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2 Answers | Asked in Divorce, International Law and Family Law for New York on
Q: How can I divorce my German spouse, married in the US, living abroad?

I want to get a divorce after being married for 4 years to a German citizen. We got married in the United States, and she currently lives in Germany while I reside here. We have no children or shared properties, and she has not been in the U.S. for over a year. Since March last year, we have had no... View More

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Apr 4, 2025

The asker can file in New York if he has New York residency (not clear how many years are needed because we do not know how long the wife lived in New York if she did at all). The summons and complaint is served via an oversees process service company that will run into some money for translation... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Gov & Administrative Law for New York on
Q: In NY, does non-cooperation with ACD conditions result in arrest if the order is 'by consent'? Why is it enforceable?

In a child protective proceeding in New York, there is an ACD (Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal) that requires the respondent mother to comply with several conditions, including cooperating with supervision visits, ensuring her child receives mental health treatment, and maintaining... View More

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Mar 27, 2025

Well, just as a breach of any contract carries legal consequences, the failure of a consenting parent to abide by an agreement to go through post judgment activities also carries legal consequences. "Consent" does not mean immunity from complying with cooperating with supervision visits,... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Civil Litigation for New York on
Q: Can a judge decide a civil family court case without providing requested lawyer?

I was involved in a civil case at family court and requested a free lawyer because I couldn't afford one. The court acknowledged my request and sent me forms to fill out, which I completed and sent back. During the hearing, the court claimed they hadn't received my forms, and the judge... View More

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Mar 27, 2025

This question proves a confusion of issues which require resolution with an attorney after a review of the case file. Otherwise, a response to this question is merely conjecture.

First and foremost is a thumbs-up to all the attorneys who appear on an appellate division listing of lawyers...
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3 Answers | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for New York on
Q: How to regain full custody in NY after losing temporary custody?

I am involved in a child custody case where the other parent currently has temporary custody, although I had full custody of our child until January this year. I have had custody for our child's entire life, largely due to the other parent's long history of neglect and abuse. I would like... View More

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Mar 27, 2025

We have no idea what happened to this asker. Another parent entered the picture in January, and poof, the child's custody is flipped and the question is how to unflip. We need more information: the facts, the age of the child, the living details of the parents (incomes), copies of transcripts... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for New York on
Q: Can I gain legal rights to a child I've raised, not biologically mine, in NY?

I have been raising a child since birth who is not biologically mine and is now 7 years old. The father has never been involved, and I have the child on weekends with the mother's agreement. There are no formal legal arrangements currently. I believe the mother's house is not safe for the... View More

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Apr 1, 2025

While we are prohibited from dispensing legal advice given the anonymous nature of this web site and the lack of knowledge of the facts, some situations are too important for us to stay silent.

In general terms, New York as well as a majority of the states of the United States push for...
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for New York on
Q: My question is ..i jst won full custody of child..mother has no visitation rights....do i allow her to talk on phone
Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Dec 30, 2024

This is a superb question rarely seen here on Justia. This question asks what is the effect of an order of custody and visitation, and the answer requires some explaining.

The order of custody and visitation is not an order for a parent to see his child. To the contrary, the order applies...
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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Child Support for New York on
Q: I'm the custodial parent of 23y and 18y old boys. Dad paid $700 per month since 2014. He stopped in June 24.

I make $130,000 and he $30,000 on books. What are my options?

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
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answered on Dec 5, 2024

One option is to do nothing. There is no requirement that citizens appear in court and report that the other parent is not paying money to the custodial parent for the child. Another option is to go to a family court and file a petition seeking enforcement. A lawyer is a necessity in today's... View More

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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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