Even though it seems intimate and personal, your marriage is not an exclusively private matter. It is also a legally binding contract between you, your spouse and the state. Consequently, ending your marriage requires filing a lawsuit and going through a court...
What to do if your spouse falls behind on child support
Your ex-spouse's parental obligation to provide for the children you have together does not end with your divorce. The court may order your ex-spouse to pay you a particular amount for your children's benefit on a monthly basis until they become self-supporting. It...
How do you break divorce news to your kid?
Divorcing New York parents like you have a lot of ground to cover before the split. A lot of your hardest decisions will likely center around your child, too. You need to determine the custody situation. You must decide what the visitation schedule will look like. You...
Can you arrange for shared pet custody in a New York divorce?
For many couples in New York, household pets are the heart of their family. Whether you and your spouse have decided not to have children, want to wait for a few years before you have children or have already had children who are adults that have left your house, it's...
Can your ex-spouse benefit from your Social Security?
Whether you and your ex-spouse separated years before or recently split in a grey divorce, your Social Security benefits may hang in the balance. In the same way your spouse or child may apply, your ex-spouse can file if eligible. The total of this amount varies...
What does New York consider when awarding spousal support?
Leaving a marriage and embarking on life on your own is often stressful, and you may find it particularly anxiety-inducing if you have fears about how to support yourself. If you sacrificed your education or professional career for the sake of your spouse or family,...
How separate and marital property impacts property division
A divorce means that you will have to divide your assets. Often, judges will dictate what you can keep and what your spouse can have. In New York, judges use equitable distribution for property division. Before you divide your property, it is crucial to understand...
What are the requirements for a QDRO?
When you and your spouse got married, the expectation may have been that both of you would benefit from his or her retirement plan. Now that you are getting divorced, you may wonder if you still stand to receive your allotted portion of your spouse's pension. A...
What will happen to your New York home in a divorce?
If you purchased the maximum amount of a home that a lender will finance for you, that could mean that 30% of your income every month goes directly to your home. You could accrue substantial equity over the years, making your home the single biggest asset that you...
Why 61% of divorced women wish they hired financial advisers
Your financial future may look quite different than you thought it would when you make the decision to divorce, and you may need to explore new methods of achieving your financial goals. Many women facing similar circumstances have defined financial goals they want to...