Dividing Pension Benefits in a Divorce; the Janssen Formula
Of the assets a family can accumulate over the course of a marriage, one of the biggest can be its retirement plan(s). Families going through the difficult process of a…
What Does Primary Residence Mean And Why Is It Important?
What Does Primary Residence Mean And Why Is It Important? When I talk to people about child custody orders and parenting time schedules, the topic of ‘primary residence’ sometimes comes…
HOW CAN I GET MY EX TO HELP WITH DAY CARE EXPENSES?
For working parents, finding child care can be a scramble; especially for single parents. Whether you’re using a licensed day care, a nanny, a friend or relative, you’ve gotta find…
What can I get out of it? Splitting Joint Property Interests Between Unmarried Cohabitants
Just like married couples, unmarried couples who live together still acquire stuff together (furniture, jewelry, vehicles, and real estate), and when they (hopefully never) split up, they still need to…
Using the Court’s Contempt Powers to Enforce a Child Support Order
I sometimes get asked what can be done about a parent who isn’t paying child support. It can be frustrating because there are sometimes different factors that explain why a…
RE-OPENING A SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE AWARD – NO SLAM DUNK
The Court of Appeals recently reminded us that alimony (or spousal maintenance as it is called by statute) is still very much alive and well in Family Court. After a…
Prenuptial Agreements – Not Always Enforceable
If you’re reading this blog, it’s probably because you’re related to me and doing it out of obligation (thanks, Mom). Or, it might be because you’re looking for information about…
Who Claims The Kids? The Riddle of Claiming Tax Dependency Exemption
If you’re a parent, and you’ve filed taxes, you’re probably aware that the US tax code permits a taxpayer to claim an exemption for each of his or her dependents….
FATHER’S RIGHTS IN DETERMINING A CHILD’S NAME
I sometimes get asked by mothers whether they can change their child’s name, without the permission of the father. It’s a fair question; why should the child not have the…
A HISTORY LESSON FROM CAPTAIN AMERICA
I doubt I will ever find myself representing, or going up against, a bona fide superhero in Family Court, but, I can only imagine how it must have felt for…