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3 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Child Support for New York on
Q: I have 2 children, 18 and 16. Ex wants me to pay half for 18 yr olds vehicle. I said I would pay for 16 yr olds vehicle

18yr old lives with ex;; 16 lives with me. Decree does not address topic. I do not want to pay for a vehicle that I don’t own, insure or have control over especially when there is another child that will need a vehicle in 12 months.

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Nov 3, 2024

The only possible way for the asker to be responsible for paying for one half of a vehicle is if his order of support - whether contained in a judgment of divorce or otherwise - contained a specific provisions for him to provide vehicles.

Vehicles are not ordinarily a part of an order of...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law for New York on
Q: My son’s father lives out of state. We have a parenting contract as he suddenly decided to move.

He is supposed to go to see him out of state 12/19-12/29 but is refusing to give me flight information. If I do not receive it can I deny him the right to take him? He does not pay child support bc he is going off the divorce agreement when he lived in NYS.

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Nov 3, 2024

We do not know and are not told if the "parenting contract" is ordered by the family court or is an informal contract entered into by the parents. If the contract is ordered by a judge in a family court, then the parties must adhere to its requirements or face sanctions. The visiting... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law for New York on
Q: How do I file a petition to dismiss a case in Nassau County, NY Family Court?

My ex-husband just filed a petition in Nassau County NY Family Court to re-evaluate child support. Our divorce was finalized in Delaware County a year ago and the Delaware County Judge retains jurisdiction. Also, our mediated divorce agreement states that any court filings will be immediately... View More

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Oct 17, 2024

One does not file a petition to dismiss but rather one files a motion to dismiss. This motion requires particularized legal skill that a lawyer has. The asker must retain counsel.

A crucial factor mostly out of the minds of all Americans is that no one has any rights unless the person...
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1 Answer | Asked in Divorce and Family Law for New York on
Q: My wife inherited a very large inheritance in October 2023 which she never told me and wants my IRA, Annuity in divorce

Need legal advice concerning this matter if that is legal

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Oct 17, 2024

Current New York law (and the law of most other jurisdictions) excludes any inheritances given spouses unless the spouse commingles the inheritance with marital assets. The wife had no duty whatsoever to inform the asker of her inheritance, and in so doing, likely kept her inheritance separate from... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for New York on
Q: Are parents required to pay out of pocket for their child's college tuition? This was not in the custody agreement

At the time of the agreement, I was the custodial parent. There has been no changes to the agreement. My daughter has moved to FL with her mother and she is threatening legal if I don't pay her (the mother) cash for college she has claimed to pay for. This was not in the agreement . My... View More

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Jul 21, 2024

This is not the simplest question to answer because it involves an "agreement" and an out of state issue regarding educational expenses. Rephrasing the question, does the asker have to pay education costs for his child if there is a New York agreement while the child is in Florida. The... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for New York on
Q: I have my son for a visit but it is outside of our custody agreement and my son refused to get on the plane to return

Home. Stated he wants to live with and has told his father and the father refuses to talk to me. My son is 15 and is going to be 16 in august what should I do I don’t want to get me or my son in any trouble but I can’t force him to get on a plane. I live in Kentucky his father is in New York

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on May 12, 2024

We here cannot provide specific legal advice to an anonymous asker. Her question has to do with how to react to a factual situation when an order is the governing outcome producer. The correct answer that is not legal advice is to simply follow the order.

However, as an educational point,...
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2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody, Family Law and Domestic Violence for New York on
Q: Can I move my children from NY to RI when there is no custody or visitation in place?

I currently have custody of my two children. We have an order of protection out against my ex (their dad). We have been back-and-forth to court numerous times because he is mentally unstable but his court appointed lawyer is fighting for 50/50 legal with physical custody being given to me. There is... View More

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on May 6, 2024

There is a calculus involved in moving a child without a custody order. Initially, we Americans can move freely throughout this great nation as it is our right to travel without permission of government. However, how responsive the father is weights heavily on the matter.

If the asker moves...
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3 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for New York on
Q: If a judge has 60 days to make a decision; what happens after that if the time has run out? Do i still get a trial?

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

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Apr 3, 2024

This is precisely the kind of question we here on Justin are specifically prohibited from answering. We are not the asker's attorney and as such we do not know any of the operative facts of this asker's case. We are therefore prohibited from offering tips and tricks as to how to proceed,... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for New York on
Q: How long can a parent go without seeing or asking about their children? before its considered abandonment?
Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Apr 1, 2024

The modern fad in family courts in most states including New York (as routinely upheld by the appellate divisions) is to reunify long lost parents with their children no matter the operative facts. There is no such thing as abandonment unless and until the child becomes an adult. A parent cannot... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Appeals / Appellate Law, Child Custody, Civil Rights and Family Law for New York on
Q: What is the likelihood of appellate court obtaining jurisdiction in a custody case if judicial misconduct is proven?

I have filed an appeal on an order of dismissal on FO petition that was erroneously dismissed. the courts denied the review of any evidence supporting my petition; denied the review of anything of my petition for that matter. Errors also contained on the “order of dismissal”; the incorrect type... View More

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Mar 25, 2024

We are told so very little about both the procedural history and the substance of the asker's case so as to have to guess to fill in the blanks. At first blush, this appears to be a forced-stip case where the court's aim is to get the parties to agree to their own resolution according to... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Pennsylvania on
Q: Question about court order

We went to court last week. While in court the father told the judge he will put our daughter on his insurance to help with therapy costs. The Orders states "father offers to add child to insurance to help with out of picket therapy costs". Now he's saying he's not required to... View More

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Mar 10, 2024

This is not an easy question. Pennsylvania judges all too often shoot from the hip, and they can either contempt a parent or not based on what is written or what is not written in a court order.

Here, the order appears to provide that "dad offers" which is not an order at all. The...
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2 Answers | Asked in Divorce and Family Law for Pennsylvania on
Q: What part of my retirement is my ex entitled to in Pennsylvania and what can I do protect myself from losing it?
Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Mar 17, 2024

The law in Pennsylvania regarding the distribution of marital property is not a knife's edge split of everything. The law is "equitable distribution" of the marital estate which means a fair distribution of the marital estate.

So, the amount on the table for distribution is...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Support for New York on
Q: What is required regarding college acceptance for my daughter with her father - do I need approval or is notification OK

Divorce agreement states each party shall be informed of any major decisions to be made concerning education of the children and consent of both parties shall be obtained prior to making any decisions. Agreement ALSO states it is the parties' intention that the children attend college until... View More

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Mar 4, 2024

We are unable to accurately guide and advise an asker as to what the meaning of a snippet of a stip (the stipulation of settlement of the parties ending the divorce action) really says. We would be embarking on a risky ride down troubling lane.

Nonetheless, assuming arguendo that the asker...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law for New York on
Q: My wife was in a rehab facility had a sexual relationship with another patient. Can I sue facility?
Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Feb 21, 2024

There is no statute that regulates sexual conduct within a hospital. Individual physician ethical codes prohibit sexual contact between doctors and patients. Perhaps employment regulations prohibit sexual contact between staff and patients.

However, all of these remedies are non-court...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law for New York on
Q: Is there a timeframe in NY state in which custodial parents have to submit medical bills to noncustodial parent?

Custodial parent told noncustodial parent about child getting braces in Sept 2021. Noncustodial parent asked for itemized bill to see what their portion (50/50) would be. Custodial parent never sent any bills. Feb 2024 custodial parent demands $580 by text with pictures of bills dating back to... View More

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Feb 19, 2024

No.

New York's Article 4 of the Family Court Act has no provision for deadlines of bills for unreimbursed medical expenses. Therefore, the determination of whether a bill is "reasonable" falls on the support magistrate doing the enforcement. Some magistrates will limit the...
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3 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy, Divorce, Tax Law, Domestic Violence and Family Law for Pennsylvania on
Q: Violent Ex-husband filed bankruptcy 2x since Divorce. trying to have his debt to me deemed Unsecured. Can he do this?

Married in 1983, My Ex-husband was extremely abusive and controlling. I finally filed for divorce in 2013, after he crushed discs in my neck and I suffered a Pulmonary Embolism 3 days after surgery. Since then he has failed to abide by the divorce agreement, has committed tax fraud 7 years after... View More

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Mar 10, 2024

With all due respect for the victim asker, all of what she provides is wholly irrelevant to the former husband's contempt of the divorce agreement if that agreement was so-ordered and made an order of the court.

In Pennsylvania, the applicable law would be Rule 140B, Contempt Not in...
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1 Answer | Asked in Divorce and Family Law for Pennsylvania on
Q: Is wife’s debt consolidation the husbands responsibility after divorce?

Wife accrued debt prior to marriage. During course of marriage, debt was consolidated. Would husband be responsible for the ex wife’s debt after divorce?

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Feb 7, 2024

This question's simple answer is that once separate assets are commingled with marital assets, they become marital assets. Separate debt commingled with martial debt becomes marital debt.

The question's more complicated and more accurate answer is that Pennsylvania is an equitable...
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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law for New York on
Q: Sole custody and finding by the Office of Children and Family Services

If 1 parent has sole legal custody but the parents were living together and the Office of Children and Family Services was called into investigate inadequate guardianship, food, clothing and shelter can the non-custodial parent be held accountable while custodial parent is not? Why would both... View More

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Feb 6, 2024

We do not understand how there can be an order of custody between parents residing together. Nonetheless, assuming this is true, that a couple resides together with an order of custody and visitation between them, we will take a stab at answering this question.

There are very many moving...
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1 Answer | Asked in Divorce and Family Law for Pennsylvania on
Q: Can my spouse gain my new car after a divorce?

I got my car before my marriage, but I plan on trading it in next year. The new car that I get would be during the marriage but the loan is carrying over from my old car. Can I possibly lose my car if I get a divorce even though I only drive it, pay for it, and my name is on everything? Or should I... View More

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Jan 4, 2024

This is a hyper-technical question that relies heavily on the knowledge and experience of the Pennsylvania judge.

The asker paints a picture that shows her separate property acquired prior to marriage, an automobile, which is a rapidly depreciating asset. Ordinarily, cars are ignored in...
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2 Answers | Asked in Divorce and Family Law for New York on
Q: Please, what is the statute of Limitations for filing an action to set aside a divorce agreement in NY? Can you cite it?
Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Jan 3, 2024

Contracts procured by fraud have a six year statute of limitations, CPLR213(8), but divorce agreements are not any ordinary contract. Divorce agreements are "allocuted" which means the judge asks questions about whether both parties entered into the agreement freely, knowingly and... View More

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