Latest News

June 16, 2016

How to save money in your divorce

IF YOU LITIGATE, HERE ARE SOME MONEY-SAVING TIPS Let’s be honest: divorce costs money, and litigation is the most expensive way to do it. Here are my top 10 ways to economize in a litigated divorce: Gather as much financial information by yourself as you can. Ideally this includes information for you and your spouse,…
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June 15, 2016

Splitting annuities in divorce

Is an annuity account in your divorce picture? An annuity can seem harder to split than a marriage, according to an article in the May 2016 issue of Research Magazine. An annuity account gives the account holder the right to receive periodic payments, usually fixed in amount, for life or a term of years. Unlike pensions,…
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June 14, 2016

Your child’s voice in divorce: children’s lawyers

THE ATTORNEY FOR THE CHILD MAKES THE CHILD’S WISHES KNOWN Children are stakeholders in divorce as much as their parents. How are children’s wishes made known during a divorce or custody proceeding? In New York state, children in certain cases are entitled to their own lawyers, who represent their interests before the court. Children’s interests…
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May 2, 2016

Your divorce case: settlement or trial?

TRY YOUR CASE OR SETTLE IT — HOW IS THIS DECISION MADE? When your divorce case has passed the early stages and progresses to a point where you are deciding whether to go to trial or negotiate an out of court settlement, you have more information than you had at the start of your case.…
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April 18, 2016

Divorce: Free Toolkits from Sesame Street Help Parents Help Kids

Little Children, Big Challenges Most parents know Elmo and Cookie Monster, but did you know that Sesame Street offers free resources to help young children through divorce? A toolkit called Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce provides tools to help youngsters aged 2-8 cope with and understand divorce at an age-appropriate level. The kit also contains tools for caregivers…
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February 5, 2016

Introducing Your Spouse to the idea of a Collaborative Divorce

One of the collaborative lawyers we work with has written a good article about how to introduce your spouse to the idea of considering collaborative divorce. Take a look — it might help you broach a sensitive topic with your spouse if this is the direction you are considering. How to introduce collaborative divorce to…
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February 1, 2016

Kindness During Divorce

YOU CAN’T GO WRONG BEING KIND IN DIVORCE — OR CAN YOU? Many couples begin their divorces hoping for a kind and amicable process. Opposing views on this are expressed in these two articles. You, your children, your spouse, even your family and friends may all benefit from kindness during your divorce process. You might…
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January 25, 2016

How To Choose A Lawyer

FINDING THE RIGHT LAWYER IS ONE OF YOUR MOST IMPORTANT DIVORCE DECISIONS Where does one start when they are either contemplating whether to move forward with a divorce or when their spouse has already made the decision to divorce? For some people, it can be an overwhelming time filled with emotions and uncertainty. It may…
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January 12, 2016

Brett Jones elected Co-Chair of Collaborative Regional Group

We are pleased to announce that Brett E. Jones, Esq. of Lazar & Schwartz has been elected to Co-Chair the Executive Committee of the Hudson Valley Collaborative Divorce and Dispute Resolution Association for 2016-2017. In her capacity as Co-Chair, she will be assisting in the decision making process to advance the Association and the practice…
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December 10, 2015

Parents and Divorce: Will We Make it Through the Holidays?

HELP IS AS NEAR AS YOUR LAPTOP Whether you are currently going through a divorce or the divorce is now done, holidays and holiday memories, often involving family traditions, can stir up many mixed emotions. Can it ever be happy and bright again? Will your children ever look forward to the holiday season again? While…
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December 8, 2015

Lazar & Schwartz Layers Address Financial Planners

Lazar & Schwartz lawyers Brett E. Jones and Kathryn S. Lazar spoke to regional representatives of MassMutual Financial Group, sharing their experience and insights about the connections and interplay between divorce and financial planners for those considering divorce, where the client’s spouse is seeking a divorce, or where the couple is in the midst of…
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July 15, 2015

NY Makes Radical Change in Spousal Support / Divorce Law

DON’T RELY ON YOUR FRIEND’S EXPERIENCE: THERE HAVE BEEN BIG CHANGES IN NY SUPPORT LAWS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS After years of argument and debate, over the course of the last few years, the NY Legislature changed the divorce law regarding spousal support (also called maintenance or alimony). Since the winter of 2016, a…
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