Practice Area: Family Law

Divorce Brings Complications for Same-Sex Couples

Same-sex couples have a lot to consider when separating – especially if they started their relationship before states enacted marriage equality laws. The New York State Bar Association recently hosted a Continuing Legal Education course on the challenges facing same-sex couples as they try to end relationships and figure out dividing property and child custody. … Continued

New York State Bar Association Supports Bill To End Anonymous Child Abuse Reporting

New York State Bar Association President Kathleen Sweet issued the following statement on the passage of A66/S550, which makes New York’s Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Mistreatment fairer to parents: “Anonymous reporting to the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Mistreatment is a flawed policy that harms thousands of New York families … Continued

New York State Bar Association Confers Howard A. Levine Award on Judge, Lawyer for Efforts To Reform Family Court

The New York State Bar Association is honoring Judge Anne-Marie Jolly and attorney Judith Gerber for their work to reform the Family Court and juvenile justice system. Judge Jolly, the administrative judge of the New York City Family Courts, and Gerber, the Buffalo chief legal aid attorney, will receive the Howard A. Levine Award for … Continued

The Sensitive Side of the Tax Law: How the Internal Revenue Service Innocent Spouse Rules Apply to Abused Spouses

Spouses who are or have been subjected to domestic abuse by their spouses (or ex-spouses) may find themselves dealing with threatening notices from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the state taxing authorities seeking to collect tax from them for understatements or underpayments of tax on joint returns previously filed with the abusing spouse. Fortunately, … Continued