DIVORCE & FAMILY LAW IN SARATOGA, ALBANY, RENSSELAER, WARREN AND WASHINGTON COUNTY
Divorce & Family Law in Glens Falls
We understand no one gets married intending to get divorced. The emotional, spiritual and financial costs of divorce can be substantial and long-lasting. This is why we take time to listen to you and your needs when developing an innovative, practical and effective plan to protect you and your family. You should expect cost-efficient and effective strategies which address your family’s unique situation. Many couples can resolve their issues amicably through divorce mediation and avoid the stress, uncertainty, and financial costs of divorce litigation and trial. For others, a final resolution can only be achieved through preparation, zealous representation, litigation and a trial.
From the initial consultation through the signing of the Final Judgment of Divorce, Larry is committed to guiding you through each step of the process. Whether planning for a potential “future” divorce or after being served with divorce papers filed by your spouse, we will help you understand and decide how to protect your children, your legal rights, your property, and your future financial security.
Money Saving Tip:
When collecting documents for your lawyer, be organized. If your bank provides online statements, download every monthly statement for the past three years and save them in a computer folder with the Bank name and last four digits for the account in the folder name (i.e. BankofAmerica.2284). Save each monthly statement into the folder for this account as a .PDF document and rename each document for that account by year and month. For example, the January 2018 statement for the account ending -2284 would be renamed as “2284.2018.1” You will create a highly organized filing system at the very beginning of your divorce action. Save the electronic folders and files on a thumb drive or DVD and hand them to your divorce attorney.
If you have paper copies, organize your documents in the same way, by account, by year and by month.
The time you spend collecting and organizing documents for your case is time your attorney does not need to spend organizing your file, and less money they will need to charge you during your divorce action.
Key Areas
New York State allows either spouse to end a marriage with a “no fault” divorce, which means we no longer fight and argue over why the marriage is ending, but rather what terms each spouse, and their children, will live with once the divorce is final. The issues which must be addressed are numerous and often complex. Some key areas to be considered and addressed include:
- Child Custody- When will each parent spend time with their children;
- Child Support- Whether either parent will pay child support and how much;
- Equitable Distribution of Marital Property- What property is marital property, how much is it worth, and how will it be divided between the spouses;
- Spousal Support/Maintenance Claims-Does one spouse have to pay the other spouse financial support during and after the divorce; and
- Claims for Attorney Fees and Litigation Expenses.
Mandatory Disclosures
If you are entering a contested divorce, secure copies of all family financial records now. Court rules require both parties to disclose financial documents to their spouse before the first court conference. A quick checklist of mandatory disclosures includes:
- Federal and State income tax returns for the past three years (personal returns and business returns);
- Every payroll stub for the current year, and the last payroll stub for the prior calendar year;
- Every IRS Form W-2, 1099 Form, and K-1 Schedule issued to either spouse for the last three tax years;
- Monthly Bank Account Statements for every account (checking, savings, and money market accounts) for the past three years;
- Statements for all brokerage accounts holding stocks or other securities for the past three years; and
- Account statements for every pension, 401(k) account, Individual Retirement Account (IRA), profit-sharing plans, Keogh plans, life insurance policies with cash value, and other retirement accounts.
We guide clients through life-altering legal challenges.
- Divorce and Matrimonial Law
- Custody and Parenting Right Claims by Parents
- Grandparent Visitation Rights
- Family Offense Petitions and Orders of Protection
- Calculation and Enforcement of Child Support
- Spousal Maintenance Claims and Enforcement
- Reimbursement for Child Health Insurance, Medical Expenses, and Day Care Expenses
- Parental Contribution for a Child’s College Expenses
- Division of Marital Property
- Pension Rights and Division of Pensions
- Retirement Account Valuation and Division
