A review prompted by complaints of unfair handling of divorce cases has led to a shake-up of Westchester's matrimonial courts. All of the matrimonial judges in Westchester County have been replaced. Though I have no knowledge of the merits of the charges, I am concerned that wholesale change is akin to “throwing the baby out with…
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Tarazan, a child of divorce, is depressed.
This headline caught my eye: Boy Tarzan's ma takes swing at dad in divorce. "The teenage star of Broadway's "Tarzan" was hurt so much by a bitter feud between his parents it sent him into intense therapy sessions." "But the pain of talking about the vicious sparring was too much for 13-year-old Daniel Manche,…
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Pre-Nuptial Agreements: Till divorce do us part
The gossip pages will always provide rich material for the divorce and family law blogs. This weekend was no exception. Nicole Kidman wed this weekend, but before the ceremony, she and her new husband signed a pre-nuptial agreement. A pre-nuptial agreement is a good way for parties to protect their assets prior to marriage and…
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“So how much will this divorce cost?
I often receive telephone calls from prospective clients and, without fail, the first question out of their mouth is, “How much will a divorce cost?” I cannot answer that question, at least without probing further. A divorce is not a commodity. A prospective client is not purchasing a widget, where they can comparison shop by…
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No Fault Divorce Comes to New York
When it comes to divorce, New York is, in some respects a dinosaur; New York is the only state in the United States that does not have a true “No Fault” divorce. That is, in New York in order to obtain a divorce, a party must allege, and if contested, prove, a legal basis for…
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Is rock, paper, scissors or picking odds/evens a better way to settle a case?
One federal judge, miffed at lawyers who could not agree on how to handle a dispute, ordered the lawyers to appear on the courthouse steps and resolve their petty squabble by playing rock, paper, scissors. Judge Makes 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' Ruling. Perhaps this is a good method of alternative dispute resolution. Clearly this judge would not…
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As summer begins, visitation issues heat up.
Memorial Day is the unofficial beginning of summer. But, from a family law attorney’s perspective, summer began a long time ago. Some time before they purchase the sun screen, parents need to make arrangements to plan for their children’s school vacation, summer camp and extended vacations away from home. However when the parents divorce and get to…
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Will Sir Paul get burned in his divorce
Paul McCartney announced recently that he was seeking a divorce from his present wife Heather Mills. The question most frequently asked, is why didn’t Paul (since we all seem to familiarly call him by his first name) have a pre-nuptial agreement. Whatever the reason he didn’t we can only speculate. Regardless, I believe that under New…
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