In 1991, Kristine Cushing killed her four and eight year old daughters. She was tried for these murders and found not guilty by reason of insanity. Her defense counsel claimed that she murdered her children due to a bad reaction to Prozac. Kristine spent four years in a mental institution. In addition, she had ten years of psychiatric monitoring. … [Read more...]
Violence In Judge’s Chambers During Florida Divorce
Kathleen Scott-Gonzalez appeared in court for a hearing on her divorce in Plantation, Florida. She expected this to be the final day of the trial on her divorce case. What she didn't anticipate was that she would be beaten up by her husband in the judge's chambers and end up with a broken nose and fractured jaw! Kathleen and her husband Paul … [Read more...]
Divorce Rates For Women In the Military
Divorce rates for women in the military is double the divorce rate for men in the military. Approximately 8% of the women in the Armed Services of the United States obtained a divorce in 2010. Only 3% of the men in the military were divorced in that year. Dr. Benjamin Carney, a psychology professor at UCLA, conducted a study of divorce rates … [Read more...]
Same Sex Marriage Comes to New York
On Friday, June 24, 2011, New York became the largest state in the country to allow lesbian and gay couples to marry. It was questionable, up to the last minute, as to whether this law would pass the New York State Senate. In the final moments, four Republican majority members joined all but one Democrat and voted in support of the gay rights … [Read more...]
Getting Divorced During an Economic Downturn
The financial crisis in the United States is causing tension within families. Financial problems can be the cause of a divorce. In most marriages the family home is the largest asset. The decline in home values over the past three or four years has resulted in many homes being worth less than the mortgages on them. Postponing Divorce Recent … [Read more...]
Child Support and College Expenses
The Child Support Standards Act provides a formula for child support payments. A non-residential custodial parent pays child support of 17% of gross wages, less FICA and less New York City taxes (where applicable), when there is one child receiving support. The figure goes up to 25% for two children, 29% for three children, 31% for four children … [Read more...]
Father Violated a Custody Order, Must Pay Two-thirds of the Mother’s Legal Fees
A mother brought an application for attorney's fees. She claimed the children's father willfully violated a custody order. Judge Duggan, sitting in the Family Court of Albany County, found that the father notified the mother of his intention to return the children to the mother nine days late, after he took a vacation with them. The mother … [Read more...]
Mother Unfit to Obtain Custody: Father Awarded Permanent Sole Custody of Daughters
Justice MacKenzi, sitting in the Supreme Court in Suffolk County, awarded a father permanent sole and legal custody of his two daughters. There had previously been a temporary custody order in this case. There were allegations that the mother had engaged in parental alienation of the parties four children against the father. The evidence showed … [Read more...]
Father Retires to Reduce Child Support Expenses
Justice Janowitz, sitting in the Supreme Court of Nassau County, recently dealt with a case involving a father who voluntarily retired, for the sole purpose of reducing his financial obligations for child support. In this case, the wife sued her husband based on cruel and inhuman treatment for a divorce. A stipulation was entered into dealing with … [Read more...]
New York Declines Jurisdiction in Custody Cases
A father brought a custody petition in New York State. The next day, the mother who resided in Texas brought a custody petition for the parties child in Texas. There was litigation to determine whether New York or Texas would be the appropriate jurisdiction to determine who receives custody of the child. The Parties Were Divorced In Michigan The … [Read more...]
