The symbols of the American court system are the scales of justice. As such, people mistakenly believe that truth and justice are the pillars of this hallowed structure. However, I am here to tell you that truth and justice, as you understand them, only exist in superhero comic books. It does not exist in real life. One person’s justice is …
Divorces are for parents, not children
When it comes to dealing with couples in the midst of divorcing, undoubtedly the most difficult issue to contend with involves children. No matter how difficult dissolving a marriage is for adults, this transition that much harder for the kids, even under the most non-contentious circumstances.
16 Things I’ve Learned in 16 Years of Practice
Anniversaries take on new meanings when you are a divorce lawyer. To me, one of the proudest accomplishments in my career was going back to school to obtain my bachelors degree and then my law degree while raising my daughter as a sole custodial parent and earning a living all at the same time. I became a licensed attorney on …
Bankruptcy and Divorce
Although the economy is showing signs of recovery, chances are you’ve experienced some degree of hardship in the last few years – especially if you have gone through or are going through – a divorce. Very few come through the divorce process economically unscathed, so rest assured that you’re in good company. But if the comfort of being among others …
A New Year and a Fresh Start
There is a popular adage that January has the highest rate of divorce filings. There is likely some truth to this, though I’m not confident the statistics necessarily demonstrate this reality. Anecdotally, there have been years in my practice where this certainly appears to be the case. I’m not confident that this is particular to divorce, mind you; as I …
Spousal Abuse: Domestic Violence in New York State
Witnessing the effects of spousal abuse is one of the worst aspects of my practice. Abuse takes many shapes and can be attributed to both men and women in a relationship; this parity is something not often spoke about in the media and many men are afraid to admit that they too have been victims of domestic violence. If you …
Child Support and Unemployment or Loss of Income
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is at an all-time high as of this writing. Even if you’re reading this blog post months from when it was originally published, the market is likely far above where it was when the financial markets collapsed in 2008. Yet for all of Wall Street’s flowing champagne and expensive caviar, most people have yet to …
Fathers’ Rights in New York
Understanding fathers’ rights is the foundation of my practice because I have lived the process having been a dad who went through a custody battle before I became an attorney. I have also seen the topic evolve over the past 20 years or so in both the legal arena and in people’s minds. Many of the initial inquiries I receive …
Dividing Assets in a New York Divorce
When dividing assets in a New York divorce, it is important to remember that “Equitable” distribution doesn’t necessarily mean “equal” distribution. One of the principal fears my clients have at the start of a divorce is losing half of his or her assets. Because financial issues can be a driver of marital stress it seems almost unfathomable to people that they …
Post-Divorce Enforcement
Life continues even after your marriage ends. Jobs and financial situations change, children grow up and new relationships form. Any one of these and more can have a significant impact on your divorce settlement and require alterations to your divorce decree.