How is Alimony Taxed on Long Island?

How is Alimony Taxed on Long Island?

How is Alimony Taxed on Long Island?

Alimony, also called “spousal maintenance” on Long Island, is a payment usually made from the higher earning spouse to the other to replace a portion of lost income until the lower earning spouse is able to financially support themselves independently. Often, one spouse will give up career opportunities while the other pursues theirs to keep the home and/or take care of children, leaving them at a distinct financial disadvantage in the event of a divorce. Spousal maintenance was originally designed to bridge that gap, and since its inception, many laws have been created to govern how and when alimony is paid and taxed. (more…)

Lost Your Job? Can You Reduce Your Child Support or Alimony Payments?

Lost Your Job? Can You Reduce Your Child Support or Alimony Payments?

Lost Your Job? Can You Reduce Your Child Support or Alimony Payments?

Once you’ve been ordered to pay child support or alimony by a Long Island court, there are very few circumstances in which you can stop or even lower your payments. One of these is if you lose your job. However, this does not mean that as soon as you lose your job that you can simply stop making child support or alimony payments — doing so could cause you a great deal of trouble. Here’s what you should do if you’re making child support or alimony payments on Long Island and lose your job or receive a reduction in salary. (more…)

Spousal Maintenance, aka Alimony, Variations on Long Island

Spousal Maintenance, aka Alimony, Variations on Long Island

Spousal Maintenance, aka Alimony, Variations on Long Island

Spousal Maintenance, otherwise or formerly known as Alimony, plays a significant part in a majority of Divorce Proceedings handled on Long Island. Spousal maintenance is a creature of statute, and, as such is typically determined by following a formula. However, in certain cases, the courts in Nassau and Suffolk counties can deviate from the statute in a few different ways.

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Penalty for Violation of Automatic Orders on Long Island

Penalty for Violation of Automatic Orders on Long Island

Penalty for Violation of Automatic Orders on Long Island

In every divorce on Long Island, when the summons and complaint are served upon the defendant there are matrimonial Automatic Orders included. The basic premise behind these orders is to maintain the status quo during the pendency of a divorce. Both parties are bound by the Automatic Orders and must refrain from transferring or encumbering real and personal property and retirement funds, the accumulation of unreasonable debt, and changes in beneficiaries on existing health and life insurance policies. (more…)

How Remarriage Impacts Your Long Island Divorce Settlement

How Remarriage Impacts Your Long Island Divorce Settlement

How Remarriage Impacts Your Long Island Divorce Settlement

Many clients come to our Long Island Divorce Law firm after their divorce with questions about the impact of a remarriage on the terms of their divorce. There are many people out there who, after obtaining their Long Island Divorce, have found themselves in a new relationship and wish to remarry. Often, this new dynamic results in many questions from those who have been previously divorced. While your remarriage will certainly change some aspects of your divorce, others will remain the same. Below are two of the most pressing topics regarding your divorce and a subsequent remarriage.

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Long Island Spousal Maintenance (Alimony) Questions Answered

Long Island Spousal Maintenance (Alimony) Questions Answered

Long Island Spousal Maintenance (Alimony) Questions Answered

As experienced Long Island Divorce and Family Law Attorneys, some of the most often asked questions surround the issue of Spousal Maintenance or Alimony. Our clients are very concerned about this issue and routinely ask if they are entitled to it, will they be required to pay it, and if so, how much will they be required to pay. This post will provide you with an outline of the topic of Spousal Maintenance, or Alimony as the rest of the country calls it, so that some basic questions are answered. (more…)

Children of Same-Sex Couple are ‘Children of Marriage’ in NY

Children of Same-Sex Couple are ‘Children of Marriage’ in NY

Children of Same-Sex Couple are ‘Children of Marriage’ in NY

As discussed in previous Paternity blog posts, on Long Island, New York there exists a presumption of legitimacy for children born “of the marriage.” This means that any child born by the wife during the marriage will be presumed to be the husband’s child. Recently, a New York court has extended that presumption to children born of a same-sex marriage.

What is a Presumption of Legitimacy? (more…)

Long Island Divorce Attorney Answers Spousal Maintenance Questions

Long Island Divorce Attorney Answers Spousal Maintenance Questions

Divorce Attorney Consultation

As a Long Island Divorce Attorney, one of the main issues I have to address with my clients concerns Spousal Maintenance, sometimes called Alimony. Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions I hear.

What is Spousal Maintenance or Alimony?

Spousal maintenance are payments made by the higher earning spouse to the lower earning spouse in a divorce. Many people may know it as alimony, though it is not technically called alimony in New York State. It is intended to ensure that both spouses have an adequate standard of living during the pendency of and after their divorce. Spousal maintenance might be temporary and may be paid during the pendency of a divorce, or might be ordered to continue post-divorce.
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Women Increasingly Likely to be Paying Spousal Support / Alimony to Men

Women Increasingly Likely to be Paying Spousal Support / Alimony to Men

Divorce Attorney Consultation

In New York, spousal support in divorce is more often being paid by women than ever before. While headlines about the gender pay gap still abound, it is also true that women are beginning to see higher wages and higher earning jobs than in previous years. In fact, statistics from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics report that 37% of women in heterosexual marriages in America earn more than their husbands. Studies also showed that 3% of alimony recipients in the United States are men. Further, there are now more stay-at-home dads in the United States — approximately 1.9 million of them. Because the disparity in income between men and women has been steadily on the decline, women are becoming more likely to be the spouse that pays spousal support to their former husbands.
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Women Increasingly Likely to be Paying Spousal Support / Alimony to Men

Women Increasingly Likely to be Paying Spousal Support to Men on Long Island

Divorce Attorney Consultation

In New York, spousal support in divorce is more often being paid by women than ever before. While headlines about the gender pay gap still abound, it is also true that women are beginning to see higher wages and higher earning jobs than in previous years. In fact, statistics from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics report that 37% of women in heterosexual marriages in America earn more than their husbands. Studies also showed that 3% of alimony recipients in the United States are men. Further, there are now more stay-at-home dads in the United States — approximately 1.9 million of them. Because the disparity in income between men and women has been steadily on the decline, women are becoming more likely to be the spouse that pays spousal support to their former husbands.
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