When parties separate in anticipation of divorce, there are several key financial considerations that must be addressed at the outset. Who’s staying in the residence? Who’s paying support to whom, what, if anything, do we do...more
One of the universal themes in divorce matters is that the court is supposed to try to maintain the status quo while the case is pending. In many cases where there is barely enough money to go around to support an intact...more
We have been reading recently about a new life phenomenon called “quiet quitting.” Essentially the concept is that one or both spouses are done with the relationship but neither has the energy or the resources to move on...more
While it is standard practice that an asset will be valued and divided in a divorce, what happens when the same asset that was divided between spouses is also used to generate income for support? In such divorce cases, a...more
While many of us were struggling to keep recent New Year’s resolutions going, new laws went into effect on January 26, 2024 that altered the landscape of divorce in the District of Columbia....more
Since not many of us live in the private aircraft world we will keep this blog mercifully short. The Wall Street Journal on Friday April 12 reported on an audit of Boeing’s deployment of their fleet of executive aircraft....more
It has long been disputed whether alimony paid from one spouse to another should allow the recipient to save for a rainy day. The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts weighed in on that issue for the first time on March 7,...more
My colleague Jessica Kitain wrote last month (2/14) about the basics of what goes into a premarital/prenuptial agreement. Today we fielded an inquiry about some of the stickier questions that often go unnoticed yet merit some...more
A prenuptial agreement, or “prenup”, is a contract or agreement between prospective spouses made in contemplation and advance of marriage. A common misconception is that prenups are only needed if you are a celebrity or have...more
In the State of New Jersey, a dependent spouse who primarily relied upon the other spouse’s income to maintain the marital standard of living may be entitled to alimony as a part of an overall resolution of their divorce...more
In Iowa, child and spousal support (alimony) amounts are mainly determined by each party’s income. But income is not the whole story. Parties may deduct certain qualified expenses, resulting in a lower income amount used in...more
Under Iowa law, alimony, also known as spousal support, refers to the financial help provided by one spouse to the other following a divorce or separation. It addresses the economic disparity that can arise when one spouse...more
We have recently encountered an issue where one former spouse is pursuing a reduction in alimony based upon a significant reduction in commissioned income. In exploring this issue, there is not a great deal of appellate...more
In Pennsylvania, a financially dependent party may receive spousal support, alimony pendente lite, and/or alimony from their current or former spouse. While these terms are often conflated, the awards each have a unique...more
In a major shift in Ohio law, Ohio spouses are now legally permitted to enter into postnuptial agreements as of March 23, 2023. After a long history (more than 130 years) of rejecting postnuptial agreements, Ohio joins 48...more
Anytime a person is considering filing for a divorce, it is an important decision. There are families, finances and emotions involved in the process. Even when a divorce has been filed, the filing party can request a...more
The Massachusetts alimony statute provides that when alimony is set, the court shall exclude from the calculation gross income, which the court has already considered for setting a child support order. Effectively, this has...more
PART 1: SPOUSAL SUPPORT, ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE, AND ADULT CHILDREN - In recent years, the growth in the divorce rate among middle-aged and older American couples has been an interesting trend that many researchers have...more
One of the more difficult scenarios to deal with during a divorce is when the higher earner who will likely have to pay alimony and child support, loses her/his job through no fault of their own. The problem is exacerbated...more
Under the guise of the concept that “it costs more to live in two houses than it does one” or “when parties are living separate, they both can’t continue to enjoy the marital lifestyle”, very often, when deciding pendente...more
In a divorce or family law matter, various kinds of motions are usually filed as part of a case. Those who are going through a divorce are often confused about the nature of these motions. Confusion can also take place as to...more
Other states have alimony, but in Washington State, we call spousal support or alimony “spousal maintenance.” Here is a quick overview of spousal maintenance in Washington State so that you can be prepared for that first...more
The Massachusetts Appeals Court recently issued another decision interpreting the Alimony Reform Act, which went into effect in 2012. In the March 2, 2021 decision of Dolan v. Dolan, the Appeals Court provides guidance on the...more
After a divorce or paternity matter ends, one or both parties may want to somehow modify the judgment. In a general sense, modifications occur in cases of child custody, child support, spousal support, or alimony. However,...more
Many Californians get married without understanding the contract they are entering into. Here are the basics of California Family Law...more