order to determine issues such as the needs of [...] Posted on November 17, 2009 at 06:51 pm by ireneolszewski

Rank This Week: 2156

One (Divorce) Lawyer's Perspective...

One (Divorce) Lawyer's Perspective

Covers legal issues related to Pennsylvania domestic relations matters. By Michael L. Viola.

http://1phillydivorcelawyer.wordpress.com

Nov 18
An Attaq on Shaq?

According to the My Family Law.com Celebrity blog, Shaquille O'Neal's wife, Va'shaundya O'Neal, has filed a request for a legal separation from Shaq with the Court in Los Angeles. Many times have I been asked by clients and potential clients about obtaining a "legal separation" in Pennsylvania. Each time, my answer is the same [...] Posted on November 18, 2009 at 01:12 pm by Michael Viola
Nov 12
Pennsylvania Superior Court exercises control over “Fast Track”

In January of this year, the Pennsylvania Superior Court adopted changes to some of their procedural rules which would allow for child custody cases and parental rights termination cases to proceed faster through the appellate system. These rule changes resulted in the development of the "Children's Fast Track". Cases that qualified for the [...] Posted on November 12, 2009 at 07:59 am by Michael Viola
Nov 4
Who gets the infield? – Not Quite

It was previously reported on the MyFamilyLaw Celebrity Blog that the owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Frank McCourt, and his wife Jamie were divorcing. With the World Series ending this week, one may wonder how a sports team gets divided incident to a divorce. Under Pennsylvania law, almost all assets acquired by either [...] Posted on November 4, 2009 at 07:37 am by Michael Viola

Rank This Week: 2192

Egg Donor & Surrogacy Law Blog...

Egg Donor & Surrogacy Law Blog

Covers legal issues around surrogacy, and egg, embryo, and sperm donation. Published by Theresa M. Erickson of Erickson Law.

http://www.surrogacyeggdonorblog.com/

Nov 18
German Father Continues His Legal Battle - India Surrogacy Update

The case in India over the German couples' twins continues: "Jan Balaz, father of two twin babies born through surrogacy in Anand, has filed a contempt petition against the passport authorities for non-compliance with the order of the Gujarat High Court. Balaz recently won a legal case against the Regional Passport Authority in getting the Indian passports of his children returned. The division bench of the HC comprising Justices K S Radhakrishnan and A S Dave, in a landmark judgment on... Posted on November 18, 2009 at 08:37 am
Nov 16
Doctor Comments on Profit Motive for Sperm Banks

There was an interesting article in the Washington Times on Friday, whereby the physician quoted blames the profit motive behind sperm donation (and the resulting passage of inheritable diseases) for the damage that has been done to these families. He believes that the recently reported case of the sperm donor who helped create 24 children, nine of whom became sick with an inherited heart condition, is a cry (scream) for reform. While I do agree with about 50% of his arguments, we must remember... Posted on November 16, 2009 at 09:39 am
Nov 13
Friday Legal Updates™ - Nevada Pro-Life Effect, Doctor Uses Wrong Sperm, German Twins in India, Australia Surrogacy Law, & Embryo Battle

Surrogacy, Surrogacy and more Surrogacy on this Happy Friday Morning! Too bad it is gloomy outside here in Southern California, but it could always be worse. Welcome to today's updates. Have an awesome weekend! New York - Greenwich doctor uses wrong sperm to produce twins for one of his patients - oh, and it is his sperm! "Hundreds of women have trusted him with their bodies, and their dreams of motherhood. Many depend on him as their doctor today. But for nearly seven years, none of Dr. Ben D.... Posted on November 13, 2009 at 09:28 am

Rank This Week: 2237

Gay Couples Law Blog

Covers same sex family law and estate planning issues. By Gideon Alper.

http://www.gaycoupleslawblog.com/

Nov 18
How Lesbian Couples Can Prevent Sperm Donor from Asserting Legal Rights to Children

Lesbian couples wishing to raise children can either (1) adopt a child or (2) have one of the couple give birth with donated sperm. But there's risks with the second option. Depending on the state law in which the sperm donation occurs, the sperm donor may have legal rights to the child. Julie Shapiro, a professor at Seattle University Law School, says there's two ways to prevent this: In some states statutes provide that a donor is not a parent. (Washington happens to be one such state.) In... Posted on November 18, 2009 at 08:35 am
Nov 17
How D.C. Domestic Partnership Law Will Affect Employers

A new Washington D.C. "everything but marriage" law will give registered domestic partners all the rights that married couples have starting December 3rd. As lot of the press and blogs on the new law have focused on how the law affects gay couples, I found interesting a guide that Stoel Rives, a law firm focusing on corporate law and business litigation, posted on how the domestic partnership law affects employers: What Domestic Partnerships are Covered by The Law? Two types of couples can... Posted on November 17, 2009 at 08:25 am
Nov 16
Washington Domestic Partnership Law May Influence Rhode Island and Other States

Earlier this month Washington voters passed an expansion of dometic partnership rights for gay couples living in the state. While this is good for those living in Washington, couples in other states might benefit as well. In particular, the law might encourage politicians in other states to enact a similar expansion of rights. Take Rhode Island, whose conservative governor Don Carcieri has long stood against gay marriage and state recognized domestic partnerships. Yet last last week, as... Posted on November 16, 2009 at 07:30 am

Rank This Week: 2238

Divorce Hotline

Covers matrimonial law. By Janine Barbera.

http://divorcehotline.blogspot.com/

Nov 18
Health care Reform The House of...

Health care Reform The House of Representatives has passed the first version of health care reform this weekend. The fact that this bill made it through the house is quite a feat given the strong feelings on both sides of the issue. Most Americans are in agreement that health care reform is necessary. Anyone who has ever had any contact with health insurance carriers in recent times knows that it is a nightmare. While the foes of health care reform yell about governmental interference between a... Posted on November 18, 2009 at 05:35 am by matmaven
Nov 5
Separation vs. Divorce To married...

Separation vs. Divorce To married people the terms separation and divorce are used interchangeably. It seems that the public at large is unfamiliar with the difference between the two. Frankly there is a rather big difference in that with a legal separation the parties remain legally married. In a divorce they do not. Additionally a separation agreement is only enforceable in the same way any other contract would be enforceable. One needs to sue the other party for a breach as opposed to having... Posted on November 5, 2009 at 02:34 am by matmaven
Oct 28
Practicing Law Among Old Friends A...

Practicing Law Among Old Friends A group of matrimonial attorneys found themselves in the courtroom recently discussing the longevity of their time in the trenches and relaying tales of experiences with attorneys not quite so familiar with the world of matrimonial law. One attorney said , that she remembered when I was a newbie. That I informed her much to her chagrin was 23 years ago. We talked of the difficulty of settling cases with those entering our world who are merely dabblers and were... Posted on October 28, 2009 at 08:29 am by matmaven

Rank This Week: 2265

Divorce Lawyer in Augusta, Georgia...

Divorce Lawyer in Augusta, Georgia

Offers tips and information about Georgia divorces. By the Goolsby Law Firm.

http://divorcelawyerinaugustageorgia.blogspot.com/

Nov 17
Divorce "Tip of the Day:" Who Gets To Claim the Children as Dependents?

Did you realize that there are other issues involving children, in a divorce, besides child custody, child visitation, and child support, which you need to discuss with your divorce attorney? The tip for today involves who gets to claim the kids as dependents. In other words, while you are planning your divorce from your worthless spouse, "Sluggo," you might want to consider who should get to claim your children as dependents on your income tax returns. Now, this is not a tax advice blog and... Posted on November 17, 2009 at 10:30 pm by Richard
Nov 15
Longest Lasting Marriages

This blog focuses on Georgia divorce law, but I thought it might be fun to give you a few interesting facts about long-lasting marriages, too! According to Wikipedia, the current, living, record-holding couple for the longest lasting marriage lives in India. Incredibly, this couple, the Thomases, have lived together for more than 86 years! But a number of other couples around the world are not far behind. Wikipedia lists 37 couples who have been married for at least 80 years! Even though we are... Posted on November 15, 2009 at 11:04 pm by Richard
Nov 13
Divorce Rates Around the World

How does the divorce rate in your country compare with the divorce rate in other parts of the world? It should come as no surprise that the United States is among the divorce "leaders" with approximately 40% of all marriages ending in divorce, according to Wikipedia. But Wikipedia has some other interesting facts, too. For example, in Europe, the divorce rates vary widely, from Belgium, which has a divorce rate of 2.9 per 1000, to Italy, with a rate of only 0.7 per 1000. This raises the... Posted on November 13, 2009 at 02:31 am by Richard

Rank This Week: 2289

Attorney O's Midnight Musings:...

Attorney O's Midnight Musings: Connecticut Law

Covers Connecticut divorce, criminal and probate law. By Irene C. Olszewski.

http://ireneolszewski.com/ctlawblog

Nov 17
Filing Fee for Divorce in Connecticut

In order to bring a divorce action in a Connecticut court, the party commencing the action must pay a filing fee of $300. In addition, the divorce summons and complaint must be served upon the other party by a State Marshal. The fee for service of those documents is approximately $50 to $75. If you cannot afford the filing and marshal fees, you may submit a fee waiver to the court. A judge may grant or deny your request to waive all or some of the fees. To apply for a fee waiver, you must... Posted on November 17, 2009 at 06:13 pm by Administrator
Nov 11
Divorce is an Emotional Rollercoaster – But Are You Paranoid?

Editor's Note: This was a thoughtful and insightful post that I felt would benefit my readers who are embroiled in divorce actions. Divorce is an emotional rollercoaster - but are you paranoid? [originally posted by Marilyn Stowe] How healthy is divorce litigation for everyone involved: clients, their families, the lawyers and others? How healthy is it for anyone involved in these cases? Paranoia is a profound distrust or suspicion of others, which goes hand-in-hand with the belief that one is... Posted on November 11, 2009 at 08:52 pm by Administrator
Nov 10
Alimony: Using Craigslist to Get Out of Paying?

Editor's Note: I happened upon this post a few nights ago while searching for articles on the topic of alimony. It was posted in February 2009 on the Mississippi Family Law Blog. It's an interesting post with some good advice on what NOT to do if you are ordered to pay alimony to an ex-spouse. Man Offers to Pay for Someone to Marry Ex-Wife Imagine sitting at your computer and you are browsing the classified ads on Craiglist and suddenly you come across the following ad: Nice well taken care of... Posted on November 10, 2009 at 06:33 pm by Administrator

Rank This Week: 2299

Divorce And Mediation Blog

Covers recent family and divorce law news and events. Published By San Diego, California Family Lawyer, Paul Daniel Marks.

http://www.divorceandmediationblog.com/

Nov 17
House Prices and Divorce in San Diego....

Today's San Diego Union contains an article on the front page with a headline that "S. D. County home prices inch higher." While this is certainly welcome news, it hardly serves as notice of the end of falling prices and is not enough to make settling divorce cases easier. The statistics cited in the article refer to median home prices in the county - for those non-math majors, that means that one-half of the houses sold are above, and one-half below that median number. The increase, if you can... Posted on November 17, 2009 at 11:16 am by Paul Daniel Marks
Nov 2
Frivolous Motions and Setting Aside Old Judgments:

The last couple of months in my practice have seen a flurry of frivolous motions to set aside or modify existing judgments, based solely on one party's desire for a different result than they had originally agreed to. Maybe it's the economy driving litigants to re-divide assets, or attorneys who need the work, but it seems to be an epidemic in my office - often where one party has been denied relief by the judge, that person keeps coming back with a different strategy. The basic rule of law is... Posted on November 2, 2009 at 09:50 am by Paul Daniel Marks
Oct 31
Amateurs Doing Mediation in Divorce Cases in California:

On a law practice website I share with a friend, we have an article about non-lawyers and inexperienced lawyers pretending they can mediate a divorce settlement - sure, they MIGHT be able to help the parties achieve a fair and cheap resolution of their issues, but if that happens it is by accident. An essential part of the process is that each side knows his or her rights. These cases aren't about two businesspersons or two neighbors fighting over a contract or boundary dispute, it's about... Posted on October 31, 2009 at 07:26 am by Paul Daniel Marks

Rank This Week: 2321

Wald Law Blog

Covers family law. By Deborah Wald.

http://debwald.blogspot.com/

Nov 17
Known Donors, Fathers, and Everything In Between

This last couple of weeks, I have been cranking out agreements for couples planning on using known sperm donors as fast as I can write them. I love doing these agreements, for several reasons. First, I love being part of the adventure of building families. The clients who come to me for donor agreements are generally so excited and happy, getting ready to dive into parenthood and thinking carefully about how to do it in the way that will best reflect their vision of the family they are trying... Posted on November 17, 2009 at 06:23 am by Deborah Wald
Nov 3
Remembering Alex Hoffmann (7/31/28-10/29/09)

My uncle, Alexander P. Hoffmann -- aka Sascha -- died last Thursday, October 29 at 6:45 pm. I was at his side when he took his final breaths, murmuring words of comfort and encouragement. Death is a strange thing, if for nothing else than for its utter permanence. It is hard to get used to the idea that you will never again see someone who has always been there. The last few months were hard. Sascha (the name he was known by in the family) had long lived alone. He was quite independent of us,... Posted on November 3, 2009 at 11:36 am by Deborah Wald
Oct 22
The Medical Pit-Falls of Sperm Donation

For those of you who don't hang out on the internet or watch late-night news shows, you may have missed the story: a man who donated sperm to an unnamed San Francisco sperm bank while in his 20's has recently been diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, a potentially deadly heart defect that causes sudden death in people previously believed to be completely healthy. It is already confirmed that nine of his 22 off-spring inherited the condition, one of whom died from the disease at age two.... Posted on October 22, 2009 at 04:19 am by Deborah Wald

Rank This Week: 2357

Family Law

Covers California family law. By Claery & Green.

http://www.claerygreen.com/Blog/Recent-Blog-Posts/RSS.xml

Nov 16
Emergency Custody Orders for the Holiday Season

Everyone wants to spend time with their kids during the holidays, and this can cause visitation disagreements. One parent might have plane tickets for the kids and the other parent is being uncooperative. There are many scenarios that require Court intervention during the holiday season. Often, the disagreements arise shortly before the holiday and do not allow enough time for a motion to be filed and heard by the Court. In these cases, it is necessary to have an attorney go into Court on an ex... Posted on November 16, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Nov 14
My Spouse Wants a Divorce - I've Been Served with a Petition for Dissolution, What do I do Now?

If you have been served with a petition for dissolution of your marriage(divorce), you are likely wondering what you need to do. It is imperative that you respond to the petition in a timely manner and that your response is filed and served properly. Otherwise, you will be at risk of being defaulted. This means that the petitioner may obtain orders in your absence (a Default Judgment); and they will likely be unfair orders. It is imperative to take a proactive approach in any litigation you are... Posted on November 14, 2009 at 01:24 pm
Nov 10
What Zealous Advocacy Means to Me - Eli Hammond, Attorney at Law, Claery & Green, LLP

I take pride in helping each and every client receive the most favorable outcome possible given the facts and circumstances of their particular case. I take an aggressive approach for our client's thereby improving their bargaining position both in settlement negotiation and/or litigation. This philosophy has helped me become a zealous advocate for my clients when they are truly in need of legal assistance. I have represented more than one-hundred family law clients in a wide array of family... Posted on November 10, 2009 at 09:10 pm

Rank This Week: 2377

Maryland Trial Lawyer

Covers Maryland family and criminal law. By Constance Camus.

http://marylandtriallawyer.net

Nov 16
Kids have Holes in their Souls in the Shape of their Dads

Knock, Knock: Step Up Fathers, Your Children Need You Daniel Beaty, at a Def Jam Poetry reading, is the powerful orator and poet that delivers a universal and timeless message to all men, black, white and blended. Take it, Daniel&#xe2€&#xa6 Here are but a few of the comments made on Youtube: "We are the children of our parents, but, we do not have to live the legacy of our parent's choices." "He's telling us that he retains the best qualities of his father but he doesn't need to be the same man, and so... Posted on November 16, 2009 at 02:06 pm by Constance Camus
Nov 16
Maryland Online Child Support Calculator

The Maryland Department of Human Resources has developed an online child support calculator. The amount of child support a court may order for any particular case may be different from the amount estimated by the calculator. The intent of this calculator is informational. It does not constitute legal advice. The child support calculator is based on statutory guidelines. Click here for child support calculator. This online application program will assist you in completing a Child Support... Posted on November 16, 2009 at 06:30 am by Constance Camus
Oct 22
Heal the Kids, Heal the World by Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson By all accounts, (albeit at this moment [10/22/09] mostly by Elizabeth Taylor at her Twitter account), Michael Jackson's last show on this earth, This is It, once again demonstrates Michael's extraordinary talent. Yet, he was so much more, this Man in the Mirror. His many selfless acts memorialized here by those who knew him best, his record breaking (Guinness World Book of Records) charitable donations, hospital visits to children on every tour in almost every country in the... Posted on October 22, 2009 at 04:26 pm by Constance Camus

Rank This Week: 2398

The Interplay Between Bankruptcy...

The Interplay Between Bankruptcy and Divorce Law in Virginia

Explores the effect of a bankruptcy on divorce and other family law matters in Virginia, as well as the effect of a divorce or other family law matter on a bankruptcy. By James H. Wilson, Jr.

http://bankruptcydivorceblawg.com

Nov 15
Can a wife obtain more than half of the value of the marital residence in a Virginia divorce?

Can a wife obtain more than half of the value of the marital residence in a Virginia divorce? In an unpublished opinion, the Virginia Court of Appeals Tye v. Tye, No. 0833-08-1 (August 11, 2009) upheld an award of 65% of the net proceeds from the sale of the marital residence to the wife. [www.courts.state.va.us] The husband and wife were married and lived together for twelve years. The wife left the husband due to the husband's mental health problems and his failure to take all his prescribed... Posted on November 15, 2009 at 08:54 am by admin
Nov 12
Top Ten Costly Divorce Mistakes to Avoid During a Recession

TOP TEN COSTLY DIVORCE MISTAKES TO AVOID DURING A RECESSION 1. Adultery may eliminate spousal support in Virginia. 2. Be aware of formulas and guidelines for determining support in Virginia: child support guidelines are the presumptively correct starting point for support; pendente lite spousal support: w/child - 28/58%, w/o child - 30/50%. 3. Alimony: request it, reserve it, or lose it. 4. You have 2 years to file for an annulment and you may lose your right by cohabitation after knowledge of... Posted on November 12, 2009 at 06:20 am by admin
Nov 10
Can a husband always terminate spousal support upon retirement?

Can a husband always terminate spousal support upon retirement? In the Virginia Court of Appeals case of Brown v. Brown, 53 Va. App. 723, 674 S.E.2d 597 (2009), a former husband filed a petition to terminate spousal support due to a material change in circumstances, his retirement. In the final decree of divorce entered in the Virginia Circuit Court some five years earlier, the husband had been ordered to pay a set amount of spousal support each month indefinitely. The husband and wife had not... Posted on November 10, 2009 at 03:32 am by admin

Rank This Week: 2453

Blog on South Carolina Family Law

Covers South Carolina divorce, custody and family law issues. By Gregory S. Forman.

http://www.gregoryforman.com

Nov 14
Financial Decisions to Make as You Divorce

Article in yesterday's New York Times. Should be required reading/checklist for divorce clients: Financial Decisions to Make as You Divorce Posted on November 14, 2009 at 03:18 pm by Gregory Forman
Nov 14
Should a guardian ad litem have to “bless” every child custody agreement?

When parents seek approval of any agreement that resolves a dispute over a child's custody, the family court judge looks to the guardian ad litem and asks the guardian whether the agreement is "in the best interests of the child?" Even if the guardian is not seeking to prevent approval of the agreement, I do not believe it is required-or even desirable-that the guardian always answer "yes." Sometimes the guardian may not believe an agreement is close to ideal yet does not want to hold up... Posted on November 14, 2009 at 02:45 am by Gregory Forman
Nov 13
In a DSS abuse and neglect case, when the treatment plan is resolved, should the guardian ad litem have an opinion on the merits?

I have mediated a couple of DSS abuse and neglect cases recently in which the treatment plan was resolved (that is, everyone agreed what the defendant(s) needed to do to resume contact or custody of the children at issue) but in which the merits (that is, whether or not the defendant(s) had abused or neglected the children at issue) had not yet resolved. In both these cases the guardian ad litem had a position on the merits issue. In one case the guardian's position helped resolve the dispute;... Posted on November 13, 2009 at 09:58 am by Gregory Forman

Rank This Week: 2467

Massachusetts Family Mediation

Covers divorce, separation and other family-related matters. By Larri Tonelli Parker.

http://www.ParkerMediation.net

Nov 13
Divorcing Couples Manage Debt

Divorcing couples have to make tough financial decisions, not only about how to divide assets, but how to allocate debt. Depreciating real estate values along with the current financial landscape, pose even greater challenges for folks who are separating, particularly when the marital home, once the base of financial security, becomes a liability. Rest assured you are not alone, many folks find themselves in the unfortunate situation of owing more on their home than it's worth. For some, this... Posted on November 13, 2009 at 02:34 pm by Family Mediator
Nov 9
Parker Mediation: Massachusetts Family Mediators

We're Celebrating 10 Years of Success in 2010! In honor of this achievement we are asking current and former clients to send us comments about their experience in mediation. We want to hear from you. Log on to our website and contact us. We will kick off our celebration in January 2010 by posting highlights from our customers. For the past ten years Parker Mediation has developed a competitive advantage in creating well designed divorce settlements. We are driven to ensure that every mediation... Posted on November 9, 2009 at 07:11 am by Family Mediator
Aug 5
Conflict Resolution Experts To Gather In Atlanta

The Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) will hold its 9th annual conference in Atlanta, GA October 7-9, 2009. Approximately 1,000 conflict resolution practitioners will attend this years event. Some of the fields most highly regarded professionals will speak about topics ranging from "Mediation of a parenting dispute with a Gay parent" to "Advance mediation techniques to move beyond the impasse". You can find out more about the conference details including speakers and topics in this... Posted on August 5, 2009 at 11:33 am by Family Mediator

Rank This Week: 2490

Memphis Injury Lawyer Blog

Covers personal injury and family law in Tennessee. By William M. Monroe.

http://www.memphisinjurylawyerblog.com/

Nov 13
Tennessee Divorce & 401K's:Yours, Mine & Ours

Those of us who take divorce cases have argued for years over the issue of dividing 401K accounts that have increased in value due to the passage of time. Or, for that matter, that have lost value due to market conditions. The first part of this quagmire was recently set to rest by the Tennessee Supreme Court in Snodgrass vs. Snodgrass. The Court said: In a divorce proceeding the trial court awarded the parties the premarital balances in their respective 401(k) accounts as each party's separate... Posted on November 13, 2009 at 08:02 am by William M. Monroe
Oct 25
Tennessee Breyer's Ice Cream Lovers Unite: Mint Chip Product Recall

Egad! Is nothing sacred? Can we Tennesseans who love Chocolate Chip Mint or Cookies and Cream find no safe haven? This week, which I report while holding back tears, Unilever has recalled these nectars of the gods: Englewood Cliffs, NJ, October 22, 2009 -Unilever United States, Inc., of Englewood Cliffs, NJ, in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is voluntarily recalling a limited number of tubs of Breyers&#xc2&#xaeice cream because it was MISPACKAGED and may contain... Posted on October 25, 2009 at 03:05 pm by William M. Monroe
Oct 20
Tennessee Drug Induced Death: A CDC Report

In 2006, according to a CDC report, a total of 38,396 persons died of drug-induced causes in the United States This category includes not only deaths from dependent and nondependent use of legal or illegal drugs, but also poisoning from medically prescribed and other drugs. It excludes unintentional injuries, homicides, and other causes indirectly related to drug use, as well as newborn deaths due to the mother's drug use. In Tennessee, 1030 deaths were caused by drug usage both legal and... Posted on October 20, 2009 at 10:57 am by William M. Monroe

Rank This Week: 2507

The Divorce Collaborative

Covers Massachusetts family law, divorce mediation and collaborative divorce. By Wagner McDonough LLP.

http://www.divorcecollaborative.com

Nov 13
Part 2 – How Much Will My Divorce Mediation Cost? by Steve McDonough

If you did not have a chance to read Part One about the range of fees for divorce mediation, please do so or be prepared to be confused. The answer is X-Rays. Yes, that is right, X-Rays. My dentist can see what is going on underneath the surface of my tooth and has a clear picture of what is involved. The roofing contractor can only see the outer layer of shingles, but cannot tell what lurks beneath the surface. Perhaps there is rotten plywood that needs replacement, or perhaps not. Either way,... Posted on November 13, 2009 at 07:00 am by admin
Nov 11
How Much Will Divorce Mediation Cost? (Part One) by Steve McDonough, Esq.

I just flew back from a conference at Walt Disney World and boy are my arms tired (please stop groaning, I know that is a very old joke)! One of the sessions was about blogging topics, and writing about frequently asked questions was encouraged. Thus, I am embarking on some blog posts that address questions that are asked, well, frequently. The answers to some FAQs may not be as straightforward as one might think or as prospective clients might desire. For example, people always ask where I get... Posted on November 11, 2009 at 08:35 pm by Stephen McDonough
Nov 2
Stay Happily Married Podcast – Spouse Going Back to School

Attorney Lee Rosen is the owner of The Rosen Law Firm in North Carolina. I worked at his firm right out of law school in what I now term "the southern experiment." Rosen Law Firm also sponsors the Stay Happily Married website. Besides being a successful and insightful divorce attorney and business owner, Lee is an expert in law firm technology and marketing. This podcast reminded me of how much fun it was going to school at night while married to a working spouse and with two small children.... Posted on November 2, 2009 at 05:16 pm by Stephen McDonough

Rank This Week: 2509

Decoupling

Covers family law in Seattle, Washington. By Rao & Pierce.

http://decouplingblog.com

Nov 12
The Split: Bringing Home The Check

The Split is an on-going series in which Decoupling talks to the people who are perhaps most affected by divorce - the kids. We sat down with adults whose parents divorced when they were kids and talked to them about how their folks' split affected them. Each article will address one particular aspect of their experiences. In this first article&#xe2€&#xa6 Posted on November 12, 2009 at 04:43 pm by liz
Nov 4
Am I Entitled To Some Of My Ex-Husband’s Social Security?

Question My husband and I are divorcing after 18 years of marriage. I stayed at home with our kids for nearly eight years, and even after I went back to work I never made nearly as much as he did. We are dividing our other retirement accounts, but our divorce decree says nothing about social security. Am I entitled to some&#xe2€&#xa6 Posted on November 4, 2009 at 10:49 am by katy
Nov 3
Pop Quiz: The Contemptuous Mother, The Absent Father, and the Problem Child

This quiz examines some of the considerations that a court addresses when determining whether to make significant changes to a Parenting Plan, such as by ordering that a child move from living primarily with one parent to the other. In Washington custody cases, the court's top priority is promoting a child's "best interests." Another lesser, but still important priority is promoting&#xe2€&#xa6 Posted on November 3, 2009 at 03:03 pm by liz

Rank This Week: 2522

Lancaster Law Blog

Covers business law, employment law, estate planning, family law, and nonprofit law information for Lancaster County and Pennsylvania residents. From Russell, Krafft & Gruber.

http://www.lancasterlawblog.com/

Nov 12
First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended Into 2010 and Now Available to Certain Existing Homeowners

In a previous post, the 2009 Homebuyer Credit Extension and Related Divorce Issues, and in a more recent post, I discussed a possible extension of the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit, which was applicable only to home purchases completed on or before November 30, 2009. Well, congress has indeed extended the credit into next year and also made it available to certain taxpayers who already own a home. For first time homebuyers, the credit is now applicable if the sales contract is fully executed... Posted on November 12, 2009 at 01:32 pm
Nov 4
Update on the COBRA Subsidy and When it Will End

We have posted on the 65% COBRA subsidy several times since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was enacted. ARRA provided for a premium subsidy for COBRA continuation health benefits to "assistance eligible individuals." Those individuals are defined as an employee or member of his/her family who is eligible for COBRA continuation coverage: 1) at any time between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009 2) elects COBRA coverage, and 3) is eligible for COBRA as a result of an... Posted on November 4, 2009 at 11:13 am
Nov 3
Extension Pending on First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

CNN is reporting that the Senate will likely extend the credit through April of 2010. In addition, they are also planning on adding a $6,500 credit for current homeowners who have lived in their current residence for at least five continuous years. If you are interested in learning more about the first time home-buyer tax credit refer to my previous blog posts 2009 First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit and 2009 Home Buyer Credit Extension and Related Divorce Issues. Posted on November 3, 2009 at 11:45 am

Rank This Week: 2530

CriderLaw.net: Northern California...

CriderLaw.net: Northern California Family Law Blog

Covers family law news and information. By Crider Law P.C.

http://criderlaw.net/blogs/northern-california-family-law/

Nov 12
The Perils of Text Messaging During a Divorce

The Perils of Text Messaging During a Divorce Posted on November 12, 2009 at 06:12 am
Oct 29
New Law Gives Poor Right to Lawyer in Divorce and Civil Cases

New Law Gives Poor Right to Lawyer in Divorce and Civil Cases Posted on October 29, 2009 at 03:40 am
Oct 23
How to Pay for A Divorce Attorney

How to Pay for A Divorce Attorney Posted on October 23, 2009 at 06:42 am

Rank This Week: 2550

Family Law Blog

Covers Family Law issues, including divorce, child support and visitation, domestic violence, and parenting. Published by Gornbein Smith Peskin Shepherd PLLC.

http://www.familylawofmichigan.com/blog

Nov 11
Family Law Issues in Tough Economic Times: Debts

More and more people have substantial credit card debts, home equity lines, and/or second mortgages on a home. I see many divorces where the assets are less than the liabilities. This is a situation where there may have to be some creative financing. There may be the necessity for exploring bankruptcy. It may be a situation where some of the credit card companies will negotiate a reduction in debts if there is money to pay them off, assuming someone's credit has already been hurt by the... Posted on November 11, 2009 at 08:19 am by admin
Nov 9
Family Law Issues in Tough Economic Times:401Ks, IRAs and Pensions

These are rapidly decreasing in value. In some cases where there are a lot of debts, and people want to avoid bankruptcy, it may make sense to take the husband's 401K and/or IRA and roll it over to the wife, if she has an income. This way there are no penalties. She can then take the money out for payment of marital debts, and her taxes will be at a lower rate. These are things to carefully scrutinize in a divorce where there are substantial debts and it may be necessary to go into 401Ks or... Posted on November 9, 2009 at 08:18 am by admin
Nov 6
Family Law Issues in Tough Economic Times: The Marital Home

More and more cases involve marital homes that have negative equity. If your home has little or no equity, there are several decisions that have to be made in the divorce. First of all, do you keep the home? If there is the cash flow to do so, it may be wise to keep the home until the economy turns around. If you or your spouse cannot afford to keep the home, and are forced to sell it, try to work out a walk-away with the bank. This will depend on the economic circumstances of your divorce.... Posted on November 6, 2009 at 06:15 am by admin

Rank This Week: 2580

Massachusetts Divorce & Wills...

Massachusetts Divorce & Wills Lawyer Blog

Covers family law, divorce and estate planning. By Gabriel Cheong.

http://gabrielcheonglaw.com

Nov 10
Same-Sex Marriage Statistics

Last week, voters in Maine struck down a law voted on by their legislature and signed into law by their governor, granting same-sex couples equal rights under the law. This is very disappointing and as I've said before, perhaps the rights of the minority should not be placed in the hands of the majority. If this was the case, we would still have segregation of schools, no voting rights for blacks and women and we'd still prohibit interracial marriages. I came across a paper by Jeffrey Lax and... Posted on November 10, 2009 at 06:30 am by Gabriel Cheong
Nov 2
How to file for Divorce (the right way)

Over 90% of divorces ends up with both parties agreeing to sign a Separation Agreement and agreeing to jointly file for divorce. That means that over 90% of divorces ends up being uncontested divorces. Yet, 90% of divorces do not start off as uncontested divorces. There are many reason for this but a major reason, I suspect, has to do with the attorneys involved. I've noticed that the first thing most divorce attorneys do when a new client gets retained is start to prepare a Complaint for... Posted on November 2, 2009 at 06:30 am by Gabriel Cheong
Oct 13
How Children Handle Divorce

My friend Leanna Hamill shared this site on twitter: Postcards from Splitsville. It is powerful to read though the drawings from these children that are caught in the middle of their parents' divorce. Each child processes divorce differently but most need to be reassured that it's not their fault, that they're still loved by their parents, and that there's nothing they could've done to prevent the divorce. All parents who file for divorce in Massachusetts are required to attend a Parental... Posted on October 13, 2009 at 06:30 am by Gabriel Cheong

Rank This Week: 2603

Arizona Family Law Blog

Covers family law basics, news and updates. By Nirenstein Ruotolo Group.

http://www.azfamilylawblog.com/

Nov 6
IRAs, Community Property Law, Transmutation, Commingling

The Arizona Court of Appeals recently rendered a decision regarding Arizona community property law in an Arizona divorce case. A summary follows. In Quinlan v. Quinlan, Not Reported in P.3d, 2009 WL 3644806 (Ariz.App. Div. 1), the wife appealed from a ruling from the Arizona divorce court arguing that the family court erred in determining that Husband's IRA accounts were his sole and separate property, among other things. In this case, husband and wife were married in October 1989; wife filed a... Posted on November 6, 2009 at 02:52 pm
Oct 25
Arizona "No Fault" Divorce

Many people often ask what an Arizona "No Fault" Divorce really means. In simple terms, it means that in Arizona any husand or wife, despite what the other spouse may want, can get divorced without the other agreeing that the marriage should be disolved. The Arizona divorce statute requires that there must be an "irretrievable breakdown" of the marriage for the court to be able grant a divorce, or as it is technically called, a dissolution of marriage. If either a husband or wife by petition... Posted on October 25, 2009 at 02:58 pm
Oct 19
Arizona Child Support Update

The Arizona legislature is in the process of reviewing the Arizona Child Support Guidelines. This review process occurs approximately every 4 years in order to insure that the Arizona Child Support Guidelines are in sync with the current economic situation. The review process is required by federal law, which requires states to have child support lawsthat are: (a) applicable state wide; (b) take into consideration the non-custodial parents earnings and income; (c) are based on specific numeric... Posted on October 19, 2009 at 08:04 pm

Rank This Week: 2661

Florida Family Lawyer Blog

Covers Florida child custody, child support and divorce. By Koch & Trushin.

http://www.floridafamilylawyerblog.com/

Nov 6
Relocating your Child Outside of Florida

On October 1, 2009, the Florida legislature enacted Florida Statute 61.13001, which outlines the steps parents must take before they relocate their child or to prevent their child's relocation. If you are a parent in Fort Lauderdale, Miami or Palm Beach and you are planning to move more than 50 miles from your current home, you must obtain either: (1) written permission from the other parent or (2) a court order permitting the relocation. Likewise, if you want to prevent your child's other... Posted on November 6, 2009 at 01:44 pm by Bradley H. Trushin
Sep 16
Are Pension Funds and Retirement Accounts Marital Property under Florida Law?

Many of the clients of our Fort Lauderdale and Miami divorce attorneys are shocked to learn that their soon to be ex-spouse may be entitled to a portion of their retirement or pension fund. In Florida, pension and retirement funds that accrue during the marriage must be treated as marital property and are generally shared equally. However, there are exceptions and modifications to this rule that may help you protect all or part of your retirement savings. Florida law holds that all vested and... Posted on September 16, 2009 at 06:42 am by Daniel Louis Koch
Aug 17
How can a mother obtain child support when the parents are not married?

Many children in the Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach areas are raised by single mothers and many of these children's parents were never married. Florida law requires both parents to financially support their children, and unmarried mothers and fathers who are custodial parents are entitled to financial support from the other parent. If you are an unmarried custodial parent in South Florida, you can obtain child support through a Judicial Court Order or an Administrative Order. These... Posted on August 17, 2009 at 06:10 am by Koch & Trushin

Rank This Week: 2665

Always Family Center

Covers Minnesota family conflict and divorce issues. By Carl Arnold.

http://alwaysfamilycenter.com

Nov 5
Free Family Law Seminar

Christine Ubben submitted the following seminar for publication on Always Family Center. Thanks Christine! FREE FAMILY LAW SEMINAR 5 THINGS YOU NEED TO CONSIDER IF DIVORCE IS IMMINENT Sponsored by The Law Office of Diane Kaer, Attorney & Stacey Brown, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones Date: November 9, 2009 Time: 6:30 - 8:00 pm Location: 3420 155th [...] Posted on November 5, 2009 at 04:41 pm by Carl Arnold
Nov 4
“D”aisy Camp Divorce Retreat 2010 Schedule

Daisy Camp is an inexpensive retreat for women thinking about or experiencing divorce. The sessions are held at the AmericInn Lodge and Suites in Belle Plaine, MN. From their website: "D"aisy Camp is a one-of-a-kind weekend spa retreat that provides legal, financial, and practical advice from professionals who are outstanding in their areas of expertise. The [...] Posted on November 4, 2009 at 06:12 pm by Carl Arnold
Oct 4
FREE Seminar: 10 Things Women Should Know When Contemplating Divorce

I recently met Stacey Brown of Edward Jones in Rosemount who clearly has a passion for assisting women with their financial goals. On October 20 from 6:00-7:30 pm, Stacey and a local attorney will be presenting a seminar for women related to finances and divorce. If you can't make it to the October [...] Posted on October 4, 2009 at 12:45 pm by Christine Ubben

Rank This Week: 2680

Pennsylvania Family Law

Updates, events, and useful tips surrounding family law issues. Published by Charles J. Meyer of Fox Rothschild.

http://pafamilylaw.foxrothschild.com/

Nov 4
COUNSEL FEES

We are involved in a relatively simple case. Wife is a homemaker only recently returned to work. Husband is a mortgage broker. Like many couples they became a bit over committed in the real estate market of the last few years. They wanted to participate in the real estate gains of the last few years and some of their investments had not panned out. This is a classic work out settlement of the type we see with increasing frequency. The smart move is to realize the problem and negotiate a... Posted on November 4, 2009 at 11:37 am
Oct 21
CUSTODY EVALUATIONS

Whenever there is a deep-seated dispute concerning which parent, if either, should have primary physical custody of a child, a question commonly asked is whether the Court should have the benefit of a formal custody evaluation. These studies, most often undertaken by psychologists, attempt to evaluate the relative parenting skills of the parents and seek to measure those skills against the perceived needs of the subject child. The rules of civil procedure authorize courts to order such studies... Posted on October 21, 2009 at 02:33 pm
Oct 1
NOT SO FAST

The Wall Street Journal edition for August 22, 2009 features a fine article by John Freeman which the author describes as a "manifesto for slow communication." What made it all the more real was the experience of the past two days. The most memorable moments of that period were: (1) a colleague telling me that a client's effort to start a new business was gravely set back by an errant "reply to all email" and (2) the experience of watching a family of six sit down to a Saturday night dinner in... Posted on October 1, 2009 at 10:45 am

Rank This Week: 2706

Divorce in Wisconsin

Covers divorce and family law issues in Wisconsin. By Lakeland Law Firm.

http://divorceinwisconsin.blogspot.com/

Nov 4
What is a Legal Separation?

In Wisconsin, married spouses have the ability to legal separate from each other. The process is nearly the same as the process for obtaining a divorce. See earlier posts regarding the divorce process. The main difference is that at the end of the process couples are still married. Both husband and wife have to agree to be legally separated. If one parties decides he or she would rather be divorced before the legal separation is granted, the action is changed from a legal separation to a... Posted on November 4, 2009 at 08:59 am by Lakeland Law Firm, LLC
Oct 19
Hiring a Divorce Attorney

Hiring an attorney can be a daunting task, especially when you are going to court over your children and everything you own. Below are some things to keep in mind when hiring an attorney. This is not an exhaustive list, but merely a started point. Take advantage of free consultations. Meet the attorney. Make sure it is someone that you can imagine talking to frequently for the next four-to-nine months, perhaps even longer. Bring a list of questions to make the most of your free consultation... Posted on October 19, 2009 at 12:54 am by Lakeland Law Firm, LLC
Sep 26
What do people really want to know about Divorce?

What do readers really want to know about divorce, placement, custody, child support, maintenance, etc? I have written postings about what clients have asked me about on a fairly regular basis over the years, but I have no idea what readers are really surfing the internet to find. Send me your ideas. Posted on September 26, 2009 at 12:33 am by Lakeland Law Firm, LLC

Rank This Week: 2710

Families and the Law

By Catherine Earnshaw-Hobbs.

http://earnshawlaw.blogspot.com/

Nov 3
What do you look for in an attorney?

My legal assistant, Alex, is a student at University of Central Missouri studying business administration. One of her current classes is in quality assurance. As a part of the class, she has asked me to ask you to complete her class questionnaire. The question is - What do you think is most important in your decision making when you decide to retain - or not - an attorney. Alex has promised to give me the results so I can post them here. Click here to access the survey. Thank you for your help.... Posted on November 3, 2009 at 06:56 am by Catherine
Oct 22
Missouri child support termination - big oops in the system!

What is supposed to happen when a child attains the age of emancipation (or is emancipated under one of the other rules set out in the statute) is that the custodial parent is supposed to notify the other parent that the child is now emancipated. There's a form for that. Custodial parent files the form with the court and sends a copy to the other parent. No problem. If the custodial parent doesn't send the form to stop the child support, the paying parent can fill it out himself and send it in... Posted on October 22, 2009 at 07:11 am by Catherine
Sep 21
Missouri lets dads contest paternity

A new statute allows dads to contest paternity in divorce and paternity cases. Here's the way it works: If you question the paternity of a child and get a paternity test that shows that the child is not your child, you will be allowed to ask the court to set aside the order that legally says you are the child's father. The challenge to the paternity order must be done within 2 years (2 years from late December if there's already an order). If the dad is found really to not be dad, under the new... Posted on September 21, 2009 at 09:36 am by Catherine

Rank This Week: 2723

Mogren Glessner & Roti

Covers Washington state family law, estate planning, and probate.

http://mgrlaw.blogspot.com/

Nov 3
Debt Division in Washington Divorce

As part of an action for the dissolution of a marriage, the Court must determine the division of the parties debts and liabilities. The standard the Court uses is not necessarily and equal division of the debts, but a fair and equitable division, considering all of the circumstances. The Court will usually order one party to pay a debt, and indemnify and hold the other party harmless from the responsibility of the debt. This order however, is between the two parties only, and does not effect... Posted on November 3, 2009 at 01:34 am by Peter W. Mogren
Oct 29
Parenting Plan vs. Residential Schedule

In most family law actions where children are involved, the court will enter a Parenting Plan for the children. Parenting Plans are detailed court orders addressing both parents rights and responsibilities regarding the children. The three main issues addressed in the Parenting Plan are the residential schedule, decision making and dispute resolution. In parentage (paternity) cases, the court has the option of entering a Parenting Plan or only a Residential Schedule. A Residential Schedule... Posted on October 29, 2009 at 02:56 am by Peter W. Mogren
Oct 15
Deposition in Wasington Divorces

In contested cases, a great deal of work goes into preparing the case for court. Sometimes, it is necessary to conduct a deposition. A deposition is testimony taken under oath (under penalty of perjury) in advance of a trial or evidentiary hearing before a Judge or Court Commissioner. Typically, a deposition is taken both to learn information, and to "box" a witness into a story. Deposition testimony may be may be used against that witness in court. Therefore, it is a very useful investigative... Posted on October 15, 2009 at 03:48 am by Peter W. Mogren

Rank This Week: 2728

Los Angeles Family Lawyer Blog

Covers California family law and child support issues. By Law Offices of Frazee/Laron.

http://www.losangelesfamilylawyerblog.com/

Nov 1
Pasadena Law Firm Opens to Assist Average Citizen

Given the complexity of family law, why do people represent themselves? Oftentimes they have no choice. Court-appointed counsel in family law matters is not a right as in criminal law. Legal services agencies in California are able to serve relatively few people who have family law issues due to funding limitations. Even then, legal service agencies serve low-income people with special requirements such as domestic violence. Sometimes even middle-class parties find it hard to secure an... Posted on November 1, 2009 at 03:47 pm by Law Offices of Frazee/Laron
Sep 22
Pasadena Family Law Hearings: Court Orders likely for at least 6 months

As a Pasadena Family Law Attorney, I see the frustrations that many parents have when their day in court does not go as planned. Many people think you can simply come back into Court and argue the same issues. Unfortunately, for many who get unfavorable decisions, they usually must wait a full six months before they re-petition the Court, and only if there is a substantial change in circumstances to warrant a second look at the issues. There is another alternative, but it can be difficult. A... Posted on September 22, 2009 at 08:52 pm by Law Offices of Frazee/Laron
Sep 20
Pasadena Family Law Attorney addresses Child Custody and Visitation

Parents in Los Angeles who want to get a child custody or visitation order from the Court must begin the process of opening a Court Case. If this is the first time you have sought to determine custody and visitation, then you are likely going through a divorce and are attempting to either come to a marital settlement agreement, or you are in the midst of fighting with the other parent for these issues. Often, one parent will be unhappy with the initial order for Child Visitation and/ or... Posted on September 20, 2009 at 03:52 pm by Law Offices of Frazee/Laron

Rank This Week: 2759

Family Law Guy

Features California family law news, views, and ruminations. By Richard Gould-Saltman.

http://familylawguy.blogspot.com/

Oct 28
McCourts: Minding (And Dividing) The Family Store

Jamie McCourt has now filed her action for dissolution, along with a request for somewhere between $300,000 and $500,000 per month in spousal support (depending on whether she immediately gets back all her perks of being a Dodgers co-owner) and about two and a half million dollars in attorney fees and litigation costs. What's interesting about this case, beyond the usual tabloid stuff, is that it involves almost all of the issues any married couple in business together faces when the marriage... Posted on October 28, 2009 at 03:21 am by Richard Gould-Saltman
Oct 23
Kim Kardashian Agrees With Me: Get a Pre-marital Agreement!

I just couldn't resist writing the headline. Here's the story. Posted on October 23, 2009 at 09:38 am by Richard Gould-Saltman
Sep 24
Surprisingly, Los Angles is NOT the Divorce Capital!

In fact, California's not really in the running. Looks like Indiana and Florida are the big contenders. Posted on September 24, 2009 at 03:10 am by Richard Gould-Saltman

Rank This Week: 2805

Family Law Practice

Discusses collaboration, mediation and a reasoned approach to divorce. By Steven Green.

http://masscollaborativelaw.wordpress.com

Oct 27
Paternity

I am a father. There is no denying it. There is no getting away from it. It defines who I am. I am a Daddy! In fact, I have been a daddy longer than I have been anything else. OK, yes, I have been alive longer than I have been a daddy&#xe2€&#xa6I just don't remember a "before" time! And, YES, I have not even been married longer than I have been a daddy. (Incidentally, I have three gorgeous daughters, grown and, thankfully (forgive me girls:), out of the house. I share my bona fides with you because of... Posted on October 27, 2009 at 11:09 am by Steven
Oct 1
Can I Move My Children Out-of-State?

I was watching one of the new seasons television shows the other night. "Lie to Me" is one of those fast paced, science based, programs that I find irresistible. I also have a hard time leaving my work at the office. Why? Seems that the protagonist on the program is divorced. He and his ex have one child that appears to be a teenager. The mother wants to start a new business - a law practice! - out-of-state. She simply tells her ex, the father of the child, that she is taking their daughter... Posted on October 1, 2009 at 12:52 pm by Steven
Aug 25
Stepparent Rights

Until Massachusetts passed a new law this year, even though stepparents may provide emotional and financial support to their stepchildren, they had no legal rights with regard to them. They were not able to authorize medical, dental, or surgical treatment, sign permission slips for school activities, or make any other decisions that would enhance the child's educational experience. It seemed that the best a stepparent could hope for was to take the child to after school activites, cook dinner... Posted on August 25, 2009 at 12:32 pm by Steven

Rank This Week: 2811

A Hudson, Ohio Lawyer's...

A Hudson, Ohio Lawyer's Perspective on Divorce and Family Matters

Covers Ohio divorce and family law. By Carol L. Gasper.

http://clgasperlaw.blogspot.com/

Oct 26
Get Divorced. Get Rich. The Continental Airlines Sham Divorce Case.

In a recent federal court case, a federal judge dismissed Continental Airlines' lawsuit against 9 of its employees alleging in essence that the employees faked their divorces so that they could loot the pension plan by obtaining early lump sum retirement benefits. According to the Houston Chronicle, Continental argued in pleadings before the Court that the defendant employees got divorced, collected their pensions and then remarried their spouses in order to collect the money in lump sums while... Posted on October 26, 2009 at 10:16 pm by Carol L. Gasper, Attorney at Law, LLC
Oct 6
Are You Really Married? What If You Were Not?

Oh no! Recently a Western Pennsylvania couple found out that 49 years of marital bliss was a fairy tale. The clergy member who performed the wedding ceremony simply did not file the marriage certificate with the Court. When, 49 years later, the happy couple went to apply for pension benefits they could not produce the marriage certificate. While the couple sorts this out in Pennsylvania, I began to wonder what would happen in Ohio if a marriage certificate went missing or the validity of it... Posted on October 6, 2009 at 01:33 am by Carol L. Gasper, Attorney at Law, LLC
Sep 14
Parenting Time and Visitation: Should Ohio Employers be Required to Facilitate?

Nothing is more precious than the time we spend with our children. Apparently some of Ohio's legislators have taken note. Ohio HB 40, introduced in late February of 2009 by State Representative Tom Letson and co-sponsored by 16 other State Representives, would require certain employers with 50 plus employees to allow a parent to exercise court-ordered parenting time without terminating employment, reducing pay, or taking other similar action against the parent. If passed, HB 40 would give... Posted on September 14, 2009 at 06:27 am by Carol L. Gasper, Attorney at Law, LLC

Rank This Week: 2819

Jennifer R. Lewis Kannegieter,...

Jennifer R. Lewis Kannegieter, Attorney at Law Blog

Covers family law, estate planning, and probate in Minnesota.

http://www.lewis-k-law.com/blog

Oct 26
Will We Need to Go to Court for our Divorce?

In some Minnesota divorce cases, parties can get a divorce without ever stepping foot in the courthouse. In order to avoid a court hearing, the parties must reach a complete agreement. If you start the court process and are unable to reach an agreement, you will have court hearings (starting with an Initial Case Management Conference, Temporary Relief Motion Hearing, Scheduling Conference, or a Pre-Trial Conference). But if you and your spouse have a signed Marital Termination Agreement before... Posted on October 26, 2009 at 07:03 am by Jennifer R. Lewis Kannegieter
Oct 8
MN Divorce FAQ: Will My Spouse Have to Pay My Lawyer’s Fees?

A frequent question I hear is "Will my spouse have to pay my attorney's fees?" My answer to this is "Don't count on it." In Minnesota, attorney's fees can be awarded one of two ways: need-based or conduct-based. Need-based awarded mean that one party cannot afford the fees and that the other party has the means to pay. In many cases this can be a problem as neither party can really afford additional fees. Conduct-based fees are awarded when the court finds a party to be acting in bad faith and... Posted on October 8, 2009 at 07:04 am by Jennifer R. Lewis Kannegieter
Sep 24
Custody Battles for Military Parents

For several military parents a deployment to serve their country can cost them dearly in a custody battle. While parts of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act applies to military child custody cases, granting more time for troops to respond and prohibiting judgments against parents while they are deployed, there has been a movement for additional protections for military parents while they are deployed. Leo Shane III has an in-depth article, Custody Battles Can Become Rude 'Welcome Home' for... Posted on September 24, 2009 at 07:16 am by Jennifer R. Lewis Kannegieter

Rank This Week: 2829

Maryland Divorce Lawyer Blog

Covers Maryland divorce, marital property, protective orders and visitation. By Silverman Thompson Slutkin White.

http://www.marylanddivorcelawyerblog.com/

Oct 23
Maryland Custody: Are Mom’s Favored over Dad’s?

Many clients incorrectly assume that mothers are favored over fathers in a custody case. The truth is that the "tender years doctrine," has been abolished in all fifty states as it violates constitutional law. This doctrine, which is what many clients are relying on when assuming that a mother may be favored over a father, stated that young children should be placed with their mother unless she was unfit. Since the abolishment of this doctrine in Maryland, neither parent is given preference for... Posted on October 23, 2009 at 08:25 am by Monica Scherer
Oct 22
Alleged Violations of Protective Orders in Maryland: Criminal and Civil Consequences

If the respondent (alleged abuser) in a protective order proceeding has a protective order entered against them, what are the petitioner's (alleged victim of abuse) options if the respondent violates the order? A violation of the protective order is any action the respondent takes that violates the provisions the judge ordered at the time of the hearing (no contact, no abuse, no harassment, emergency family maintenance, drug/alcohol/anger counseling). This violation can occur in an interim,... Posted on October 22, 2009 at 08:26 am by Monica Scherer
Oct 21
In What County or City Should Your Maryland Divorce Be Filed?

Divorce is a civil proceeding and therefore like all civil proceedings, the action shall be brought in the county or city where the Defendant (opposing spouse) resides, carries on a regular business, is employed, or habitually engages. However, unlike other civil proceedings a divorce proceeding may additionally be filed where the Plaintiff (spouse filing for the divorce) resides. In addition civil actions regarding custody may be filed where the father, alleged father, mother or child resides.... Posted on October 21, 2009 at 08:42 am by Monica Scherer

Rank This Week: 2851

Maine Divorce Law Blog

Covers all aspects of Maine family law, including divorce, separation, child support, mediation, spousal support, child custody and property rights. From Al Nye.

http://www.mainedivorcelawblog.com/

Oct 22
What Does The Gay Marriage Law Mean For Divorce Rates In Maine?

As many of you know, Maine became the 5th state to allow gay marriage several months ago. Opponents have gathered enough signatures to challenge the law and there is a referendum about it in a few weeks. So far, polls predict that the vote is pretty evenly split. It's the most hotly contested ballot issue and there has been plenty of publicity about it here in Maine. The latest involves the opponents of same-sex marriage and the use of on a tv ad of some radio content from National Public... Posted on October 22, 2009 at 07:27 am by Al Nye
Sep 2
Hubby-Hubby Ice Cream

Same-sex marriage is legal in Vermont today. Ben & Jerry's has decided to celebrate by renamed its Chubby Hubby ice cream flavor "Hubby Hubby" for the month. Would you eat it? Posted on September 2, 2009 at 11:45 am by Al Nye
Aug 24
Divorce and a House Underwater

Gabriel Cheong, a lawyer in Massachusetts, has a good blog post about the options for divorcing couples when their house is underwater (or in other words, worth less than the amount owed on the mortgage). He describes (in greater detail than here) 6 options: 1) Live there together until one can afford to move out or refinance. 2) Continue to own the house with one person living there. 3) Refinance. 4) Short sale. 5) Foreclosure. 6) Work with your lender to modify your mortgage. Another option... Posted on August 24, 2009 at 07:20 am by Al Nye

Rank This Week: 2857

Texas Collaborative Law Blog

Provides information about the Texas approach to Collaborative Law. By Dick Price.

http://texascollaborativelaw.blogspot.com/

Oct 21
How to Prepare for a Collaborative Law Case

I recently read a post on a business news blog that discussed how to deal with the distractions presented by the Internet. The article described the common problem of starting out researching one topic and then drifting from topic to topic, but I digress. The writer had some interesting suggestions on how to stay focused on what you are looking for, and I thought the ideas, simple as they are, were equally applicable to Collaborative Law cases. So, with a nod to the Harvard Business Blog, here... Posted on October 21, 2009 at 01:49 am by Dick Price

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