How a Staten Island Divorce Can Address a Home Owned Before the Marriage
In a Staten Island divorce, a premarital home may stay separate, but mortgage paydown, renovations, or refinancing can create a marital claim.
Before Accepting a Divorce Settlement in Staten Island, New York
Review property, pensions, support, parenting terms and enforcement before accepting a divorce settlement in Staten Island, New York.
What financial records help value a Staten Island small business during a divorce?
Tax returns, bank statements, payroll, POS reports, and ledgers that help value a Staten Island small business during a New York divorce.
What should a Hylan Boulevard tenant ask about responsibility for sidewalk repairs?
Hylan Blvd commercial tenants: lease questions on sidewalk repairs, DOT violations, permits, trees, snow, and insurance in Staten Island, NY.
What to Do If the Other Parent Denies Court-Ordered Parenting Time
Learn how Staten Island parents can document denied parenting time, seek court enforcement or modification, and protect their rights under New York law.
Who Pays Credit Cards, Tax Debt, and Other Debts in a New York Divorce?
Learn how New York courts divide credit cards, tax debt, mortgages, and other marital debts—and why creditors may still pursue either spouse.
Can Child Support Be Modified After a Job Loss in New York?
Learn when New York child support can be modified after job loss or a major income change, what proof courts expect, and how to file in Staten Island.
When a Power of Attorney Is Abused: Legal Remedies
A Power of Attorney (POA) is a powerful legal tool often used in elder care to help aging individuals manage their finances, health decisions, and legal affairs. While POAs are meant to provide security and support, they can sometimes become instruments of abuse. When the person granted this authority begins to act in their own […]
How Is an FDNY Firefighter’s Pension Divided in a New York Divorce?
A guide for Staten Island firefighters, and how mediation lets you decide what happens to your pension instead of leaving it to a judge. In Brief In a New York divorce, the part of an FDNY firefighter’s pension earned during the marriage is marital property. If a court decides, it is usually split under the […]
What Executors Must Do and What They Can Be Personally Liable For
When someone passes away, the person named as executor in their will steps into a crucial role. Serving as an executor is an honor, but it also comes with legal duties, financial obligations, and potential personal risk. Executors must follow state probate laws, manage the decedent’s estate, notify beneficiaries and creditors, and ensure debts and […]
Putting Children First: How NY Courts Decide Custody and Evaluate Parental Fitness
Before any conversation about parental fitness, the most important thing to understand is the legal framework that governs custody decisions in New York. The standard the court applies — well-established in New York law — is the best interests of the child. That is the test. Parental fitness is a part of the analysis, but […]
Tax Consequences of Divorce Settlements People Overlook
Important note before we begin. I am a matrimonial attorney and mediator, not a tax advisor or CPA. Nothing in this post is tax advice, and nothing here is a substitute for guidance from a qualified tax professional who knows the details of your specific situation. What this post does is flag tax-adjacent issues that […]