New York Divorce Report - New York's Divorce and Family Law Blog

The rights of unmarried fathers of children were in the news with the recent reports about Sarah Palin’s daughter’s break up with her boyfriend. I was, in fact, quoted in one such article that appeared in the New York Daily News. Like their married counterparts, unwed fathers have the right to custody and visitation of the children. That the parties did not wed does not in any way limit the father’s parental rights As in all cases, the standard of visitation/custody is “best interests of the children.” The flip side of parenting is the financial responsibilities. The unwed non-custodial parent,... More

After I posted 10 Tips to Help Children of Divorce Deal with the Holidays, I was interviewed by Lawyers USA about the issues that crop up around the holidays about holiday visitation. The article, written by Jason Rebello, can be viewed here, but a subscription is required.  Lawyers USA graciously granted me a reprint permission.   With the holiday season fast approaching, family lawyers may find an unexpected complication in their clients' post-divorce lives. Attorneys say that in many cases, both the husband and wife are in such a rush to finalize the separation that they may overlook how they... More

The New York Times today reported how in the Bronx Family Court,   Elevator Woes Slow Justice. The eye opening article details how, because of broken elevators, litigants wait in line for hours to get an elevator to a court room resulting in missed court dates or, even worse, dismissed cases.   The Family Court is a court where justice cannot be delayed. Critical rights regarding the welfare, custody and support of children are involved. Consider the case of a client of Ms. Gutfriend’s who was scheduled for a hearing in mid-November to determine whether she could get her daughter... More