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

Every once in awhile a case comes along that is so egregious, that even where the law should compel a court to rule one way, the facts force a different result. The case of Campbell v. Thomas is one such example. Here are the facts as recited by the Court: Nidia well knew, Howard's dementia had advanced to the point that he often had difficulty recognizing family members, had lost the ability to understand his legal and financial affairs or even to attend to his own basic hygiene, and could not be left alone for any period of time. Nidia... More

There are few certainties in life. However, one of life’s certainties is that all marriages will end, whether by death or divorce. At the end of marriage, whether by divorce or death, disputes over money and the disposition of marital assets may be inevitable. However, a pre-nuptial agreement can help lessen the potential for conflict by clearing identifying the parties separate property and defining the parties’ rights to the marital property. A recent article illustrated why a Pre-Nup may be a smart money move.  1. Why are pre-nuptial agreements beneficial? "One of the common reasons to get a pre-nup is... More

Courts throughout New York continue to expand the rights of parties in same-sex marriages. For the first time, a judge has ruled that the survivor of a legal same-sex marriage is entitled to inherit from his spouse's estate. Although New York will not recognize a same-sex marriage performed within the state, with a few exceptions, courts and state agencies will recognize marriages solemnized in Canada, Massachusetts and other states where same sex marriage is legal. In Matter of the Estate of H. Kenneth Ranftle, Surrogate Judge Kristin Booth Glen designated J. Craig Leiby as the "surviving spouse and sole distributee"... More

Phil Bernstein, in his New York Probate Litigation Blog, highlights several issues about the impact on divorce on an estate plan. In his post, Phil reminds us of the importance of finalizing the divorce settlement as soon as practicable. There is probably no matrimonial lawyer who has spent substantial time in practice who has not had to deal with the disaster which occurs when a client dies before the entry of a divorce decree or the execution of a stipulation of settlement or separation agreement providing for the couple disinheriting each other. When that happens, as Ms. Hamill so aptly... More

The New York Probate Litigation Blog highlights the recently decided case of Estate of Joseph Menaham, in which a widow’s attempt to nullify a pre-nuptial agreement was rejected by the Surrogates’ Court. Prior to marriage, the wife, now a widow, was diagnosed, hospitalized and treated for a bipolar disorder. Following her release, she entered into a pre-nuptial agreement in which the parties each agreed waived their rights to election against the other’s estate. The right of election is a statutory protection which prevents one spouse from dis-inheriting the other. Following her husband’s death, the widow sought to set aside the... More