’Till Death Do Us Part?
Did you know that, under the Estates, Powers and Trusts Law (EPTL), any designation of your spouse as beneficiary or any appointment of him or her as a fiduciary (executor, guardian, trustee) is revoked upon [...]
The Real Cost of an Affair
A couple of weeks ago, I helped Christine and Allen reach a settlement agreement that seemed to be very fair to each of them. The truth was that this young couple had little to divide [...]
Prenuptial Agreements – How to Protect Your Children
Many people are concerned that having a prenuptial agreement prepared prior to being married is going to create an adversarial relationship with their new spouse. However, having a prenuptial agreement prepared is probably still a [...]
The True Cost of Custody Litigation
I recently had a client email me requesting help with some parenting issues she was having with her former husband. My client was asking about how she would go about filing a petition in court [...]
Take it from the Judge: The Courtroom is no place for a Family!
I read with interest a statement by Minneapolis Family Court Judge Bruce Peterson who offered that it was “time, perhaps, to get courts out of divorce.” In an editorial published for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, [...]
Finances – What’s in Your Credit Score?
Phil Reece is a friend and a Licensed Loan Originator with Homestead Funding Corp. He recently sent me an article on credit scores and reports that I want to share since many of my clients [...]
Can You Afford to Leave?
In a recent blog I talked about a client who was worried that he would be “charged” with abandonment if he left the marital home before he had a legal separation or divorce. I outlined [...]
Legal Advice Part 2: Well-Meaning Friends and Family
I recently had a couple come to me where the husband said, “My wife and I aren’t getting along and there’s a lot of strife in the house so I’d really like to leave. But [...]
Legal Advice Part 1: The Internet Doesn’t Lie?
I saw a commercial on TV recently where a man and a woman are talking. She makes a comment about having seen something on the internet, which he tells her isn’t true. She responds, “It [...]
Divorce Mediation and Domestic Violence
In my previous blog we discussed whether or not a mediator is required to screen for domestic violence and determined that it was indeed required by the Model Standards. We now turn to what the [...]