Articles Posted in Divorce

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New Yorkers who decide to end their marriage will often attempt to expedite their divorce proceedings via stipulation of settlement agreements. While such agreements can allow for an efficient and amicable resolution, they must be crafted with due care, as any ambiguities could lead to disputes and litigation down the line, as demonstrated in a recent New York divorce action. If you have questions about your options with regard to divorce, it is smart to confer with a New York divorce lawyer as soon as possible.

Factual Setting

It is alleged that the husband and the wife were married in March 2000 and had one daughter, born in November 2003. The parties subsequently divorced in 2007. They resolved their financial and custody issues through a stipulation of settlement, which was incorporated but not merged into their final judgment of divorce in December 2007. Under this stipulation, the wife was granted exclusive occupancy of the marital residence until its sale, with the husband responsible for monthly mortgage payments, real estate taxes, and homeowner’s insurance. Additionally, the husband was required to cover 57% of their daughter’s college expenses, with no specific provision regarding who would pay the remaining 43%. The husband paid 100% of the tuition costs up to the date of the litigation.

It is reported that the husband sought enforcement of the stipulation regarding the marital residence and requested credits for payments made towards homeowner’s insurance, property taxes, and their daughter’s college tuition. The wife filed a cross-motion contesting these credits and seeking additional credits for mortgage principal reductions. The trial court granted the husband’s motion, awarding him credits for the insurance and tax payments and for the child’s tuition while denying the wife’s cross-motion entirely. The wife appealed. Continue reading

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Generally, under New York law, any income or property a person acquires while they are married is deemed a marital asset. There are exceptions to the general rule, though, for things like property obtained via inheritance. While money from an inheritance can be converted to marital property, a person arguing it should be considered a joint asset must support their position via convincing evidence; otherwise, their argument will likely be rejected, as demonstrated in a recent New York case. If you or your spouse are weighing whether to end your marriage, it would benefit you to speak with a New York divorce lawyer about your options.

History of the Case

It is reported that the husband and wife married in 2013. During the marriage, the wife received a $125,000 inheritance from her grandfather, which she used towards the $160,000 purchase of their marital residence the following year. The remaining $35,000 was covered by a mortgage. Notably, the wife provided the husband a “gift letter” stating that the $125,000 was an outright gift to him so that he could demonstrate he had sufficient funds to purchase the home.

Allegedly, the husband commenced a divorce action in 2021. The trial court issued a judgment of divorce that included the distribution of marital property and awarded maintenance to the wife. The husband appealed the judgment, particularly challenging the trial court’s decisions on the classification of the $125,000 inheritance as separate property, imposing responsibility on him for the mortgage, and the awarding of maintenance to the wife. Continue reading

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In New York divorce actions, it is not uncommon for one party to seek spousal maintenance from the other. The duration and amount of such maintenance are generally left up to the discretion of the trial court. If the trial court’s decision clearly constitutes an error, though, it may be modified on appeal, as demonstrated in a recent New York opinion issued in a dissolution case. If you intend to end your marriage, it is smart to talk to a New York divorce lawyer as soon as possible.

Factual and Procedural History

It is reported that the wife filed a divorce action. The trial court subsequently ended the husband and wife’s marriage via a judgment of divorce entered in September 2019. The judgment followed a nonjury trial and included several key decisions.

Allegedly, the court awarded the wife was awarded $1,500 per month in maintenance retroactively to the date the parties executed a stipulation dividing six parcels of real property. The court also granted the wife $25,000 in counsel fees. The court did not grant the husband credits for certain pendente lite payments. Both parties appealed. Continue reading

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Generally, New York courts will resolve disputed issues in divorce actions in the judgment of divorce. If a court fails to adequately explain its ruling or reasoning, though, there may be grounds for appealing a judgment of divorce, as explained in a recent New York divorce action. If you have questions about how dissolving your marriage could impact your rights, it is smart to talk to a New York divorce lawyer as soon as possible.

Factual and Procedural Setting

It is reported that the wife bought an action for divorce against the husband. The husband subsequently appealed the judgment of divorce that, among other things, distributed marital assets and awarded attorney’s fees, spousal maintenance, and child support to the wife. The husband argued several points of error, including the valuation of his medical practice, the classification of certain real property in Vermont as marital assets, and the treatment of his premarital contributions to his individual retirement account (IRA). Additionally, the husband challenged the imputation of income to him for spousal maintenance and child support and the failure to grant him an equalizing credit for a portion of the plaintiff’s IRA.

Grounds for Appealing a Judgment of Divorce

On appeal, the court found merit in several of the defendant’s arguments. First, it agreed that the trial court had erred in valuing the defendant’s medical practice without explaining its reasoning for doing so. Further, the court erred in considering certain real property in Vermont as a marital asset. The court explained that under New York law, property obtained in exchange for separate property remains separate, even if the exchange happens during marriage. Here, the defendant convincingly demonstrated that the Vermont property was bought using proceeds from the sale of his separate property, making it non-marital. Thus, the court modified the judgment by removing the portions related to the Vermont property. Continue reading

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People who are married typically are not only connected emotionally and legally but financially as well. While divorce severs such ties, if they disagree over how their finances should be handled during the pendency of a dissolution proceeding, it can become complicated, and they may seek a resolution from the courts. For example, a New York court recently analyzed whether it could compel the sale of a marital home while a divorce is pending, ultimately finding that it could. If you intend to end your marriage, it is wise to confer with a New York divorce attorney regarding your rights.

History of the Case

It is reported that the husband and wife were married and had two daughters, one of whom has special needs and requires ongoing care. Throughout their marriage, they enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, supported primarily by the husband’s income from a manufacturing enterprise and some financial assistance from the wife’s parents. The wife primarily served as a homemaker but later took a flexible sales position.

It is alleged that financially, the couple faced significant challenges. The marital home was at risk of foreclosure due to missed mortgage payments, despite a previous attempt to prevent foreclosure by the husband. The husband filed a motion to compel the wife to execute a mortgage on the marital residence, while the wife filed a motion to compel the sale of the marital residence. Continue reading

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It is not uncommon for married couples to separate while contemplating whether they want to legally end their marriage. In such instances, they will often enter into a separation agreement indicating their rights and duties during their time apart. Such agreements are essentially contracts and are enforceable as such. There are exceptions, however, like agreements that are the result of overreaching or duress that will cause a court to deem them unenforceable, as demonstrated in a recent New York case. If you are determining whether you should end your marriage, it is smart to talk to a New York divorce lawyer to determine what steps you can take to protect your rights.

Facts of the Case and Procedural Setting

It is reported that the husband initiated a divorce action asserting that the parties had been living separately under a property settlement and separation agreement filed nearly two years prior, as per Domestic Relations Law § 170 (6). The husband sought summary judgment to enforce the separation agreement, while the wife countered with a cross-motion, alleging that certain provisions of the separation agreement were unconscionable and the result of fraud, duress, coercion, and lack of financial disclosure by the husband.

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In many divorce actions, the main point of contention is the division of assets. While parties may not want to divide marital property during a divorce, behavior designed to hide such property will likely be uncovered by the courts, as demonstrated in a recent New York opinion issued in a divorce case. If you want to end your marriage and want to learn more about how it can impact you financially, it is in your best interest to speak with a New York divorce lawyer about what measures you can take to protect your interests.

Case Setting

It is reported that the wife instituted a divorce action. The court noted that the husband engaged in deliberate actions to obscure and hide marital assets. Specifically, the husband violated court orders restraining him from transferring assets or accessing safety deposit boxes. Moreover, the husband undertook transfers of ownership of his various businesses to his brother and a long-term employee, both before and after the wife initiated the divorce. He also engaged in transactions aimed at creating the appearance of having no assets, even going so far as to portray himself as earning a nominal income of only around $12,500 per year.

It is alleged that the trial court subsequently issued three judgments. The first one distributed marital property, including maintenance and child support, to the wife. The second judgment addressed attorneys’ fees, particularly for the wife’s attorneys, and the third judgment finalized the monetary aspects of the case. The husband appealed. Continue reading

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Ending a marriage often has emotional ramifications, but some people are able to set aside their feelings and negotiate and enter into settlement agreements that set forth their rights and obligations instead of engaging in litigation. Simply because parties enter into such agreements does not always mean that they will abide by their terms, though. In cases in which a person fails to comply with a stipulation of settlement, the party impacted can seek relief from the courts, as demonstrated in a recent New York ruling. If you consider a divorce, it is smart to meet with a New York divorce lawyer as soon as possible to determine your options.

Factual Setting and Procedural History

It is reported that the husband and wife were married and had two children together. The husband filed a divorce action in 2010. The parties subsequently entered into an oral stipulation of settlement in February 2011. The stipulation granted the defendant sole custody of the children and outlined the sale of the marital residence, a cooperative apartment in Yonkers.

Allegedly, the husband, who was responsible for the maintenance fees associated with the marital residence, had his child support obligations stayed until the apartment was sold. The divorce was finalized in August 2011, with the stipulation incorporated but not merged into the judgment. In December 2012, the wife moved to transfer the title of the marital residence, citing the husband’s refusal to sell, non-payment of maintenance fees, and impending eviction. The trial court granted the wife’s motion, and the husband appealed. Continue reading

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One of the most contentious issues in most divorces is how assets should be divided. In some cases, though, parties are able to come to an agreement independently. Separation and settlement agreements will typically be enforced by the New York courts, but they can be set aside if they are deemed unconscionable or were not entered into willingly. This was demonstrated in a recent New York opinion in which the court deemed a settlement agreement a wife signed without legal representation void. If you are interested in seeking a divorce, it is smart to meet with a New York divorce lawyer as soon as possible.

Facts of the Case and Procedural History

It is reported that the husband and wife married in 2007 and had three children. The husband, upon discovering the wife’s extramarital affair, clandestinely consulted an attorney in March 2020 to draft the agreement. In April 2020, the husband orchestrated a meeting at the marital home, during which he presented the agreement to the wife and recorded the interaction on a laptop. The husband presented two options to the wife: signing the agreement that day or facing a contentious divorce.

Allegedly, the husband informed her that, upon signing, she had to leave the marital home due to financial constraints. Despite minimal time spent reviewing the agreement and the husband’s suggestion of seeking legal advice, the wife signed the agreement, and a notary public, arranged by the husband, notarized it. The wife subsequently initiated legal proceedings to set aside the agreement. The trial court ruled that the agreement was void and unenforceable, after which the husband appealed. Continue reading

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It is not uncommon for a divorcing couple to enter into a settlement agreement establishing their rights and obligations. If they have children, such agreements may include provisions regarding child support. While any agreement pertaining to children must be in the children’s best interests, if the courts incorporate a stipulation of settlement into a divorce judgment, they will typically be enforced as written. When determining whether a stipulation of settlement is enforceable, the courts will assess, in part, whether the language is clear and unambiguous, as demonstrated in a recent ruling issued in a New York case in which the parties disputed whether child support for add-on expenses was warranted. If you want to learn more about your rights with regard to child support, it is wise to meet with a New York child support lawyer as soon as possible.

History of the Case

It is reported that the parties were married and subsequently divorced through a judgment entered in June 2015. The judgment incorporated a stipulation of settlement but did not merge the stipulation into the settlement. The wife later moved for child support add-on expenses in excess of $30,000, as well as attorneys’ fees. At the same time, the husband moved to end his child support obligation for the couple’s older child. He also sought to compel the wife to provide proof of child support add-on expenses going forward and to hold the wife in contempt for failing to comply with the stipulation of settlement. The trial court granted the wife’s motion and denied the husband’s, after which the husband appealed.

Interpretation of Stipulations Regarding Child Support

On appeal, the court reversed the trial court ruling with regard to the child support for add-on expenses.  In doing so, the court emphasized that a stipulation of settlement, when incorporated but not merged into a divorce judgment, is a contract subject to contract construction and interpretation principles. Continue reading

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