Divorce & Estate Planning

There may be a general misconception that it is a single document for those who have not begun building an estate plan. In fact, it is a collection of documents that can work for you in various ways. Each one is a tool that has the potential to either protect your assets, protect you, or pass assets to your designated beneficiaries (or both).  Another common error is to think of estate planning as a single event. Read More

3 Reasons To Consider Divorce Mediation

When people are in the midst of the divorce process, they aren’t hoping for it to last longer. It can be an emotionally difficult period in anyone’s life. There can be a significant amount of confusion and uncertainty during that time regarding the future. Having unresolved issues such as child custody and spousal support can be a heavy burden to carry throughout your daily life.  Mediation is an elegant solution to Read More

Understanding New York’s Cannabis Laws

Even in states where marijuana has been legalized for both recreational and medicinal use, there remains a level of confusion about it. People often ask about how much they can have, the age they need to be to use it, how to sell it, and how former convictions are being treated.  The Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA) was the legislation that passed and allowed cannabis to be legal in New York. After it Read More

The Importance Of A Healthcare Proxy

When people say they don’t need an estate plan because they don’t have enough money, they simply don’t understand all that an estate plan can do for them. Granted, there is a clear argument to be made saying that everyone needs an estate plan.  To take this one step further, aspects of an estate plan don’t directly correlate with money or finances. One such example of this is a healthcare proxy. This document allows Read More

What Constitutes a Substantial Change in Circumstances for Changing Custody?

In a divorce case, the number one priority to most parents is child custody. Almost every parent wishes they had more time with their children. When you get divorced, the court issues a ruling on child custody, ostensibly making a legal limit (and requirement) to how often each parent can see their child. Child custody is written into law - but laws can be changed. Your child custody law is based on the circumstances Read More

The Benefits of Revocable Living Trusts

When people think of Estate Planning, they often think of Wills. Estate Planning is the process of working with an attorney to create a legally binding plan for what will happen to your remaining property and belongings (known as your estate) and any remaining money (known as your assets) after you pass away. While Wills are a common part of that process, another method may be a better fit for you: Trusts. A Trust is Read More

The Benefit of Therapy in Family Court Litigation

In almost every divorce case, a family therapist ends up working with the family. Their end goal is to bring the family closer together and resolve things as safely as possible. If that mission is unsuccessful, the therapist can still testify about the relationships and interactions they’ve observed throughout the sessions. The family therapist normally comes in at the very beginning of the divorce process, and there Read More

How Can I Get My Share of My Ex-Spouse’s Retirement Plan?

A huge portion of the divorce process is devoted to splitting up assets that were shared by the married couple. These include physical property, like houses and cars, but also the literal money earned and shared during the marriage. Much of the divorce process seeks to put the two spouses on equal footing following the divorce: requiring child support so both parents are financially providing for their child and Read More

How to Get Enforcement of a Judgement of Divorce

For most couples, it is a great relief to finally receive your Judgement of Divorce. It means that many things that were up in the air are now clear: your child support or spousal support payments, your living situation, your visitation schedule, and even your retirement funds. However, just because the order is written into law does not mean that both parties always follow it. So what happens when one party breaches Read More

Looking at Real Estate Investment Trusts in New York

New York’s real estate market is one of the most prolific markets in the entire world. It is a fast-paced, thrilling, high-risk and high-reward real estate market. It is also highly expensive. Just look at how much of the population rents instead of owns their property. For those unable to invest in real estate directly - as well as those who can - there is another option: Real Estate Investment Trusts. Real Estate Read More