Legal Issues – Page 4

Fast FAQ: Custody

By Scott Seidewitz|2023-05-30T13:42:18+00:00May 27th, 2020|Legal Issues|

Q: What is "custody?" A: The term "custody" refers to a parent's legal right or obligation to house and care for their children, and to make decisions concerning their upbringing, schooling, religion, medical care, and other matters. Q: What types of custody arrangements are available to us? A: The best custody determination occurs when both parents agree on custody matters without going to court. In these situations, their lawyers or mediator can draw up whatever agreement works for a [...]

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FAQ: Divorce Trial

By Scott Seidewitz|2023-05-30T13:44:35+00:00May 27th, 2020|Legal Issues|

Q: How much does a trial cost? A: Divorce trials can be costly. For your lawyer to prepare for and conduct a divorce trial seldom costs less than $10,000 to $20,000. Costs can go even higher, even up to $100,000 or more if the issues are complex, and include disputes such as the value of a self-owned business or a custody dispute where each parent desires primary custody. By the time your case goes to trial, you should have a [...]

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FAQ: Alimony

By Scott Seidewitz|2023-05-30T13:47:14+00:00May 27th, 2020|Legal Issues|

Here are some frequently asked questions about alimony. Q: Is there a difference between alimony, spousal support, and maintenance? A: No. You may hear your attorney use these terms interchangeably because they are all different ways of describing the same legal concept. Although they can be used interchangeably, we will only use the term alimony for the sake of simplicity. Q: What is rehabilitative alimony? A: The most common purpose of alimony is to give one spouse, who [...]

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Should I move out of our family home?

By Scott Seidewitz|2023-05-30T13:48:34+00:00May 26th, 2020|Legal Issues|

No one wants to live with their ex, but deciding when, how, and whom to move out of the family home can be stressful and perplexing. Here are the key issues to consider. Can you afford to remain in the family home? If you or your spouse moved out, where would you go? Most likely, one of you will wind up renting an apartment or buying another home. Based on how much money you and your spouse have and how [...]

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Grounds for Divorce

By Scott Seidewitz|2023-05-17T15:51:20+00:00May 26th, 2020|Legal Issues|

If you are seeking a divorce, the thoughts that loom largest are your reasons for ending your marriage. Depending on what shows you’ve watched, you may be expecting to state and prove each of these reasons. The truth is, however, you probably won’t have to do that. In most states, the court only needs to determine that the marriage is over to grant the divorce. However, you can raise these issues to show the court why it is [...]

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How Will Infidelity Impact Your Divorce Settlement?

By Scott Seidewitz|2023-05-30T13:58:15+00:00May 26th, 2020|Legal Issues|

Discovering that your spouse has been cheating can be a shocking revelation. If you've been cheated on, you might hope that a judge will set this injustice right. If you've been caught cheating, you may be wondering how it will impact your final divorce settlement. Here's what you need to know. How Judges View Adultery Remember, the judges handling divorce cases have heard countless stories about adultery. For better or worse, many judges have become desensitized to most of this—and [...]

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Starting a Divorce

By Scott Seidewitz|2023-05-17T15:56:51+00:00May 26th, 2020|Legal Issues|

Divorce is about division. The spouses are dividing one household into two. They are dividing their assets, time with their children, and their possessions. The first step is to take stock of what there is to divide. In most states, the starting point for your divorce is the "domestic relations financial affidavit" (DRFA). The DRFA is a sworn statement attesting to your household finances. This can include: Income Assets Debts Liabilities Monthly expenses Take your time to make for [...]

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