Brooklyn Family Law Blog

Two ways to preserve privacy in divorce

On behalf of Arnel Law Firm on Wednesday, September 19, 2018.

When divorce is on the table, one of the last concerns to arise usually involves privacy. When there is wealth involved, privacy tends to go out the door. If you are headed toward divorce in the Brooklyn area, you may want to work on keeping your personal and sensitive information from becoming public knowledge.

Think about it. You and your spouse have worked hard for the financially comfortable lifestyle you have enjoyed together. Being part of a high-value relationship has its perks like affording you the means of professional support and keeping you from financial ruin during the divorce process. However, your wealth can also make you and your ex-partner’s personal business the talk of the town. Consider the following suggestions on protecting your privacy in high-value divorce:

Should you use a mediator for your divorce?

On behalf of Arnel Law Firm posted in Divorce on Monday, September 17, 2018.

If you and your spouse are splitting up, you are probably dreading the divorce process. Deciding on how to divide assets, who has primary custody of the children and what type of spousal support may be appropriate are just some of the aspects of divorce. Couples in New York have a number of options when making these crucial agreements. Working with lawyers and/or going to trial are two common methods, but they are not the only ones. For some, mediation is a better process and usually has beneficial outcomes.

According to NY Connects, mediation consists of the two spouses working with a neutral mediator to come up with a mutual agreement about finances and family arrangements. Benefits include:

Cost-effective
More control over decisions
Less time-consuming than trial
Emotionally protects the children
More cooperative process
Better communication between both parties

Does your custody arrangement need to change for the school year?

On behalf of Arnel Law Firm posted in Child Custody on Wednesday, September 5, 2018.

Although it is not fun, divorced parents in New York need to spend time reevaluating their custody arrangement on a regular basis to make sure it is still working as it should for the child. The beginning of the school year is one time to look it over, as kid's schedules can change dramatically from one year to another. There are a number of considerations parents should take into account when deciding if changes need to be made and what they should be.

Huffington Post discusses three main things parents should consider before making any changes. These include:

Realistic plan - what parents think is the best arrangement may not be when reality rears its head
Open communication - are both parents able to communicate clearly and effectively in regard to the current schedule?
Activities of the child - extracurricular and academic needs will change as the kids get older

How certain habits and choices can increase your odds of divorce

On behalf of Arnel Law Firm posted in Divorce on Friday, August 31, 2018.

With divorce rates at an all-time high, you may view the lifespan of your marriage as a bit of a crapshoot. Nonetheless, the reason that some marriages last while others fail is not entirely random—and researchers have discovered some common denominators underlying nuptials that lack permanency.

In today’s post, we examine some ordinary habits and decisions that could put your marriage on a rocky road:

Is your soon-to-be ex-spouse too open on social media?

On behalf of Arnel Law Firm on Thursday, August 9, 2018.

Comments made and photos posted on social media have hurt the prospects of more than one careless spouse who was in the throes of divorce. Is your soon-to-be ex posting information on his or her Facebook page that could make a judge frown?

Public knowledge

Are you and your spouse interested in collaborative divorce?

On behalf of Arnel Law Firm on Thursday, August 9, 2018.

If you and your spouse are heading for divorce court, you probably want to spend as little time there as possible.

One way to avoid lengthy court sessions and the accompanying battles is to choose collaborative divorce, and there are two options that may be of interest to you: mediation and arbitration.

Misconceptions may set men back in divorce

On behalf of Arnel Law Firm posted in Divorce on Thursday, May 31, 2018.

Divorce can affect different people in different ways, depending on many factors like their personalities, the circumstances of the divorce, the length of the marriage and the assets and children involved. Some experts also say men and women may have slightly different experiences of divorce, with men tending to struggle more with certain aspects. While men may bring up these issues more than others, both men and women divorcing in New York may struggle with some or all of them.

One of the common issues men struggle with in a divorce is not standing their ground in custody cases or with shared assets. This is because many believe the family court system favours women. However, this kind of thinking can be a trap because it often prevents men from standing up for what they want in fear of losing the case.

More women paying child support, according to survey

On behalf of Arnel Law Firm posted in Child Support on Tuesday, May 22, 2018.

Finances are a frequent challenge for couples divorcing, especially when one spouse has significantly more than the other. Typically, the more money a person has, the more likely he or she is to pay alimony and child support. As more women become the breadwinners in New York and across the United States, this means an increasing number of mothers are being ordered to make such payments.

According to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 54 percent of attorneys say more mothers have paid child support during the past three years. A similar number of lawyers noted an increase in alimony payments from women to their former spouses. They credit an uptick in women's earning power as well as increasingly gender-neutral family law standards.

Does having kids increase the risk of divorce?

On behalf of Arnel Law Firm posted in Divorce on Monday, May 14, 2018.

When parents get divorced, additional complications like child support and custody must be considered. But are New York parents more likely to get divorced than their counterparts without kids? While some may believe the stress of parenthood increases divorce risks, the statistics tell a more interesting story.

It is true that some studies show that marital satisfaction often takes a hit when children come into the picture. However, research in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that childless couples also experience a decline in satisfaction over time. So the question is, do the children cause marital satisfaction issues or are the social and financial pressures associated with raising a family to blame?

Jets tickets and other assets headed for property division

On behalf of Arnel Law Firm posted in Divorce on Monday, May 7, 2018.

If you and your spouse have made the decision to dissolve your marriage, you are probably dreading property division, one of the most stressful aspects of any divorce.

You can cut down on the anxiety by being well-prepared. For example, make a list of assets to give to your attorney. Here are five items you may not have thought of, and this group may trigger a memory of others: