Get free answers to your Family Law legal questions from lawyers in your area.
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
I have been divorced since November 2018, and the agreement required me to refinance our home within 9 months. However, as a former stay-at-home mom and cancer patient, building credit has been challenging. Despite efforts to refinance, job losses due to court-related absences have hindered... View More
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answered on Mar 16, 2025
I understand that this situation is deeply concerning, especially given your financial struggles and health challenges. Based on the details you provided, there are several legal arguments and actions you may be able to take to protect your ownership of the home.
Your divorce agreement... View More
I entered into a domestic partnership in California, but I now live in New York, and my partner lives in Maryland. It is a mutual decision to terminate the partnership. We've settled all property and assets, and there are no children involved. Can I terminate the California domestic... View More
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answered on Mar 13, 2025
I understand that ending a domestic partnership can be a complex process, especially when it involves multiple states. In your case, you are seeking to terminate a California domestic partnership while residing in New York, and your partner lives in Maryland. While the specifics of the process may... View More
How does a judge finalize a divorce without the defendant signing the Affirmation of Defendant in an action for divorce? The defendant was dissatisfied with the stipulation of settlement as he sought legal fees from the plaintiff, but the defendant's attorney ignored this request, and the... View More
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answered on Mar 13, 2025
I understand that you have concerns about the finalization of the divorce without the defendant’s affirmation signature, especially regarding the defendant’s dissatisfaction with the settlement and the request for legal fees. In New York, while the process of finalizing a divorce is generally... View More
In our 2023 divorce decree, we agreed that each of us would claim one child on our taxes. Last year, we filed accordingly without any issues. This year, my ex-spouse filed first and claimed both children for the Earned Income Credit (EIC), stating his lawyer advised it was permissible because he is... View More
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answered on Mar 13, 2025
I understand how frustrating this situation must be, especially when you have a clear agreement in your divorce decree regarding claiming the children for tax benefits. The issue you’ve encountered involves the Earned Income Credit (EIC), which is a valuable tax benefit for custodial parents.... View More
I got married in NYC and later discovered that my wife was still married in the Philippines five years before we met. Her mother was aware but kept it from me. I've since filed for divorce and have obtained full legal custody of our children. I'm concerned about the implications on our... View More
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answered on Mar 13, 2025
I understand that discovering your wife’s prior marriage has created a lot of confusion and concern, particularly regarding the validity of your marriage and the division of assets. The situation you described has legal implications, and it's important to clarify the status of your marriage... View More
I had a car accident 4 years ago and settled my claim, with the settlement funds being used for joint household expenses for my wife and me. My wife is still in the process of settling her claim, and we do not have a prenuptial agreement. We have been married for 33 years and are currently... View More
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answered on Mar 13, 2025
I understand that navigating the division of assets, including settlements, in a divorce can be complicated. In New York, property division in divorce cases is governed by the principle of equitable distribution, meaning that marital property is divided fairly, but not necessarily equally. The fact... View More
I had a car accident 4 years ago and settled my claim, with the settlement funds being used for joint household expenses for my wife and me. My wife is still in the process of settling her claim, and we do not have a prenuptial agreement. We have been married for 33 years and are currently... View More
answered on Feb 26, 2025
It depends. If your wife's case is settled after your divorce is finalized, then the settlement proceeds will be considered your wife's separate property and not marital assets. Even if the case is resolved before your divorce, under New York Domestic Relations Law § 236, if the... View More
I had a car accident 4 years ago and settled my claim, with the settlement funds being used for joint household expenses for my wife and me. My wife is still in the process of settling her claim, and we do not have a prenuptial agreement. We have been married for 33 years and are currently... View More
answered on Mar 5, 2025
It could depend on the breakdown of damages - if they consist of solely one person's pain & suffering, or they involve components that impacted both parties (such as consortium), which are addressed by my colleagues. Depending on how it is drafted, the release form at the conclusion of the... View More
I'm in New York and jointly on a car loan with my ex. We're both listed on the title, but the car is registered in her name. I have missed some payments, and she has already taken the car. Can she legally keep the car despite my name being on the loan and title?
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answered on Mar 13, 2025
I understand how complicated and frustrating this situation must be, especially with your name still being on the car loan and title. In New York, the law governing car loans, titles, and property rights can be tricky, especially when there are multiple parties involved in the loan and ownership of... View More
Equitable Distribution in NYS: My soon-to-be-ex spouse has been withdrawing $4,000 a month for the last 14 months from our joint marital money market account, claiming these funds are for living expenses. We have no court orders or agreements concerning the financial management of marital assets... View More
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answered on Mar 13, 2025
I understand how frustrating and concerning this situation must be, especially given the significant impact these withdrawals could have on the equitable distribution of marital assets in your divorce. In New York, the Automatic Orders that apply in divorce proceedings serve to protect both... View More
I want to petition for legal guardianship (Article 81) over my incapacitated mother in NYC, who has Alzheimer's. I am unsure which identity documents I need to present to the court. Will I need to get a copy of my birth certificate to show my relationship to her, or will her American passport... View More
answered on Feb 19, 2025
Filing for Article 81 Guardianship in New York is an important step in ensuring your mother receives proper care and protection. Every Article 81 is different and the process can be very confusing. Here's our analysis:
Documents You May Need for an Article 81 Guardianship Petition:... View More
The police and CPS have not been able to help my family situation, and it's to the point where I will go insane if I can't get out. I have a safe place to go, and jobs lined up, and I know that in New York, sometimes 17 year olds have more freedom than in other states. My only other... View More
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answered on Feb 13, 2025
The simple answer is yes The law in New York I. Parent child family Court proceedings is a person in need of Supervision or a PINS petition. The court does not have PINS jurisdiction over a 17 year old. Therefore no mechanism exists to supervise a 17 year old by his parents. Thus you can move... View More
I was overcharged $2000 in one 3-week period and have been paying for child care my daughters whole life, despite her not having received child care for years. I now have judgements I’m paying and feel I’ve been misrepresented by my lawyers. My last lawyer had me sign a document stating that my... View More
answered on Feb 7, 2025
To be found as wilfully refusing to pay child support, especially by admission, means you repeatedly and unjustifiably were not paying your full child support. You may file for changed circumstances and get the support amount reduced if you are successful, but that will only apply to future... View More
He won’t answer anything. Failed me on trial. Spoke to me once in 7 months. The kids attorney is appointed as well. She is bias and ruining my kids. She hasn’t done one thing in the best interest of the kids. My ex continues to harass and abuse me asked for an order of protection my attorney... View More
answered on Feb 7, 2025
The law provides that up to your full attorney fees could be paid by your spouse if she is sufficiently "monied" to do so in the discretion of the court. I am not sure how you got appointed counsel on a divorce, but absent your hiring one you like, you can represent yourself or raise the... View More
Twenty-six years ago, I was in a relationship with a woman who claimed she was pregnant with my child. When I requested a DNA test to confirm paternity, she became furious and refused to cooperate. Now, twenty-five years later, my daughter has reached out to me, saying her mother told her I am her... View More
answered on Feb 7, 2025
I infer the mother never started a child support action against you, so no support order, much less arrears, was ever put in place. It is highly unlikely that the child, now an adult, can request child support from a court. I cannot think of an exception, but to be sure, contact a local family... View More
answered on Jan 28, 2025
You need to contact both the Judge and the court appointed attorney to explain your situation. If their is sufficient time, the Court may grant you an adjournment. However, the Court may state that it is too late to get an adjournment. A lot of this depends on the Judge and all the circumstances.
For 15 years took care of her till she passed. My sister's wanted to sell the house. We applied for & were approved for a mortgage. They wanted more than we were approved for & didn't accept it. We stayed in the house, looking for a new place is very challenging. They placed an... View More
answered on Feb 19, 2025
I’m very sorry to hear about your situation—it sounds incredibly difficult. Based on what you’ve described, there could be a few legal considerations regarding liability for your belongings.
Ownership & Access Rights
Since you are still a 1/4 owner of the property under... View More
For 15 years took care of her till she passed. My sister's wanted to sell the house. We applied for & were approved for a mortgage. They wanted more than we were approved for & didn't accept it. We stayed in the house, looking for a new place is very challenging. They placed an... View More
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answered on Jan 23, 2025
If your name is not on the deed, you are not the owner. I do not know who you are referring to when you say "They".. There are also several facts that you have not provided. Who wanted more, who evicted you, and why are your belongings still there? Was the house sold at auction... View More
For 15 years took care of her till she passed. My sister's wanted to sell the house. We applied for & were approved for a mortgage. They wanted more than we were approved for & didn't accept it. We stayed in the house, looking for a new place is very challenging. They placed an... View More
answered on Jan 23, 2025
When someone dies and has a Will, the Executor manages the estate, including the real property, until the Executor distributes the property to the named beneficiaries. The Executor's duties include ensuring that the property is secure. Effectively, the Executor is the landlord of the premises... View More
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