With celebrity marriages getting shorter and shorter, especially with the news that Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries were calling it quits after only 72 days of wedded bliss, clients often ask whether their “short” marriage can be annulled.

Even though it may seem as though a short marriage is the key to obtaining an annulment, since Britney Spears and her high school buddy obtained an annulment from their marriage after only a few hours, length really has nothing to do with it. In fact, annulments are quite difficult to obtain.

By definition, an annulment is a matrimonial action to declare a marriage as null or void. Some marriages are void at their inception; others are “voidable” and must be voided by a court judgment. (more…)

Tags: annulment, divorce

The last thing a couple about to be married should be worried about is that one day they may be getting divorced.  However, as Benjamin Franklin said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”  Although the overall rate of divorce in the United States is said to be declining (a notable exception, according to the National Center for Family & Marriage Research at Ohio’s Bowling Green State University, is divorce among people over the age of 50, 25% of whom are getting divorced now compared to 10% in 1990), it’s pretty safe to say that 1 out of 3 marriages ends in divorce.

At HoganWillig we receive calls every day from people who say they are considering divorce and want to know, “What are my rights?”  In many instances had they consulted with a knowledgeable family law attorney before getting married the answer to that question is often going to be considerably different (and probably a happier one) than if they hadn’t. (more…)

Tags: divorce, prenup, prenuptial, prenuptial agreement, prenuptial contact

A frequently asked question in cases of divorce is; what has to be divided with my spouse? The general rule is that property acquired after the ceremony and before the filing of a summons is marital property. The general exceptions are property from an inheritance, a gift from someone other than your spouse, or the result of a personal injury recovery.

A common follow-up question concerns income or property that comes into a spouse’s possession after the filing of a divorce action, but before the matter is finalized. Examples of such (more…)

Tags: divorce, marital property

Countless divorce clients approach me with the same concern: If I move out of the house, will it be considered abandonment? The answer is no! “Abandonment” is one of the most misunderstood concepts in divorce lingo. In New York State, you must have a reason to get a divorce, called a “ground” for divorce. Abandonment is one of seven grounds on which you can commence a divorce action. In order to file for a divorce on the ground of Abandonment, you must show that your spouse abandoned you for a period of one year or more. Moving out of the marital residence after a divorce action is commenced is not considered abandonment. Even if you did abandon your spouse for a year, it merely provides your spouse with a reason to commence a divorce action. It does not in and of itself affect the outcome of the divorce action.

However, before you decide to move out there are other considerations you should discuss with your attorney. (more…)

Tags: abandonment, divorce, divorce action, divorce grounds, moving out

Divorce has been depicted in Hollywood, both by films and by the celebrities featured in them, as endless wars between spouses. This portrayal represents how divorce proceedings can drain both individuals financially, damage relationships and cause emotional trauma for children stuck in the middle. Recently though, couples have found an alternative with the help of marital mediation.

Kindle to the Fire
Couples look to part ways for several reasons, but not all reasons are as emotionally fired up as infidelity. Perhaps the main issue is losing a job, debt problems, or unequal contribution to household income or raising children. Lack of communication can bring these problems to a point where many say, “I just can’t do this anymore.” (more…)

Tags: divorce, marital mediation, mediation

http://www.wben.com/Texting–Tweets—Facebook–The-New-Tools-of-Divor/8607356

Buffalo, NY (WBEN) — Think your soon-to-be-ex-spouse’s divorce attorney can’t find what you’ve “hidden” in your Facebook account?

Think again.

Information from social networking sites – including Facebook and Twitter, emails, text messages, and search engines is more and more frequently being used as evidence in court proceedings.

“It is a new phenomenon. We’re seeing its impact at a variety of levels,” Nelson Zakia, chair of Matrimonial Law for Hogan Willig, P.C. told WBEN’s Sandy Beach on Thursday. (more…)

Tags: divorce, emails, facebook, marital conduct, text messages, twitter

It has long been rumored that the divorce rate in America has reached an all-time high with a predicted 50% of marriages ending in divorce.  In New York State, the process of divorce has been especially renowned to be complicated, emotionally and financially damaging, and torturously long.  This characterization seems well deserved considering, as NBC New York points out, New York was the only state in America lacking no-fault divorce legislation.  However, (more…)

Tags: divorce, new york state, Protecting Women with No-Fault Divorce