The first consideration in hiring a divorce lawyer is to examine the experience and qualifications the lawyer has in the field of divorce and other family law matters such as custody and support. Since there are no standards for specialization in New York, it is …

Before you can begin to evaluate an offer of settlement you must have an educated view of the parameters of a court ordered judgment. In this regard the advice of your attorney who should be well versed in the upper and lower limits of a …

This old proverb used by skilled poker players, is no less applicable to partries negotiating a marital settlement agreement. Most parties have unreasonable expectations of what they must pay or receive if their case goes to trial. It is your lawyer’s job to see to …

The decision to call the police when domestic violence rears it ugly head is not an easy one to make. Many women feel that they do not want to involve the police in a purely domestic argument. Others consider the impact on the children that …

Most busy attorneys do not devote sufficient time in preparing for trial. Making certain that the relevant documents you deem necessary for the defense or prosecution of your case, will be received into evidence, cannot be strongly enough emphasized. A synopsis of the law with …

Orders of protection to day are freely obtainable from the court. There is no need to have an attorney bring a petition before the court for an order of protection,, since the “intake clerks” in each court will interview you, and based upon your story, …

The decision whether to take an appeal, whether it is of right, or whether it is necessary for your lawyer to petition one of the appeals court for permission to take an appeal, is not a light matter. It must be carefully considered to determine …

There are many instances where a parent is addicted to either prescription drugs, or to illegal drugs such as cocaine or marijuana. When this occurs and there is a custody dispute between parents, it is most important on the very first visit before a judge …

Every litigant has an absolute right of appeal from a decision and order rendered by the trial court (In New York the Supreme court). It is essential that if you feel aggrieved by the decision after trial, that you file a document known as a …

A recent case by an appellate court makes clear that a parent may deduct college expenses paid for room and board from his child support obligation pursuant to a court order. This result can be avoided by a carefully crafted separation agreement that contains a …

There is no more important facet of divorce litigation than being prepared for a court conference, either to attempt a settlement or to obtain relief such as a court order directing payment of support or matters pertaining to children, such as visitation disputes. Since the court …

A recent case in the Appellate Division second department highlights the importance of requesting support from the very first opportunity. In that case because the wife had failed to ask for support in her answer, and did not move for temporary support, her award was …

There is no better way to assemble financial evidence in a contested divorce case than in obtaining your spouse’s computer, both the individual as well as the business PC. There will be a treasure trove of information that will include records of stock transactions, the …

A recent case in an appeals court highlights the need to bring a lawsuit to set aside the terms of a settlement agreement within six years, the statute of limitations that applies to settlement agreements. In this case, a party determined that their pension benefits …

Many clients overlook the importance of a first consultation with their lawyers.  This is the first opportunity to make full disclosure regarding your financial background and any specific facts that might impact on the outcome of your case.  For example, it would be important to …