New York Family Law Blog
Are you ready to start naturalization to become a U.S. citizen?
Living in the United States as a lawful permanent resident has many benefits. For the most part, you enjoy many of the same rights and protections that citizens do. However, there are limitations to those rights. You cannot vote or hold public office. Also, you will...
Child Support Orders [VIDEO]
What is included in an order of child support? Basic Child Support Basic child support is meant to provide for a child's basic needs, including food, clothing, shelter, and school supplies. The amount of support is calculated via a formula based on the parents’...
What Do You Do if You’re Not Receiving Child Support? [VIDEO]
If you are not receiving the child support awarded to you by a court, the first step to take is to use administrative remedies. Staying Out of Court Administrative remedies are actions you can take that don't require you to go to court. For example, if the order is...
Joseph Nivin quoted in story about New York’s indigent defense program
The New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services plays an important role in the Family Court system. Through this panel, low-income individuals in Family Court can be represented by experienced attorneys, even if they cannot afford it. Tens of thousands of people...
What Do I Do If I Get an “Indicated” Letter from Child Protective Services?
If you’ve received an “indicated” letter from Child Protective Services (CPS), you’ve already been through a horrific experience. A caseworker has probably come to your home to speak with your child outside of your presence. He or she has also probably spoken with...
What is equitable distribution in a New York divorce?
Getting divorced is one of the most emotionally taxing and financially challenging decisions you can make. After spending decades building a life with someone, property division can be among the most contentious aspects of the process. If you cannot settle with your...
Orders of Protection [VIDEO]
To get an order of protection in family court, you will have to prove two things: subject matter jurisdiction and the commission of a family offense.
To get an order of protection in family court, you will have to prove two things: subject matter jurisdiction and the commission of a family offense.
To prove subject matter jurisdiction, you must prove to the court that either you are related to the person against whom you’re seeking an order of protection by blood or marriage, that you have a child in common, or that you were in an intimate relationship. Please note how the law interprets an intimate relationship — a common misconception is that an intimate relationship must be of a sexual nature. The law specifically says that the relationship does not have to be sexual in nature to qualify as an intimate relationship. However, an intimate relationship is not “ordinary fraternization,” which basically means someone that you see around town regularly.
2 Myths and a Fact About Family Law Cases [VIDEO]
Myth #1 – Divorce Attorneys Are Really Mean
A former judge said it best when he told me that I will get further with honey than with vinegar in almost all cases. I, like any other reputable family law attorneys, am not habitually mean. We act in a professional manner to make sure that the families we serve conclude their cases with the best possible conclusions.
LESSONS FROM A FAMILY DIVORCE LAWYER
As a family divorce lawyer, people often ask me whether I’ve learned lessons about how to make marriage work. They’re asking the wrong question. The decision to get divorced is personal and one that anybody can end up making. The more important question is: If you...
“Why are they always talking about my ex’s visitation, but never about me getting custody?”
My office often gets calls where people ask (not an exact quote), “Every time I go to court, they’re always talking about my ex’s visitation, but never about me getting custody. I want a new lawyer because they never talk about what I want. They always talk about what...
