The following is an alimony modification case. The substantial change of circumstances necessary to modify an alimony award must bear on either the payee spouse’s need for alimony or the payor spouse’s ability to pay it. When the payee spouse’s need decreases significantly, alimony should ordinarily be modified downward even if the payor spouse has […]
Tag: attorney for men
Child Support
As attorneys, we are often asked when a client should begin to pay child support, or if they should pay at all. The Court has the ability to order child support retroactively to the date of filing, the date of separation, or up to two years prior to the start of the case in a […]
Phillips v. Phillips
The following case reversed the granting of an Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence because the pleading and testimony failed to allege that violence had occurred or that there was a reasonable fear that violence would occur. The wife had testified that no violence had in fact occurred in the four months preceding her petition. […]
Undifferentiated Family Support
When there are viable claims for both alimony and child support, often the Court will award “undifferentiated family support”, which is a combined number that will encompass both types of awards. This can be an opportunity to get a tax benefit normally associated with alimony but not available for child support, but one should be […]
Goslin v. Preisser
In the attached case, the appellate court dismisses an appeal because it is brought to review a non-final order denying a discovery motion. Generally, non-final orders that deny discovery motions are only reviewable when the case is finalized. Certiorari does not lie where there is no irreparable harm that is caused, and generally there is […]
Holiday Traditions
No matter which holidays your family celebrates, there are sure to be some tried and true family traditions. When your family is going through a divorce or paternity action, it is easy to get caught up in the negative emotions and to want to ignore the holidays. However, your children need to feel secure in […]
Felice v. Sutherland Pullen Law, PLLC
The following is a charging lien case. The trial court granted a charging lien to be applied to the Husband’s homesteaded property. The appellate court reversed the application of the charging lien to homestead property, citing a prior case that had ruled a waiver of homestead is ineffective in an unsecured debt transaction. The lien […]
Brewer v. Chastain
In the attached case we are reminded once again that “repeat violence” has a specific statutory meaning, and that Petitions that do not properly allege repeat violence as the statute defines it will not be granted. Read More: Brewer-v-Chastain
Exclusive Use Of The Marital Home
During a marriage the parties enjoy a status that is similar to a partnership. That is, all assets and liabilities of the partnership (marriage) are jointly owned in equal proportions by the partners, including the marital home. Partners in a business venture may define their partnerships in unequal proportions (for example, one partner may have […]
Pashtenko v. Pashtenko
In the following appeal involving a Petition for Injunction for Protection Against Stalking, the trial court’s summary denial of the Petition is reversed because the Petition alleged sufficient grounds to grant the petition. The trial court’s cited grounds for denial were inapplicable to this type of injunction. The Injunction should not have been summarily denied. […]