Divorce rates continue to decline. An article in the New York Times reports that for the last several decades, divorces are decreasing throughout the United States. However, a decline does not mean there are not people in New York who will not have to deal...
Serving Rome, New York residents with legal issues
Month: September 2017
Who can be a qualified domestic relations order payee?
A Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) can be used to divide up a pension and/or retirement benefits. It creates an alternate payee, who then gets a percentage of the total payout. This is huge in divorce. Even though many people don't realize it, they may not...
A commingled inheritance may be at risk
Your spouse has asked for a divorce, and he or she is trying to fight for half of your inheritance, which you've already been given. Is it protected, or can you lose it? Generally, an inheritance is safe, especially if you got it before you tied the knot. However,...
Why a pension could be your most valued asset
You and your spouse are getting divorced, and you're making a list of your high-value assets. You want to make sure you don't miss out on your fair share. You start with the house, which is paid off and worth $200,000. You know that you have another $10,000 in...
Who gets the dog in divorce?
Pet owners in the throes of divorce who are clashing over custody of the cat are usually astonished to learn that in the eyes of the law, i.e., their family law judge, pets are viewed as property to be equitably divided and not children for whom custody is awarded. If...
How to talk to a spouse about a postnuptial agreement
Prenuptial agreements have grown in popularity in recent years. CNBC even reports that the number of prenups in America has increased five times in the last 20 years. There are various explanations for this, including the fact that more people are aware of...