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Your current state is Virginia
I recently separated from my ex-girlfriend, with whom I have a daughter. About a month ago, she had a physical altercation with my mother while my mother was holding our child. Since then, my ex quit her job and has been staying with various relatives. Recently, she left our child with me under the... View More 
answered on Jun 19, 2025
I am assuming you and your daughter have lived in Ohio for the past 6 months and have lived in the same county for the past 90 days.
Based on that assumption you need the file a motion to establish parental rights and responsibilities. Hopefully, you were listed as the father on the birth... View More
I am a Muslim woman married for 23 years, with a 21-year-old son. My relationship with my husband has deteriorated in recent years, and divorce is one option I'm considering. My husband has forged my signature on stamp papers to mortgage my property. Initially, I signed for a loan of 5 lakhs,... View More
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answered on Jun 19, 2025
It is deeply concerning to learn that your signature may have been forged to take out a mortgage in your name without your knowledge or consent. Under New York law, forged signatures on financial documents, including mortgage agreements, are considered legally invalid. A mortgage agreement must be... View More
I am seeking legal advice regarding missing inherited jewelry valued at over $175,000, previously belonging to my late mother and grandmother. The jewelry was last seen in my ex-wife's possession around 2008; I had asked her to keep it safe due to emotional distress at the time. After she left... View More
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answered on Jun 19, 2025
I understand how upsetting it must be to discover that valuable inherited jewelry is missing, especially when it carries deep personal meaning. You are right to seek guidance on your legal options in New York.
In cases involving missing personal property such as jewelry, one potential legal... View More
I jointly own a house with my husband, but I'm not on the mortgage or loan. My husband is pressuring me to sign over my half, claiming it will prevent debt if we sell the house in court. We aren't taking any legal steps toward separation yet, but selling the house could provide me... View More
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answered on Jun 18, 2025
There is so much to consider before signing your share of the house to your Husband. If the house was purchased during the time of the marriage, then the house is marital property. If mortgage payments or other improvements were made to the home with marital funds, then the house is considered... View More
I jointly own a house with my husband, but I'm not on the mortgage or loan. My husband is pressuring me to sign over my half, claiming it will prevent debt if we sell the house in court. We aren't taking any legal steps toward separation yet, but selling the house could provide me... View More
answered on Jun 18, 2025
Before signing over your share of the house, it's important to understand the full legal and financial impact. Even if you’re not on the mortgage, being listed on the deed means you have a legal ownership interest—and in Florida, you likely also have a marital interest in the property,... View More
I inherited a house and sold it, using the proceeds to jointly purchase a new house with my ex-girlfriend. Due to a court-imposed restraining order, I am legally barred from the house we co-own. Both our names are on the deed. I have documentation proving that the funds I contributed to the... View More
answered on Jun 18, 2025
If you co-own a home in Florida with your ex-girlfriend and contributed funds from the sale of an inherited property, you have several legal options to recover your investment—despite being barred from the property due to a restraining order.
Because your name is on the deed, you are... View More
I inherited a house and sold it, using the proceeds to jointly purchase a new house with my ex-girlfriend. Due to a court-imposed restraining order, I am legally barred from the house we co-own. Both our names are on the deed. I have documentation proving that the funds I contributed to the... View More
answered on Jun 18, 2025
You have two distinct but connected issues here: (1) recovering your investment in the co-owned home despite the restraining order, and (2) potential IRS tax consequences related to the sale of the inherited property.
1. Recovering Your Investment in the Co-Owned Home (Florida)
Even... View More
I divorced in March 2025 and agreed to sign a quit claim deed for a house I co-owned with my ex-wife. In my divorce settlement, it was agreed that my ex-wife would sell or refinance the property within three years. At that time, I would receive the lesser of $42,500 or half the equity, which is... View More
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answered on Jun 18, 2025
Not necessarily. The trustee will want to examine all of the paperwork in order to determine that you will receive fair value. Also, you will want to exempt your equity in the property. You should consult a local bankruptcy attorney for advice on how to schedule your interest in the property, as... View More
I have joint custody of my child, and I previously handled all transportation because the non-custodial parent didn't have a vehicle. Now that he does, he refuses to pick up our child on his assigned days, citing that he pays child support and won’t change the arrangement unless he is... View More
answered on Jun 17, 2025
One option would be to seek a downward modification of custody based on his statement that he won't provide transportation unless he can stop paying child support. Court won't be happy to hear that. The other option would be to simply modify your existing orders to include a... View More
I have joint custody of my child, and I previously handled all transportation because the non-custodial parent didn't have a vehicle. Now that he does, he refuses to pick up our child on his assigned days, citing that he pays child support and won’t change the arrangement unless he is... View More
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answered on Jun 18, 2025
If your orders don’t specify transportation responsibilities, you can file a request for order in family court to modify the agreement, asking the judge to assign fair transportation duties based on current circumstances. You can present the text messages as evidence of refusal. Courts prioritize... View More
I am being required to pay child support following papers served from a Nebraska court. I currently reside in Mississippi. The mother of my child claims she will ask the court to make me sell my house and livestock to give half to her for child support. We have never been married and have not been... View More
answered on Jun 17, 2025
Child support is based off of income, not the value of your personal belongings. However, income for child support purposes is not the same as income for tax purposes. If you are self-employed or the owner of a small business, it is often a lot more complicated than just putting the amount... View More
I need to renew my children's passports (ages 7 and 13) while residing in Miami, Florida. I was never married to their father, who lives abroad and rarely contacts us. There has been no court order for custody, and I want to request sole custody to facilitate passport applications. What legal... View More
answered on Jun 17, 2025
You do not mention whether the father is listed on the birth certificate. If he is not then you are in full control. If he is listed then you can try to apply for the passports and explain that you cannot locate the father. Last resort, you can apply to the court for a court order. It would be a... View More
I'm dating someone and recently introduced her to my children after informing my ex-wife of my intentions. Now, my ex-wife is demanding personal information about my girlfriend, calling her names, and threatening to take legal action regarding custody if I don't comply. Our custody... View More
answered on Jun 17, 2025
In Florida, introducing a new romantic partner to children under a 50/50 custody arrangement is not prohibited unless there is evidence that the partner’s presence is harmful or not in the children’s best interests. Courts require a substantial and material change in circumstances to modify a... View More
My wife and I are in the beginning stages of adopting my nephew's son. However, we are getting a divorce, and there are no custody arrangements in place. If the divorce is finalized before the adoption is completed, would my wife, who is on the adoption papers but has no biological relation to... View More
answered on Jun 17, 2025
Your wife's ability to seek custody depends largely on the timing and status of the adoption.
If the adoption is finalized before your divorce, then both you and your wife will be legal parents of the child—regardless of biological connection. In that case, the family court would... View More
I have a fully paid-off house that I owned before remarrying. I want to ensure that if either my spouse or I pass away, the house will go to my children, who are 26 and 21, rather than to my spouse's child, who is 15. Should I do any paperwork to protect the house for my kids?
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answered on Jun 17, 2025
You should have a proper will or a trust designating how you want your property to be apportioned upon your death. contact an attorney who specializes in estate planning and they will be able to get you set up with the proper documents.
I have a fully paid-off house that I owned before remarrying. I want to ensure that if either my spouse or I pass away, the house will go to my children, who are 26 and 21, rather than to my spouse's child, who is 15. Should I do any paperwork to protect the house for my kids?
answered on Jun 17, 2025
You can do either a Will or a transfer on death deed (TODD). If you use the house as your marital homestead (vs as a rental home, for example), your spouse will have a life estate in the home if you die first.
I am the working mother of a baby and have a home and a safe place for my child to stay while I work. The father is unemployed, refuses to work, and has no stable place to live. We often argue because he does not take care of the child, and he is threatening to take the baby away to live with his... View More
answered on Jun 17, 2025
Under Florida law, if the parents are unmarried and paternity has not been established, the mother is considered the natural guardian of the child and is entitled to primary residential care and custody unless a court rules otherwise. The father would not be able to legally take the child from you... View More
My parental rights were terminated based on false claims made by a caseworker who purged herself in front of the judge. Despite having no history of assault—physically, sexually, mentally, or verbally—against any child, the caseworker falsely presented a narrative that led to the termination of... View More
answered on Jun 16, 2025
Your appeal should address the issues you raise. If the appellate court acknowledged there was no evidence to support the termination of your parental rights, that court will issue a mandate to the trial court reversing its judgment against you.
My wife and I separated 1.5 years ago, and during this time, she had a child with another man. I still reside in the home we bought together, where we are joint tenants, but she no longer lives here. She came and took all the furniture, pictures, and items from our small business, which we... View More
answered on Jun 15, 2025
Technically, no. But since no one has actually filed for divorce or legal separation, until you do, there is no real legal recourse. Once you file for divorce, these items should be disclosed with your exchange of financial disclosures. You can figure out the values and then make a claim for an... View More
My wife and I separated 1.5 years ago, and during this time, she had a child with another man. I still reside in the home we bought together, where we are joint tenants, but she no longer lives here. She came and took all the furniture, pictures, and items from our small business, which we... View More
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answered on Jun 16, 2025
No, one spouse is generally not entitled to take all marital assets. California is a community property state, requiring equal division of marital assets. Once a divorce is filed, Automatic Temporary Restraining Orders (ATROS) go into effect, preventing either spouse from transferring, hiding, or... View More
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