Aggressive. Attentive. Dedicated. Experienced.

At the family law guru we know that every family situation is different.

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I have helped clients through Divorce and other Family Law matters that have affected their life. I plan an individualized approach for your specific Family Law case which addresses your precise desires, concerns, and worries. I fight for you.

Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements

Family Law Guru

Having the experience of The Family Law Guru help you formulate a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement doesn’t mean that you don’t love or trust your spouse-to-be. It means that you would rather be in control of how your property is distributed, your assets and debts divided and who gets what in the unfortunate event of a divorce. It means that you are realistic planner for the reservations of what the future may hold and you do not want a California divorce court dictating how your finances, assets and debts will be separated.

A prenuptial agreement is simply put is a legally binding document that allows the spouses to control the manner in which the property and relationship will be addressed in a divorce. The Family Law Guru will also assist you in drawing up a postnuptial agreement, or a set of legal guidelines similar to that of prenup, but executed after the marriage has taken place. This kind of agreement requires a good deal of expertise because once you are married; you owe your spouse the highest duty of good faith and fair dealing. A postnuptial agreement can be set aside by one spouse if it was not executed properly.

Although prenuptial or postnuptial agreements are an alternative for any marriage, one or the other should be considered essential in the following situations:

  • One or both of you owns an interest in a business.
  • This will be a second marriage for one or both of you.
  • One of you is wealthier than the other.
  • One of your salaries is much higher than your partner.
  • One of you has significant debt
  • One of you will be a stay at home parent.
Contact us for a Free Consultation to review what the Law Office of Vanessa Gnekow can do to help you with your circumstances at 909-481-5350.

The Law Office of Vanessa Gnekow is able to provide Family Law Services to all of California, with a focus on the Cities of Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Fontana, Ontario, and San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties.

Domestic Violence Restraining Orders

Rancho Cucamonga Family Lawyer

Domestic Violence is not a situation to take lightly. The emotional damage that can be caused by Domestic Violence can last for years or even a lifetime. Individuals many times believe the first time with the apologies will be the last time and never occur again. That is usually not the case.

Contact Us immediately for a Free Consultation to discuss what needs to be done to protect yourself. The Law Office of Vanessa Gnekow can be reached at 909-481-5350.

The Law Office of Vanessa Gnekow is able to provide Family Law Services to all of California, with a focus on the Cities of Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Fontana, Ontario, and San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties.

Child Custody and Litigation

Rancho Cucamonga Family Law Attorney

California family law requires that child custody orders be “in the best interest of the child”. As a parent of the child or children, sometimes the court orders may not seem reasonable. Child custody disputes are the most emotional and difficult issues for families going through a divorce, and can become litigious. Though child custody mediation, either through family court services or through private mediation, is often a mandatory first step in resolving the conflict, it is not always the final resolution. In cases where settlement of the custody dispute is not feasible, you want a family law attorney who will protect your rights and your children’s rights, while looking for a doable solution. Even if you agree on a basic child custody arrangement, whether that means sole or shared legal custody and sole or shared physical custody, you may need the services of a family law attorney to resolve critical details that may have long run implications for you and your children.

child walking across the street with parent It is important to work with a local Rancho Cucamonga family law attorney who knows the law, the trends in the court system within your county and can apply this knowledge to the facts of your unique case. Have you had the majority of caretaking responsibility? Do you feel that your child would be safer with you than with the other parent? Are you concerned about visitation and parenting time? Is the current order or arrangement working or does it need to be modified?

I am experienced in helping families reach solutions in the following child custody matters as well as other matters:

  • Joint Legal Custody
  • Joint Physical Custody
  • Sole Legal Custody
  • Sole Physical Custody
  • Moving and relocation
  • Accusations of abuse, neglect or domestic violence
  • Poor parenting or risks to children
  • Children with special needs
  • Weekends, vacations, holidays and summer visitations
  • Modifications of current orders
  • Enforcement of child custody orders
Contact Us for a Free Consultation to review what the Law Office of Vanessa Gnekow can do to help you with your circumstances at 909-481-5350.

The Law Office of Vanessa Gnekow is able to provide Family Law Services to all of California, with a focus on the cities of Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Fontana, Ontario, and San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties.

Spousal Support and Alimony

Family Law Guru

Whether you are in need of spousal support to supplement your living or if you need to protect your assets against the issuance of an unsurmountable spousal support order, The Family Law Guru will audit all the pertinent facts that may affect a spousal support award or protect your rights either through negotiation or in court.

alimony There are two types of spousal support – “temporary,” or “post-Judgment,” support.

The two types of support serve completely different purposes. Temporary support is intended to maintain the status quo in order to provide stability for both parties at the outset of a divorce action. Temporary support addresses the facts and circumstances of the parties at the time that a request for support is made. Typically, in California the court will plug the applicable figures into a computerized support software, and the amount that the program recommends is normally what is ordered. Temporary support will be paid until such time as the Judgment of Dissolution is entered. It is subject to modification.

Post Judgment support, however, is based on an analysis of a variety of factors found in the Family Code, and takes a longer view of the marital relationship when deciding on the appropriate amount of support to be paid.

Though the term “permanent” is frequently used to describe post Judgment support, spousal support orders are rarely truly permanent. The court usually styles an order for support to diminish over a set period of time and end upon a specific date. Certain various factors the court must weigh when awarding post Judgment support.

Factors a court evaluates in determining post Judgment support include the following: Each spouse’s income; Length of the marriage; Age and health of both spouses; Spouse’s marketable abilities; Standard of living during marriage; Debts and resources of each spouse; If one spouse quit his/ her job to care for children; If one spouse paid for the other to attend school; Earning power and ability to pay spousal support; Disrupting the care of the children; As well as any history of domestic violence.

Obtaining the Highest Support Order

The correct amount of income that goes into a calculation is complex, especially when a spouse is a business owner, is self-employed, or has worked for multiple employers. Income from investments must also be entered. The Family Law Guru is knowledgeable in all aspects of evaluating income available to pay support,

Opposing Unmanageable Spousal Support

The Family Law Guru is skilled at defending against uncontrollable spousal support awards. If you are affected that a spousal support request does not accurately reflect the economic realities of your economic state, I will assist you in educating the court with the relevant facts to the spousal support decision, and make sure that you get all of the deductions that you are entitled to.

Modifications of Spousal Support Orders

Things change. If your situation has changed and a spousal support order needs to be modified, The Family Law Guru is exceptionally skilled at Post judgment modifications or enforcement of orders.

Contact us for a Free Consultation to review what the Law Office of Vanessa Gnekow can do to help you with your circumstances at 909-481-5350.

The Law Office of Vanessa Gnekow is able to provide Family Law Services to all of California, with a focus on the Cities of Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Fontana, Ontario, and San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties.

Post Judgement Modifications

Family Law Guru

Dealing with the Modification of a Child Support Order, Spousal Support Order, Visitation or Custody Orders

Circumstances change; the original child support, spousal support, custody or visitation orders that were put in place may need to be changed in order to meet current situations with the family’s existing financial situation. The Family Law Guru will help you modify any existing court orders to meet your needs. The process can be complicated but when the order is correctly modified you will benefit from a new court order that makes sense for you.

The Family Law Guru will handle modifications as well as enforcement dealing with Child support, Alimony/Spousal Support or Child Custody and Visitation Rights.

Child Support Modification

A Child support modification may be needed when the financial circumstances of a parent may change. Each parent may appeal a child support order if there is a change in their conditions like an increase or decrease in the incomes by either parent, or a change in the amount of time the child spends with each parent.

There are many reasons why a child support order may be changes. Should you need to modify your child support payments, The Family Law Guru can prepare your petition and help properly document your changed financial or health condition.

Modification of Spousal Support Orders

Spousal Support in California is considered final at the time of the dissolution of the marriage or divorce. California family law does allow for changes to spousal support when changes occur to the original facts used to determine that support payments happen. Modifications are typically based on changes in income and, like child support changes, either spouse can request a modification to a spousal support order. Whether you are the spouse making support payments (obligor spouse) or the spouse receiving payments (the recipient spouse), Vanessa Gnekow will assist you in obtaining a modification in line with your current financial circumstances.

Modification of Custody and Visitation Orders

Custody and visitation orders are based on conditions at the point of the divorce. The goal of these orders are to establish a schedule that is in the best interests of the children, while at the same time giving both parents the appropriate level of parental access. However, situations can change over time, and if those changes are substantial, this could be grounds to modify custody or visitation orders. The more common situation that may result in modification of custody is when one parent moves or relocates.

The Law Office of Vanessa Gnekow has have handled many of the aforementioned situations and she has the experience to handle the most complex modification situations, including interstate and international moves.

Contact us for a Free Consultation to review what the Law Office of Vanessa Gnekow can do to help you with your circumstances at 909-481-5350.

The Law Office of Vanessa Gnekow is able to provide Family Law Services to all of California, with a focus on the Cities of Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Fontana, Ontario, and San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties.

Enforcement of Orders

Rancho Cucamonga Family Lawyer

With the Enforcement of Court Order(s) you need the help of an experienced Rancho Cucamonga family lawyer to help you traverse the mine field of issues that may come up enforcing a Court Order.

The Office of Vanessa Gnekow has years of experience helping their Client’s with the enforcement of Court Orders.

Court Orders can deal with the following situations:

  • Enforcing a Child Support Order
  • Enforcing a Spousal Support Order
  • Earnings or Wage Assignment Orders
  • Writ of Execution
  • Child Support Security Account/Electronic Funds Transfer
  • Contempt Proceedings

Child as well as Spousal support are not voluntary, but support orders are not self-enforcing. If one parent fails to pay a court-ordered child or Spousal support, it is up to the other parent to enforce that order. California law requires an earnings assignment for all child support orders. This means the spouse’s employer must pay support directly to the other parent. A writ of execution enables the parent receiving child support to request the court to order the liquidation of the other parent’s assets and have the funds transferred to the supported parent.

The spouse who fails to comply with support orders may be required to pay reasonable attorney’s fees incurred by the beneficiary spouse in the action of a collection proceeding. The court will determine the amount that would constitute rational attorney’s fees. The above methods for obtaining support are also among the remedies for enforcing child custody and visitation orders, or property division orders.

Contact us for a Free Consultation to review what the Law Office of Vanessa Gnekow can do to help you with your circumstances at 909-481-5350.

Legal Separation

Rancho Cucamonga Family Law Attorney

A legal separation is appropriate only in a narrow set of situations: divorce is against your religion and neither of you plan on remarrying; you need to remain married in order to be eligible to claim an interest in the other’s Social Security benefits; one of you have significant medical issues which prevents him or her from obtaining private medical insurance; or you have not lived in the state long enough to file a regular divorce action. No matter your reason for separating, a Rancho Cucamonga family law attorney is here to help you get a fair agreement.

fighting couple A legal separation is very similar to a divorce or dissolution of marriage. The grounds for the legal separation are similar to that of a divorce, either citing irreconcilable differences or incurable insanity. Irreconcilable differences is the no-fault divorce option where neither party must prove fault of some kind by the other party. The second legal ground for legal separation requires professional medical or psychiatric testimony and evidence.

However, there are significant differences between a legal separation and a divorce. Both parties must agree to a legal separation. If both spouses do not agree specifically to a legal separation then proceedings automatically become divorce proceedings. Remember, both parties do not have to agree to a divorce. There is no waiting period in California for a legal separation; it can happen immediately, while it takes six months for a dissolution of marriage to be finalized. Finally, there is no residency requirement for a legal separation. You do not have to live in the state for six months before filing the action. But the most important difference is that technically, you remain married, which means of course that you cannot marry someone else.

The Petition for Legal Separation is filed and personally served on the Respondent.

Contact the Law Office of Vanessa Gnekow immediately to discuss your situation so that we may take immediate action to protect you. Call now at 909-481-5350

The Law Office of Vanessa Gnekow is able to provide Family Law Services to all of California, with a focus on the Cities of Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Fontana, Ontario, and San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties.

Child Support

Rancho Cucamonga Family Law Attorney

Unlike issues in most Family Law matters, the issue of child support is rather rigidly defined. Whether you are navigating your way through a divorce, a legal separation, a paternity action, or trying to modify an existing child support order, the amount you pay or receive in support is dictated by the child support “guideline” established by the California State Legislature, and set forth in California’s Family Code. To discuss your case and the next best step, contact your local Rancho Cucamonga family law attorney today.

child walking with parent Both parents have a co-equal responsibility to provide financial support to the children. Guideline child support payments are generally based on factors including, but not limited to, number of children, gross income of each parent, and the percentage of parenting time each parent enjoys with the children. In general terms, if you are the paying parent, the more time your child spends with you in accordance with the parenting plan, the less support you may be required to pay. The opposite is also true – the less time the parent receiving child support spends with the child, the lower the support he or she will receive. Additionally, the court ordinarily orders each parent to pay one-half of any work-related daycare incurred by either parent, and one-half of any medical costs not covered by insurance. While both parents are expected to contribute financially to the direct support of the children, only one parent will actually be required to make a guideline child support payment to the other parent on a monthly basis. The other parent, most often the primary residential parent, will be responsible for the day-to-day management and spending associated with support of the children.

Some parents also agree on additional child support “add-ons.” Commonly agreed upon add-ons include extracurricular activity expenses, school tuition, travel expenses and any other expense associated with raising children. These expenses may or may not be ordered by the judge depending on the financial circumstances of the parents.

While the child support guideline is mandatory, exceptions to the imposition of a guideline order do exist in the Family Code that can have a significant impact on the amount of child support awarded. If you are subject to, or expect to be subject to a child support award, you should consult with an experienced Rancho Cucamonga family law attorney to ensure that you and your children are being treated appropriately under the law.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation to review what the Law Office of Vanessa Gnekow can do to help you with your circumstances at 909-481-5350.

The Law Office of Vanessa Gnekow is able to provide Family Law Services to all of California, with a focus on the Cities of Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Fontana, Ontario, and San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties.

Family Law

Rancho Cucamonga Family Lawyer

Not every divorce requires a lawyer, but if you are looking for a Rancho Cucamonga Family Lawyer, possibly one of the following has occurred: Your spouse hired a divorce attorney; There may be a custody battle for the children; You feel you are being taken advantage of; You need to protect your assets and your business; You require a post-Judgment modification; or You may fear for your life and need a restraining order.

happy family Divorce is never stress-free, but for you, the stakes may be particularly important. You need an experienced family law attorney to explain what is happening legally and why, so that you can prepare for the process. You need an attorney who is seasoned who will understand your business and financial needs. You need an attorney who partners with you to help you achieve an equitable resolution and a conclusion.

My approach to family law comes from a place of balance. I have helped clients through a divorce to understand that this is a “no win” situation for anyone. I offer flexibility to formulate a personalized methodology for your specific family law case which will attend to your exact needs, issues and fears. However, being flexible doesn’t mean that I don’t fight for you.

Should you have any of the following issues call today for a thorough explanation of how my firm will provide the solutions to any of the following family law issues:

  • Dissolution actions
  • Legal separation actions
  • Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
  • Custody advocacy and litigation in complex custody disputes
  • Child support
  • Spousal support or alimony
  • Property characterization
  • Complex professional business valuation
  • Separate property reimbursement
  • Post judgment modifications
  • Enforcement of Orders
  • Debt reallocation issues
  • Domestic violence restraining orders

At The Law Office of Vanessa Gnekow you have the benefit of Small Firm agility that responds quickly to the situation, I am your advocate throughout the process so that you are able to arrive at the end with stability.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation to review what the Law Office of Vanessa Gnekow can do to help you with your circumstances at 909-481-5350.

The Law Office of Vanessa Gnekow is able to provide Family Law Services to all of California, with a focus on the Cities of Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Fontana, Ontario, and San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties.

Vanessa B. Gnekow

Associate Attorney

 
Vanessa Gnekow is dedicated to providing aggressive, cost effective representation in the area of Family, Criminal and Bankruptcy Law. Ms. Gnekow is a fierce litigator and aggressive negotiator with an impressive track record. Ms. Gnekow’s knowledge and expertise in Family Law includes child custody, visitation, child support, spousal support, property division, paternity, guardianship and domestic violence matters in San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, and Orange Counties. Ms. Gnekow is passionate about her clients and gives personal, detailed attention to each and every client. Ms. Gnekow gets to know her clients on an intimate level so that she can become better acquainted with their complex issues. She fights every case as if it were her own family she was litigating for. Ms. Gnekow is a graduate of the University of California Riverside where she received a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science. Ms. Gnekow received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and a Juris Doctor from the University of La Verne College of Law. Ms. Gnekow is a member of the Western Bar Association and Board Member for the East/West Family Law Counsel. Ms. Gnekow offers a free one-half hour initial consultation and offers appointments by telephone or in person.

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July 24, 2017

The Ex Who Drives You Crazy

Basic rules on handling situations with a difficult ex-spouse The Problem: No one knows you better than your ex, and often in unhappy ways. She knows how to get under your skin. He knows how to leave you threatened. She knows how to harness the children’s feelings towards her and [...]

July 24, 2017

Do Half of All Marriages Really End in Divorce?

This outdated statistic has many young people hesitant to tie the knot. We have all heard the statistic: 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce. That particular statistic is burned into our brains, and has given an entire generation a bit of a complex about their potential marital success. I [...]

July 24, 2017

The Decline of Marriage Is Hitting Vegas Hard

Working-class troubles mean fewer weddings in the marriage capital. Roland August has officiated at thousands of weddings in Las Vegas, the self-proclaimed capital of “I do.” But these days August—who often presides dressed as Elvis Presley—has a rare vantage point from which to [...]

July 24, 2017

Who Is Most Likely to Cheat on Their Partner?

Based on new research, there’s now a way to predict who’s most likely to cheat. The popular Jimmy Soul song “If You Want to Be Happy for the Rest of Your Life” advises you never to “make a pretty woman your wife.” New research makes clear why you might want to pay heed to these [...]

July 24, 2017

How to Handle a Toxic Divorce

Most divorces begin with hurt. Both parties may point the finger at the other person for the demise of the marriage. Accusations of infidelity, mismanagement of money or intrusion of in-laws are relatively common. As the divorce process begins, there may be animosity and heated discussions as [...]

July 24, 2017

Dealing with Divorce

The dissolution of a marriage is almost always an unhappy event, at the very least marked by disappointment and the loss of dreams and expectations. In addition, there are usually many legal, financial, parental, emotional, and practical aspects that requires changes in responsibilities and [...]

July 24, 2017

Think twice before giving up financial control at the altar

Marriage means sharing your life and, usually, your finances. But some people relinquish all financial control to their new spouse when they say “I do” — a move that could prove harmful if it means losing awareness of household money matters. No one likes the thought of losing a partner. [...]

July 24, 2017

The 5 Stages of a Relationship Coming to an End

The end of an intimate relationship is generally a painful process in which you and/or your partner must accept that you will no longer be together. In some cases, it’s a great relief that things are drawing to a close, particularly if one partner has suffered some type of abuse or domestic [...]

July 24, 2017

How to Have a Good Divorce: Try Interest-Based Negotiation

Discussing interests, rather than clinging to positions, leads to success. I met family law attorney Janice Green at her rambling house in a leafy hollow in Austin, Texas. We were talking in her book-filled study, when a storm suddenly broke loose. Rain pelted the windows. The lights went [...]

July 24, 2017

Should We Wait for Our Kids to Graduate Before We Divorce?

Is there one “best” age to divorce? No. How you handle it is what counts. A reader recently wrote to me because she’s concerned that she has waited “too long” to divorce. Her two children are 10 and 13, and she’s been unhappy for a decade. One of her friends said that her own parents [...]

July 02, 2017

Surviving divorce after 50

Surviving divorce after 50 Calling it quits after 50? If you’re going through a divorce later in life you’re not alone — it’s actually a growing trend, leading researchers to coin the phase “Gray Divorce.” The divorce rate among adults over age 50 doubled between 1990 and 2014, [...]

July 02, 2017

What same-sex couples should know about their Social Security benefits

What same-sex couples should know about their Social Security benefits On June 26, 2015, a Supreme Court decision that required states to grant and recognize same-sex marriages gave more access to spousal and survivor benefits to these couples. Married same-sex couples have 81 options to [...]

July 02, 2017

Want one last dig at your ex? Then collect on their Social Security

Want one last dig at your ex? Then collect on their Social Security You must meet certain conditions. You don’t have to wait until your ex files for benefits. You must be unmarried. There may be one last thing to love about your ex: their Social Security check. Provided you meet [...]

May 30, 2017

3 Social Security surprises that may leave money on the table

3 Social Security surprises that may leave money on the table Almost a quarter of future retirees who expect to receive Social Security either guess or don’t know how much their benefits will be. Newslook Even if your retirement is years away, it’s a good idea to periodically check in on [...]

May 27, 2017

Managing Your Finances When You’re Separated

You’re in limbo. If you and your husband or wife are separated, you may feel like you’re divorced, but you are actually very married. This means that you may be emotionally split from your spouse, and perhaps living in two separate locations, but your money is still likely very much [...]

May 17, 2017

What Counts As ‘Cheating’ In the Digital Age?

Tara and her husband, Michael (not their real names), recently came to see me after — as she described it — “infidelity.” He was searching for other women online, she said. Yet Michael claimed that he hadn’t done anything wrong and that he would never cheat on his wife. When I began [...]

May 08, 2017

Ashley Madison: Life after the Hack

Christi Gibson is a minister who enjoys traveling to places like Africa and China. She loves to sing and teach. She has friends around the world and is a self proclaimed cat lady. She’s also a widow who lost her husband John not long after hackers released the names of 36 million people [...]

May 04, 2017

How to Divide a Jointly Owned Business in Divorce

Divorce becomes more complicated when you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse own a business together. Businesses require constant care and attention, and they can’t be easily split in half the way funds in a bank or an investment account can. Your attorney will likely recommend you don’t keep [...]

May 04, 2017

The three biggest myths about how Social Security works

You probably know less about Social Security than you think. More than two-thirds of older workers said they were confident about the rules of America’s largest retirement program, according to a new survey by Fidelity Investments. Yet among the 521 people age 55 to 61 that Fidelity polled [...]

April 24, 2017

Genius’ Banker Randy Work Loses $225 Million Divorce Battle

‘Genius’ Banker Randy Work Loses $225 Million Divorce Battle A former Lone Star Funds executive, who asked judges to weigh the value of “genius” in a bid to win a bigger share of a $225 million fortune than his ex-wife, lost his divorce appeal at a London court on Tuesday. Randy Work [...]

April 24, 2017

Married divorce lawyers share the secret to staying together

Married divorce lawyers share the secret to staying together In her early 30s, divorce lawyer Dana Stutman handled messy cases with bitter custody battles and nasty mudslinging, but she was still an old-school romantic who clung on to the idea of a white-picket fence marriage. “I wanted a [...]

April 24, 2017

Over-the-top weddings lessen chances of divorce, study claims

If you’re gearing up for a summer wedding but haven’t done the invites yet, you might want to bulk buy. It’s probably not the news you were hoping for given the average wedding in the UK now costs $26,000, but it turns out it there’s a very good reason why you should invite everyone you [...]

April 24, 2017

Why so many married couples are sleeping in separate beds

After waking up from her husband’s snoring too many times to count Lilly Grossman decided it was time to sleep in separate bedrooms. Ten years later, Grossman and her husband sleep in separate bedrooms not only at home, but on vacations, and she believes they may have gotten a divorce if she [...]

April 20, 2017

How to talk to kids about their parents’ divorce

Divorce is often stressful for both parents and their children, and now a new report with some advice for parents encourages them to look to their children’s pediatricians, therapists and others in their communities to help them manage this tough transition. Research shows that children may [...]

April 07, 2017

Harry Macklowe’s wife ‘holds all the cards’ in $2 billion divorce

While billionaire New York developer Harry Macklowe is cracking old wife jokes outside divorce court, his estranged wife, Linda, appears to be holding all the cards. A source with knowledge of their $2 billion divorce says the majority of their marital assets — including their billion-dollar [...]

April 07, 2017

Five ways to bulletproof your estate plan

The hit podcast “S-Town,” which was downloaded more than 10 million times in its first four days, highlighted the importance of having a will. While that’s a good first step for anyone, estate planning is more than just wills. It is an entire strategy to protect you and your spouse in [...]

April 07, 2017

Up to 100,000 Taxpayers Compromised in Fafsa Tool Breach, I.R.S. Says

The Internal Revenue Service said on Thursday that the personal data of as many as 100,000 taxpayers could have been compromised through a scheme in which hackers posed as students using an online tool to apply for financial aid. The breach may be the most extensive since 2015, when thieves [...]

April 07, 2017

Surviving divorce after 50

If you’re going through a divorce later in life you’re not alone — it’s actually a growing trend, leading researchers to coin the phase “Gray Divorce.” The divorce rate among adults over age 50 doubled between 1990 and 2014, according to the National Center for Family & Marriage [...]

April 05, 2017

Harry Macklowe laughs after offering wife $1B to go away

A New York developer is willing to give up half of his $2 billion fortune just to end his messy divorce case — and he can’t stop laughing about it. Developer Harry Macklowe, 79, was in a joking mood outside a Manhattan civil courtroom Tuesday as he talked about handing his wife, Linda [...]

April 04, 2017

A.I. Is Doing Legal Work. But It Won’t Replace Lawyers, Yet. Gallery A.I. Is Doing Legal Work. But It Won’t Replace Lawyers, Yet. Uncategorized A.I. Is Doing Legal Work. But It Won’t Replace Lawyers, Yet.

Impressive advances in artificial intelligence technology tailored for legal work have led some lawyers to worry that their profession may be Silicon Valley’s next victim. But recent research and even the people working on the software meant to automate legal work say the adoption of A.I. in [...]

April 03, 2017

Zynga billionaire Mark Pincus embroiled in big-money divorce

Mark Pincus, the billionaire Zynga founder and early Facebook and Twitter investor, is embroiled in what could be a wildly expensive Silicon Valley divorce. His beautiful wife, Alison Gelb Pincus, the co-founder of One Kings Lane, which sold to Bed Bath & Beyond for $30 million last year, has [...]

March 26, 2017

Apple iCloud ransom demands: The facts you need to know

Apple iCloud ransom demands: The facts you need to know. Welcome to the wonderful world of security nuance. Hackers are demanding Apple pay a ransom in bitcoin or they’ll blow the lid off millions of iCloud account credentials. Beyond the primary headline, however, there are a bevy of loose [...]

March 26, 2017

Spring cleaning is a perfect time to get your financial house in order Gallery Spring cleaning is a perfect time to get your financial house in order Blog Spring cleaning is a perfect time to get your financial house in order

Monday is the first day of spring and thoughts of spring cleaning may be on your mind. In addition to sprucing up your home for the upcoming warm weather, it might be even more important to take some to time to spruce up your finances. Here is a smart guide to giving your financial house a good [...]

March 26, 2017

BILLIONAIRE BILL ACKMAN REPORTEDLY ENDS 2016 WITH A 9-FIGURE DIVORCE

Things continue to go from bad to worse for the hedge fund manager, who is reportedly ending things amicably with his wife of 25 years. Everyone, in some way, has been rocked by 2016—a year that saw Donald Trump elected president, the end of Brangelina, a British exit from the European Union, [...]

March 19, 2017

9 common tax errors people make

Make sure you don’t fall prey to these mistakes on your return this year. If you want to get your tax refund as quickly as possible, it’s critical to avoid making mistakes that will delay the processing of your return. Yet every year, millions of taxpayers make tax errors that hold up their [...]

March 19, 2017

When Parents Divorce

Mommy and daddy are getting a divorce.” To children, those fateful words can mean a range of things, depending on their age. A baby or toddler won’t understand them at all but may pick up on your somber tone and be confused or frightened by it; an older child may worry that she’ll wind up [...]

March 19, 2017

Watch out for tax scams on email, Facebook and your phone

Watch out for tax scams on email, Facebook and your phone As if tax time weren’t tough enough, scammers are doubling down efforts to steal more of your hard-earned money. According to the Internal Revenue Service, there’s a spike in online tax scams and an aggressive phone scam is making the [...]

March 15, 2017

Five things you should never, ever say to a woman in tech

I’ve never published anything about what it’s like to be a woman in business, but today is International Women’s Day, and I decided to use my incredibly keen wit and personal experiences to speak some truths. I have boobs. They are small boobs, but they are still boobs. I also run a [...]

March 13, 2017

Russia decriminalized domestic violence. What happened next is wrenching

Yana Savchuk could have been saved. But when the Russian hairdresser, 36, called police in November saying that her partner was going to kill her, the officers who arrived cast off her cries for help as ridiculous. “If you get killed, we will definitely come to examine the body,” one police [...]

March 01, 2017

5 Ways to Move on After a Relationship Ends

This article was created by Kristin Davin, Psy.D. Most of us have experienced the loss of a relationship and its jarring effects on us physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Sometimes it’s a feeling of unbearable loss and confusion. We become sad, distressed, lonely, and often [...]

March 01, 2017

Whatever You Do, Don’t Say ‘Divorce Is Not An Option’

This article was written by Brittany Wong at Huffington Post It’s likely you’ve overheard a friend say something to this effect: “Divorce is not an option.” But the truth is, no one goes into marriage with the intention of splitting up. At best, the statement is naive — at worst, [...]

March 01, 2017

Yes, It’s Possible To Divorce Without Ruining Your Kids’ Lives

By She Found a Way for DivorcedMoms.com When I was contemplating my separation, my greatest fear was that I would ruin my kids’ lives forever. Thankfully, the universe intervened, showing me that I felt I had no other choice but to leave. It was time — no more excuses and no more hiding away [...]

March 01, 2017

10 Financial Mistakes to Avoid in Divorce

Full credit of this article goes to Karen Covy The two things that people worry about most in divorce are their money and their kids. Unfortunately, worrying about money doesn’t prevent those same people from making enormous financial mistakes in divorce. Here are a list of the top [...]

March 01, 2017

How To Divorce Like A Grown-Up (And Co-Parent Like One, Too)

The divorce process can be ugly or remarkably civil. If you’re hoping to split up amicably, it’s important to first do your homework, advised Morghan Richardson, a divorce attorney based in Astoria, New York. “Just a little information about the start of the process can go a long way in [...]

February 27, 2017

Triple talaq: India’s battle against three words that grant instant divorce

With just three words, Farha, a 30-year old woman from the northern Indian city of Jaipur, became a single mother of three young children. Farha’s husband instantly divorced her last year by saying “talaq, talaq, talaq” in a fit of anger after their 10-year-old daughter had asked him for [...]

February 22, 2017

5 Things Not To Expect Going Through Divorce

If there is one thing that everyone can agree upon when it comes to divorce, it’s that it is predictably unpredictable. Just when you think you have it figured out (to some degree) and you are on the path of recovery — wham! You walk right into another wall that leaves you feeling [...]

February 22, 2017

6 Signs Your Spouse Has Checked Out Of Your Marriage

When your spouse isn’t interested in doing the “work” of marriage, it’s easy to feel powerless. But all isn’t lost, said Jeannie Ingram, a couples therapist based in Nashville, Tennessee. “The relationship doesn’t have to end,” she told HuffPost. “The truth is, all [...]

February 13, 2017

Valentine’s Day by the numbers: How much Americans spend on love

Valentine’s Day is here, and Americans are shelling out stacks of cash to celebrate love. In fact, average spending on the holiday this year is expected to hit $136.57, according to the National Retail Federation. From spending on flowers, jewelry and greeting cards, celebrating Valentine’s [...]

February 12, 2017

HOW TO SPEND YOUR BONUS!

So you got a bonus. How much of it do you want to spend? Read the rest of the article by clicking the link: [...]

February 12, 2017

Surprise! Your partner may be lying to you about money

An estimated 12 million people have a secret bank account or credit card Here’s a Valentine’s Day treat for you — your partner may be hiding cash, hoarding a secret credit card or spending money without telling you. A new survey from CreditCards.com found that 28 percent of respondents [...]

February 12, 2017

Putin signs law reducing punishhment for domestic battery.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that decriminalizes some forms of domestic violence, according to state-run news agency Tass. Dubbed the “slapping law,” it decriminalizes a first offense of domestic violence that does not seriously injure the person, making it a less [...]

February 06, 2017

These Are the 25 Most Expensive Places to Get Married

A survey of last year’s newlyweds may prompt some breakups all across America. Thinking of getting married? Move to Arkansas. That’s where this increasingly expensive proposition is usually cheapest, according to a survey of 13,000 American brides and grooms who got hitched last [...]

February 06, 2017

The Secret to Sibling Success

Years ago, my younger brother and I attended the wedding of a childhood friend, held on a high floor of a stylish San Francisco hotel. We were standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, joking with each other, when the sister of the groom approached. “You guys are so close,” she said. “It [...]

February 06, 2017

So it’s money — not sex — that can bust up your relationship

So it’s money — not sex — that can bust up your relationship Less than half of Americans are comfortable sharing their financial details This Valentine’s Day, don’t let your checkbook get in the way of your love life. A recent survey from LearnVest, an online provider of [...]

January 29, 2017

The Divorce Penalty: This 401(k) Fee Can Add Insult to Injury

The Divorce Penalty: This 401(k) Fee Can Add Insult to Injury A profit center. A silent fee. One more kick in the pants. Those are a few of the ways divorce lawyers describe the fee that many 401(k) plan participants have to pay when they need to divide a retirement account in a divorce. As [...]

January 29, 2017

Ways Social Media Impacts Law

Social media, broadly defined, is having a powerful impact in the U.S. legal environment. Additionally, as social media crosses national boundaries, global legal concerns, not addressed in this brief comment, must be considered in practice. The following limited and incomplete points illustrate how [...]

January 29, 2017

3 Ways to Protect Your Personal Injury Award or Settlement from Your Divorce

What happens to your money from a personal injury award or settlement, when you divorce? The short answer is, “It depends.” It depends on whether you live in a community-property or equitable distribution state. It depends on how the money was allocated in the award or settlement. It depends on [...]

January 24, 2017

US panel: Improve child custody rules for military

A national legal panel that works to standardize state laws wants to simplify child custody rules for military service members, whose frequent deployments can leave them without clear legal recourse when family disputes erupt. The Uniform Law Commission, an influential group of some 350 [...]

January 23, 2017

It’s January, also known as divorce month.

This article was written by Kelli B. Grant at CNBC Couples starting the new year with a divorce may find untangling finances is no easy feat. Data from the University of Washington found that divorce filings start to pick up in January — a trend researchers theorized could be fueled by a [...]

January 19, 2017

How divorce affects your ex’s Social Security benefits

This article was written by Robert Powell at USA Today Q: My ex-husband (we were married for 18 years) has remarried, as have I. If I were to apply for ex-spousal benefits will that diminish any payment of benefits to his current family? I would not apply if this is the case. If he has not [...]

January 17, 2017

Divorce decision: Keep the house or sell it?

Full credit of this article goes to Peter Dunn at USA Today Dear Pete, I have nothing. My husband of 37 years filed for divorce, and I have nothing. I felt like we always seemed to have money, but apparently not. He says I’ll receive about $50,000 of his retirement account, but [...]

January 16, 2017

9 Things Marriage Therapists Know Almost Instantly About A Couple

Full Credit of this article goes to Brittany Wong at The Huffington Post A marriage therapist ― even one who’s worked in the field for years ― can’t know a couple’s full story by the first therapy session. They can tell quite a bit, though. (A spouse’s tendency to avoid eye [...]

December 20, 2016

Is divorce more common during the holidays?

This article was Written by Stephanie M. Bucklin Given the holidays bring added stress from increased travel, financial pressures and family obligations. But do the number of divorces actually peak during the holidays? Julie Brines, an associate sociology professor at the University of [...]

December 16, 2016

Why Engaged Couples Should Sign a Prenup

This article was originally written by Robert DiGiacomo Although prenuptial agreements are often associated with celebrity couples — and their headline-generating divorces — they’re not just for boldface names. Any couple who brings personal or business assets to the marriage can [...]

December 13, 2016

When Parents Divorce

To children, those fateful words can mean a range of things, depending on their age. A baby or toddler won’t understand them at all but may pick up on your somber tone and be confused or frightened by it; an older child may worry that she’ll wind up like a friend at school who sees her dad only [...]

December 07, 2016

“You’ve Been Served!” 5 Ways To Serve Someone In a Divorce

Five Out-of-the-Box Ways to Serve Someone Divorce Papers If you find yourself dealing with a partner that is making the service of the divorce paperwork difficult, you might want to consider getting a little creative in order to catch them off-guard. Below are five great ideas for serving your [...]

December 05, 2016

New California law would ban sex between lawyers and clients

If you live in California and were hyped on having your hot affair with your attorney, you might have to do that before the new California law that would ban sex between lawyers and clients is passed. The state bar commission has proposed the modification to the ethics rules that would join at [...]

December 01, 2016

What Happens to Pets After a Divorce?

We love our pets, and it seems crazy to think that California law views them as property to be divided in the event of a divorce. My dogs, Murphy and Wykid Angel, certainly don’t consider themselves property – they are completely offended and horrified at being categorized as such. So how do [...]

November 21, 2016

Divorce in U.S. Plunges to 35-Year Low

The U.S. divorce rate has fallen for the third consecutive year, to its lowest level in more than 35 years, according to data released Thursday. Meanwhile, marriage is up a bit, at 32.3 marriages for every 1,000 unmarried women age 15 or older last year, from 31.9 in 2014. It was the highest [...]

November 14, 2016

Gay men in domestic violence situations face barriers to wellness at every turn

For two years, Armando told no one that he was living with a partner who subjected him to physical, emotional and psychological abuse. In 2007, after a severe fight with his partner landed him in the hospital, he finally had enough. There, he confessed to a police officer and a social worker [...]

November 14, 2016

When Parents Divorce, the Children Get the House

A common Sunday night ritual for children whose parents are divorced is packing up the schoolbooks and soccer cleats for the weekly trek to mom or dad’s house. In a flip, some divorced couples are trying an approach they call nesting: Mom and Dad shuttle back and forth while the children stay [...]

November 07, 2016

Kids Facing Deportation Can’t Sue to Get Lawyers, Court Says

Undocumented immigrant children can’t sue the U.S. government to have lawyers represent them in deportation hearings, an appeals court ruled. Tuesday’s ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco reversed a judge’s decision last year rejecting the government’s bid to throw out [...]

November 07, 2016

Divorced, deceased parents linked to kids’ smoking and drinking

We know that parents have a profound influence on their child’s life, and increasingly, scientific research is connecting the dots between attention or neglect and behavior. Children who experience the loss of a father or mother early in life are more likely to smoke and drink before they hit [...]

November 04, 2016

What Is Dissipation Of Assets And What Can You Do About It?

Some couples divorce amicably. They recognize that their marriage is best ended, and they work to come to a fair resolution as soon as possible so they can get on with their lives. For other couples, divorcing is much more complicated. In these cases, greed, anger, and spite are primary motivators, [...]

October 31, 2016

HBO’s ‘Divorce’ Traps Us in the Middle of a Bitter Feud

Frances and Robert Dufresne hate each other; got it? Good. Welcome to Divorce, a caustic new HBO comedy from Catastrophe co-creator and star Sharon Horgan. Set in the casually wealthy enclave of Westchester County, Divorce tracks the escalating horror of Frances and Robert’s separation with a [...]

October 24, 2016

How Men Can Help End Domestic Violence

‘It’s up to us to speak up’ When I was four years old, my father cracked me over the head with a rum bottle. It’s one of my earliest memories. I was defending my mother from one of my dad’s drunken, abusive tirades, and I was bold enough to step between them to protect [...]

October 24, 2016

These Two Men Share The Beautiful Story Of How Their Family Was Created

Each Friday in September, RaiseAChild celebrates foster and adoptive parents who have chosen to place the needs of children ahead of their own in a special “Let Love Define Family®” series for Huffington Post Queer Voices. This is the last of five special series installments. James McKinney [...]

October 24, 2016

Divorce Is Destroying Retirement

Divorce in the U.S. surged in the 1970s and 1980s as the baby boomers reached adulthood. As they enter retirement, they’re still splitting up, and it’s having a disproportionate effect on women. Even as divorce rates for younger Americans have fallen, failed marriages among people over 50 [...]

October 14, 2016

Remarrying? Update your estate plan

Engaged couples aren’t likely to find “update the estate plan” on many prewedding checklists, but it’s an important to-do — especially if the upcoming marriage isn’t your first, or if you have kids from a prior relationship. Many Americans have made a second or third trip down the [...]

October 12, 2016

Preventing Domestic Violence Is Everyone’s Business

One of the greatest joys of working on a university campus is being surrounded by young adults full of ambition and promise. One of the greatest heartbreaks is knowing that many of them have been or will be the victims of one of the most serious public health issues of our time—domestic [...]

October 11, 2016

A Valentine’s Day Wedding Comes With Higher Divorce Odds

If you’re thinking of tying the knot this Feb. 14, the Institute for the Study of Labor in Bonn, Germany, has published new findings that may curb your enthusiasm. That’s the lead story in this week’s research wrap, which also looks at how Britons struggle to make heads or tails of what [...]

October 04, 2016

Older Americans Are Jeopardizing Their Retirement With Divorce

Barbara Ballinger panicked when her husband of 29 years told her he wanted a divorce. At 51, she hadn’t seen the end of her marriage coming and wasn’t prepared to cover half the expenses for their five-bedroom home in a St. Louis suburb, their two daughters’ college tuitions, car and home [...]

October 04, 2016

Why Conservatives Are Picking Sides in a Lesbian Child Custody Battle

Last year, when the Supreme Court made it legal for same-sex couples to marry nationwide, one might have expected the ruling to end thorny questions about the legal status of their 200,000-plus children. But as recent developments in a Tennessee court case have made clear, the religious right and [...]

September 27, 2016

7 signs you’re headed for divorce, according to a relationship expert

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s split has dominated the news cycle for the last few days, shocking fans and close friends alike. While this celeb breakup may seem surprising and awfully sudden, chances are, trouble’s been brewing for a while. Most divorces—celebrity and mere mortal [...]

September 20, 2016

This Loophole Ends the Privacy of Social Security Numbers

Federal law is supposed to protect the privacy of your Social Security number from government inquiries — but apparently that doesn’t extend to a check on whether you’ve paid back taxes and child support. In a decision with worrying implications for those who oppose a single national [...]

September 20, 2016

Can you divorce-proof your marriage?

Communication. Hobbies. Date nights. All are theoretically important for a healthy marriage — and often unattainable when we’re mired in the humdrum cycle of daily life and dirty laundry. Let’s face it: For most of us, marriage isn’t a Viagra commercial packed with sun-kissed picnics on [...]

September 20, 2016

Why Domestic Violence Is an Economic Issue

In the world of conventional wisdom, there are “women’s issues” and there are “economic issues,” and never the twain shall meet. The right to college, economic; college sexual assault, women’s. Affordable health care, economic; access to abortion, women’s. Livable wages, economic; the [...]

September 15, 2016

“They Said We Would Pay With Our Lives”

Julia was not yet a teenager when members of Mara Salvatrucha in her small hometown in central El Salvador began to threaten her with sexual assault. Her neighborhood had always felt quiet and safe, she said. But things started to change when she entered fourth grade and her classmates began to [...]

September 12, 2016

Memo to divorcing boomers: Watch your assets

Divorce among couples near retirement age has its own custody complications: how to divvy up the retirement accounts. For baby boomers, divorce is soaring. The divorce rate among adults over age 50 doubled between 1990 and 2014, according to a report by the National Center for Family & Marriage [...]

September 07, 2016

Can You Lose Your 401k in a Divorce?

Divorce among Baby Boomers is growing and is having an impact on retirement savings, according to new research. The divorce rate for those ages 50 and older doubled between 1990 and 2010, according to a Bowling Green State University study. According to the results of a recent survey from the [...]

August 29, 2016

Bill would end criminalizing children for prostitution

California would no longer prosecute minors for prostitution under a bill in the state Legislature, a move law enforcement agencies say would make it more difficult to prosecute pimps. Supporters of SB1322 say many children caught selling sex are the victims of human traffickers and that [...]

August 26, 2016

Study: These are the peak times for divorce

There’s long been evidence that there are certain times of year that are popular for divorce. But passive-aggressive Facebook drama isn’t exactly quantifiable data, so a new study from the University of Washington has provided some actual numbers to support the trend. Researchers from the [...]

August 23, 2016

The App That Helps Divorced Parents Fight About Money

Sheri Atwood is the rare Silicon Valley entrepreneur whose pitch includes intimate details about her family—namely, how it was broken up. Twice. “My parents had a horrific divorce,” says the 36-year-old former Symantec Corp. executive. “It felt like the only time they communicated was in [...]

August 23, 2016

4 Million Voices: Giving Hope to Survivors of Domestic Violence

I will never forget the first time I answered a phone call on behalf of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. I was covering the lines so that our staff could enjoy our annual holiday party. The call was from a microbiologist who was in an abusive relationship. She kept saying, “How did I get [...]

August 23, 2016

Summer Vacations Can Lead to Divorce

The post-vacation hangover may be dangerous for your marriage. Filings for divorce spike twice a year, in March and August, according to a new study. University of Washington sociology professor Julie Brines and doctoral candidate Brian Serafini found divorce filings seem to follow the annual [...]

August 16, 2016

A Look at How Social Media is Impacting Divorce Cases

Most people with a smartphone are constantly tapped into some form of social media. Sharing cute pictures of kids and pets is simply a routine part of life these days. Some people even use social media to vent frustrations or look for advice. In a divorce case, however, shares on social media [...]

August 15, 2016

Breadwinning Women Are Driving Alimony Reform

3% of all alimony recipients are men. When alimony reform comes to Florida, it may be too late for Tarie MacMillan, a 65-year-old who runs a jewelry business near Tampa. MacMillan was ordered to pay her ex-husband $7,000 a month 15 years ago. Even so, she has joined the crusade to lobby state [...]

August 15, 2016

Men Without Full-Time Jobs Are 33% More Likely to Divorce

Jobs have a greater effect on marriage than money, says study What causes marriages to crumble? Each couple is a little different of course, but are there specific work and financial pressures that seem to have a bigger effect on the soundness of any given union than another? A spate of new [...]

August 08, 2016

How to protect your financial apps from getting hacked

There’s been no shortage of high-profile hacks over the last few years — think Target, Sony and Ashley Madison — but one sector that hasn’t made as much news for breaches is financial. According to the Identify Theft Resource Center, out of the 781 data breaches tracked in the United States [...]

August 08, 2016

Divorce decision: Keep the house or sell it?

Dear Pete, I have nothing. My husband of 37 years filed for divorce, and I have nothing. I felt like we always seemed to have money, but apparently not. He says I’ll receive about $50,000 of his retirement account, but that’s it. I make $48,000 per year, and I have the option of keeping the [...]

August 01, 2016

Many Dads Are Being Forced to Play “Mother May I?”

Do you remember the childhood game, Mother May I? The mother directs thechildren to take a certain number of hops, giant steps or baby steps toward her. Each child must ask “Mother May I?” before moving. If they don’t, then they must go back to the start line. The first one to reach the [...]

August 01, 2016

Don’t Blame Divorce on Money. Ask: Did the Husband Have a Job?

Financial stress and fights over money can eat away at a marriage. But do they cause divorce? That’s a more complicated matter. A Harvard University study suggests that neither financial strains nor women’s increased ability to get out of an unhappy marriage, starting in the 1970s, is [...]

July 28, 2016

Millions of Wireless Keyboards Can Let Hackers See What You’re Typing

A newly discovered set of wireless keyboard vulnerabilities can let hackers take over your keyboard and secretly record what you type. It’s called KeySniffer, and it spells death for millions of wireless, radio-based keyboards. According to security researchers at Bastille, the so-called [...]

July 26, 2016

Report states tribal child custody laws neglected on statewide level

A coalition of Native American tribes from across California are calling on the state’s top law enforcement office to begin investigating what it says are be systematic shortfalls and violations of tribal civil rights relating to the Indian Child Welfare Act. Known as the Indian Child Welfare [...]

July 26, 2016

4 Things You’re Likely Doing That Will Eventually Kill Your Marriage

According to renowned marriage therapist John Gottman, there are four behaviors that can reliably predict the end of a marriage — and you’re probably guilty of them. For 40 years, the psychology professor and his team at the Gottman Institute have studied couples’ interactions to determine [...]

July 22, 2016

Voices: Guns are why my family left the U.S.

I didn’t think I would ever experience feelings like I did on the morning we left Ireland last summer. My wife clutched our 6-week-old son as I loaded our unending procession of suitcases onto the belt at Dublin airport. I could feel the sweat on my brand new shirt, but not from exertion. This [...]

July 20, 2016

Why Children of Same-Sex Couples Need FADA

The First Amendment Defense Act has been justly promoted as a means to protect religious people, as well as other conscientious objectors, against those who might wish to retaliate against proponents of male-female marriage through the federal bureaucracy (complaints, charges, lawsuits, claims of [...]

July 19, 2016

Problems With Paternity: Fraud To Securing Parental Rights

Paternity is a major problem area in family courts, whether you are talking about issues pertaining to fraud or biological fathers obstructed from having a relationship with their children. Unfortunately, there is little being done to fix these matters. This leaves millions of men and children [...]

July 15, 2016

6 critical steps to prepare your finances for divorce

The process of getting a divorce often leaves both parties wounded. However, there are a few things you can do right now to ensure that you are financially protected. 1. Gather your financial records The first thing you should do is to collect all of your financial records. Ideally, you will [...]

July 12, 2016

Women-Owned Small Businesses Are Driving Economic Growth

Last month, the White House hosted the first-ever United State of Women summit, an event aimed at celebrating women’s progress and highlighting the work that still needs to be done to achieve gender equality. Among the many topics covered, female entrepreneurship was a major theme. One of the [...]

July 12, 2016

US panel: Improve child custody rules for military

A national legal panel that works to standardize state laws wants to simplify child custody rules for military service members, whose frequent deployments can leave them without clear legal recourse when family disputes erupt. The Uniform Law Commission, an influential group of some 350 [...]

July 11, 2016

6 Things to Do Before Filing for Divorce

Make no mistake about it, divorce is hard. Even if you and your spouse expect to have an amicable dissolution, the emotional and financial challenges that come with divorce can make it one of the most difficult things you’ll ever go through in your life. Many people are blindsided by divorce [...]

July 11, 2016

Understanding How Assets Get Divided In Divorce

Dividing the family’s property during divorce can be quite difficult, especially if there are significant assets such as houses, rental property, retirement and pension plans, stock options, restricted stock, deferred compensation, brokerage accounts, closely-held businesses, professional [...]

July 05, 2016

Baby Boomers Are Making Sure the Divorces Keep Coming

Millennials, enjoy your nuptials as the summer wedding season hits its stride. While baby boomers may be hiring divorce lawyers. The statistic that half of all marriages fail, long whispered by wedding guests and worried over by reluctant brides and grooms, has garnered some new support. If [...]

June 27, 2016

Child custody reforms push for equal time with both parents

Nearly two dozen states have been considering shared parenting after divorce or separation as part of a reform of current child custody laws, which could mean more shared time for noncustodial parents with their children. According to a press release from theNational Parents Organization (which [...]

June 27, 2016

Don’t Let Divorce Derail Your Retirement

At any age, a divorce can set you back financially, but ending a marriage later in life poses an extra threat: derailing a previously on-track retirement. As is true with younger couples, a divorce is likely to leave you with higher living expenses, lower in-come, and less wealth. But if you’re [...]

June 22, 2016

How Often do Non-Custodial Parents See their Children?

nly a third of children in sole residential homes see their other parent at least once a month. Another third have contact less than once a month. Half of these have contact less than once a year. A final third have no contact at all with their non-custodial parent. Fathers who never married the [...]

June 22, 2016

Want More Financial Aid? Get a Divorce

By the time their kids are ready for college, many parents are either divorced or in the process of getting one. Just from a financial aid perspective, that can actually be to their benefit. Students whose parents are divorced—or have been separated for at least six months—will in many cases [...]

June 16, 2016

Never Too Old to Hurt From Parents’ Divorce

In the room that would be the scene of Lisa George’s divorce in 2012, Ms. George, now 59, was seated on the same side of the table as her about-to-be-ex-husband. Each of their divorce lawyers slid into seats across from them. Between the lawyers sat Carol Hughes, a divorce coach in Orange [...]

June 15, 2016

Why I’m Letting Go: Agreeing to 50/50 Custody

Almost two years ago, my world was turned upside down. My ex-husband had confessed that he no longer loved me, and I learned the hurtful truth about our marriage. Sincerely believing that I was looking out for the best interests of our two girls, I immediately filed for primary physical custody. My [...]

June 15, 2016

Keep a Divorce From Killing Your Finances

Divorce is obviously a huge emotional experience for everyone involved, but it also takes a toll financially — often on both spouses. The immediate financial burden occurs due to the separation of the household: As couples split, they often wind up doubling their housing, utility, and other [...]

June 10, 2016

Why Post-Divorce Finances Are Trickier Than You Think

Most people need help to implement their divorce order properly. After a long, emotionally charged divorce process, you’ve arrive at a final divorce settlement agreement. It seems fair, reasonable and satisfying. You expect to receive what the final judgment states you are due. Brace [...]

June 09, 2016

Can I Check My Soon-To-Be-Ex-Husband’s Credit While We Are Getting Divorced?

Can I Check My Soon-To-Be-Ex-Husband’s Credit While We Are Getting Divorced? Q: My husband and I are in the midst of a very acrimonious divorce. I suspect he’s hiding financial information from me. Can I check his credit reports, and if so how? A: No, you can’t check your spouse’s (or [...]

June 07, 2016

Avoiding a Costly Cohabitation ‘Divorce’

As an increasing number of couples agree to live together rather than marry, attorneys are seeing more and more cases involving break-ups leading to the courtroom. According a recent survey of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), 45% of the members find that legal disputes between [...]

May 31, 2016

5 Things Not To Expect Going Through Divorce

If there is one thing that everyone can agree upon when it comes to divorce, it’s that it is predictably unpredictable. Just when you think you have it figured out (to some degree) and you are on the path of recovery — wham! You walk right into another wall that leaves you feeling [...]

May 23, 2016

Getting Remarried? How To Avoid The Marriage Tax Penalty

Love is said to be lovelier the second time around, but for an increasing number of older Americans, that second time around doesn’t always include re-tying the knot. In fact, people age 50 and up are the fastest-growing group of unmarried couples. There were 3.3 million Americans over 50 in [...]

May 23, 2016

No Sound, No Fury, No Marriage

Three years ago, my husband and I broke up after two decades of marriage. Our path since has been so gentle that we have been the cause of confusion and gossip in our little Colorado mountain town. Both of our cars are often in the driveway, meals are frequently eaten together and logistics make [...]

May 20, 2016

3 Ways the Child Support System Rips Apart Families

Ideally, the child support system should ensure all the financial necessities needed to raise a child are covered, with both parents providing fair and adequate contributions. However, time and time again the system fails in this regard. In fact, because of a number of outdated gender biases [...]

May 17, 2016

Top 5 Reasons a Divorce Lawyer May Turn Down Your Case

5. You curse repeatedly during the initial consultation. Divorce law is already tense and difficult enough. Lawyers must manage their cases as well as their clients’ emotions. But it is not what we are good at or what we want to do, so if from the first instance, our potential client cannot [...]

May 16, 2016

Prenuptial Agreements Are on the Rise, And More Women Are Requesting Them

If you think prenups are just for celebrities or the super wealthy, think again. According to a new survey of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), 63 percent of divorce attorneys say they’ve seen an increase in prenuptial agreements during the past three years. What’s more, 46 [...]

May 12, 2016

Should You Get Married (Or Divorced) For Tax Reasons?

I was super excited about doing my taxes this year. I got married last June and couldn’t wait to exercise that most glorious privilege of matrimony — the ability to file jointly. But after my wife and I filled out our tax return, I wondered … did we actually save any money, or did we, like [...]

May 10, 2016

8 Fights Divorced People Regret Having (Or Not Having) While Married

It’s never just about the dirty dishes in the sink or forgetting to drop the kids off at soccer. When you’re married, the arguments you get into have history: You’re peeved that he left the dishes in the sink because he knows it bothers you and yet, he did it again. Each fight becomes the [...]

May 10, 2016

Is Your Career Going To Get You Divorced? [Infographic]

There are a lot of considerations to make when choosing a career, but most people don’t consider divorce to be among them. That may be a mistake, however, since there does seem to be an appreciable difference in the divorce rates of certain careers. Celebrities aren’t even at the top of the [...]

May 10, 2016

5 Ways Divorce Affects Your Credit

A divorce can be one of the most traumatic life events a person can experience. During and after the dissolution of a marriage, both spouses can have trouble coping with feelings of loss, failure, regret – and both can struggle financially as well. Legal fees, asset-division, child support and [...]

May 10, 2016

Top 5 Things to Ask Your (Potential) Divorce Lawyer

While there are many things you should ask your divorce lawyer, you should really also ask yourself many things such as simply “do I feel good about him or her.” There is often not much time to decide upon which lawyer to choose, so your gut instinct may be your best guidepost. But to help you, [...]

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