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I am involved in a situation where the plaintiff, after filing for divorce, wants half of the equity in a house I own. Her name was added to the property title six years before she left. For four years leading up to the divorce, the plaintiff managed her income separately and continued to withdraw... View More

answered on Mar 20, 2025
Regardless of when the property was purchased, the act of adding your spouse to the deed is called transmutation, thus making it marital property. This does not mean it would be divided equally, but equitably. The distribution percentage depends on the pre-marital credit you might be entitled to.... View More
In one county, a woman lost custody and parental rights to her child, who was then moved to another county. Despite this, she continued to receive child support from the father in the first county, as the court was unaware of the custody change. The child support order continued for over 17 years,... View More

answered on Mar 16, 2025
A person can not go to jail simply for receiving child support under a valid child support order. However if the person lied under oath in court about where the child lives, whether the child was emancipated or if service of process was validly effectual, those are criminal perjury.
I received a ticket for driving 52 mph in a 30 mph zone. I plan to plead not guilty because, at the time, it was snowing, and I had just turned onto the road where the traffic was moving faster than 30 mph. I tried to keep up with the traffic and avoid impeding drivers behind me. Furthermore, the... View More

answered on Feb 24, 2025
You need to enter the plea on the ticket and mail it in (keep a copy). You need to do this before the date on the ticket. You can bring it to the traffic agency and enter the plea there. Arguing you were going too fast in snow is not likely to be a winning argument however. You should speak to... View More
I signed a prenuptial agreement before my marriage. I am now considering divorce after being married for almost 2 years. The prenup includes clauses on separate property, earnings, and savings, but nothing specific about alimony. I moved overseas to join my husband on his assignment, which resulted... View More

answered on Feb 22, 2025
First of all it depends on the language in the prenuptial. Second, New York does not have "alimony". There is spousal maintenance. The formula is dependent on the length of the marriage as well as the respective incomes. A two year marriage will only have a very limited time frame for... View More
Only gave $100 a week in support now he has stopped I provide everything can I get child support and spousal support

answered on Dec 27, 2024
Support, both child and spousal, is dependent on your respective incomes. New York requires a non-custodian parent to pay child support until the child is 21 unless a child is independent. You need to speak to an attorney to determine your specific issues.
If me and my Hopefully soon to be ex-husband have an agreement and have it notarized that we agree upon a divorce and there’s no assets to be sat child custody, and everything is already taken care of and no spousal support being asked or assets that need split And have it notarized by a notary... View More

answered on Dec 25, 2024
You can file for an uncontested divorce but you need to file the proper paperwork with the appropriate language. Also, a simple notary is insufficient. The agreement has to have an acknowledgement. You should hire an attorney to do the proper paperwork.
Can he accuse me if I take our kid to this trip in other state (7 hours from home)without his consent?

answered on Dec 19, 2024
Accuse you of what? I assume there is no court order forbidding this. You are returning with the children. You are doing nothing "illegal" or "unethical". You are their parent. Unless your relatives are a danger to the children I see nothing wrong legally.

answered on Dec 15, 2024
NY state does not have "alimony". It has spousal support or maintenance, which is limited and depends on the respective income and length of marriage. retirement accounts, including pensions, are property subject to equitable distribution. You may be entitled to a portion of the... View More
Hello. Question. My husband's mother transferred shares of a cooperative apartment to his name. This was done during the marriage, but his mother registered the title to the apartment only in my husband's name. Now my husband has decided to make a will and a trust, but he has indicated... View More

answered on Nov 24, 2024
A gift to your spouse is not marital property even if given during the marriage unless it is comingled or transmuted. However, upon death, there are protections for a current spouse regardless of the will. New York has a "right of election" that allows a spouse to disregard the will and... View More
My income consists mainly of Social Security a small New York state pension and I work part-time for 3 months out of the year doing income taxes. I don't understand why my lawyer put me in this chapter 13. Trying the best I can and I'm running out of money

answered on Nov 14, 2024
The most common reasons a person files under Chapter 13 is either they earn too much and therefore are ineligible under Chapter 7 or they are in arrears on their mortgage. If your earnings are below the mean test threshold then it may mean you are behind on your mortgage and want to keep your... View More
I began testifying in a violation fact finding trial brought on by CPS. Suddenly, the judge stopped me and had a private meeting with attorneys. My attorney then suggested to me that I admit guilt as it is favorable to the judge I said I didn’t want to because I would be silenced and I want... View More

answered on Nov 6, 2024
In a neglect case CPS usually requests an admission so as to try to start the Respondent to repair their relationship with the child through social services such as parenting classes, rehab or whatever is required depending on the accusations. You do not have to admit and can request a hearing.... View More
Of my nephews since they are legally my blood relatives

answered on Aug 31, 2024
Nothing is "automatic". Do you have a court order granting you custody? Does it grant it to you, or to you and your spouse? If there is no court order then you do not have legal custody and should go to court to seek custody or guardianship, whichever is appropriate in your case. Talk... View More
My kids are 18 and 20 and they don’t work , I pay child support and not after 4 years , my kids mom wants more $ so she is filling saying “the cost of living has gone up” my kids are adults and if she needs more help , they should be working also

answered on Jun 5, 2024
In New York, child support terminates at 21. However, in most cases, the amount of support is determined by your income. Only where the court determines you are under-employed would the court deviate. Talk to a local attorney.
Internet addiction to the research of the strawman stuff;

answered on May 16, 2024
There are very specific grounds for an annulment (DRL 140). (a) Former husband or wife living (spouse is still married to another). (b) Party under age of consent. (c) Party a mentally retarded person or mentally ill person. (d) Physical incapacity. (e) Consent by force, duress... View More
We went to court to finalize the divorce 3 months ago. My lawyer called me 11/2 months ago and said there was an error in the document and we have to resign. Both parties need to resign. So I did, my exhusband has not yet. I have to get the custody order to register my children in school. I need to... View More

answered on Apr 18, 2024
If there is a temporary order giving you custody, that should be sufficient to register the children in school. There is no final order as there is no divorce. You will need to file a motion to get the case in front of a Judge to get your divorce and final order if your husband will not sign the... View More
I know visits are voluntary, however is it considered abandonment to not participate in parental visits and ignore all communication. Not participate in any decision making? Will this be ground to refile for decision making in the future? How long would I wait to refile for full decision making... View More

answered on Apr 18, 2024
If the noncustodial parent does not abide by the court order of visitation, you can file to modify the visitation schedule. This must be substantial, however. Missing a few visits, especially if there is an valid excuse, might not be considered substantial enough to end visitations. This is very... View More
My mother is a senior with credit card debt and is essentially judgment proof because she only receives pension and social security, no other income or assets. Do social security benefits get reported in Chapter 7 filing papers in NY?

answered on Apr 16, 2024
You do report Social security on schedule I and the means test but it does not count toward the means test result. Pension income gets reported on both and does count. Speak to an attorney to decide whether filing is beneficial.
We live in New York State
My husband (55) and I (62) would like to make a will, don't have time for a lawyer (leaving town).
Can we download a will from online (i.e.Rural Law Ctr NY provides template)
- print out
- have 2 unrelated people witness
- notarize
Thank you,

answered on Apr 11, 2024
A will must be prepared and executed in an exact way. The witnesses have to know what they are witnessing. When I do a will signing it is a formal ceremony and I ask certain questions of the testator and witnesses. If you do it properly then it should be ok. If you make any mistakes the entire... View More

answered on Apr 8, 2024
Child support is required from the non custodial parent regardless of marital status or whether the parents ever lived together. If you are the father of the child you will be required to pay child support. Spousal support in New York, however, is only paid when there was a marriage. If you were... View More
Brief procedural background:i am the moving party; i filed a petition to modify custody and OSC 11/3/23. A series of conferences were scheduled monthly on the calendar; including TWO trial dates for May.opposing counsel served me in court during January hearing: “notice of motion”,“attorney... View More

answered on Apr 1, 2024
The 60 day period for a decision is not set in stone. If the motion to dismiss is granted then your trial will not proceed as the case os dismissed. If it is not granted then the case will go to trial. Dates for trial are assigned so the court can clear it's calendar for those days, if the... View More
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