The body of law governing divorce contains few absolutes. One such absolute is the timing of the divorce relative to the assertion of claims for alimony and division of assets and debts, known as equitable distribution. ...more
The economic environment is typically a consideration when divorcing spouses are negotiating or litigating the issue of alimony. Economic factors such as the housing bubble and related debt crisis in 2008 can have a...more
Clients and attorneys generally want to settle cases out of court. Clients readily recognize the financial and emotional benefits of avoiding court. Some clients go into his or her attorney’s office, bound for the courthouse,...more
This article is PART TWO of a two-part series shedding light on some of the realities that can prolong the divorce process. Part One focuses on the pre-court/mediation phase of the process. PART TWO describes the court phase....more
I often warn clients at the outset of their divorce case that the process will likely take longer and be more expensive than they anticipate. In my 28 years of practice, I’ve never heard of a client expressing dissatisfaction...more
The current federal tax laws enacted in late 2017 have been the subject of many news stories and articles. Although most aspects of the legislation took effect in 2018, the changes to the tax treatment of alimony went into...more
A common concern among spouses facing separation and divorce is the prospect of dividing their retirement accounts because of the misconception that retirement accounts have to be liquidated to be divided, resulting in taxes...more