I told you it was coming. The Alimony Reform Bill – HB 5509 has arrived. View it here: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2012/TOB/H/2012HB-05509-R00-HB.htm There has been a “spirited” debate amongst the Family Bar on this Bill. Proponents of the bill believe that the “guidelines” will bring more certainty and predictability to awards of alimony. With one less issue in…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating the 2005 and 2006 Ford Taurus after it received multiple complaints alleging defects involving cruise control. Those complaints state that detached cruise-control cables caused the cars’ throttles to stick, preventing drivers from maintaining full control of the cars. Thankfully, the NHTSA has not yet heard of…
In three separate libel cases, bloggers got hammered. The verdicts: 1. $900,000 2. $553,000 3. $404,000 Ouch. Clearly not every unflattering statement online is libelous. In fact, there are many defenses to defamation cases including the First Amendment and absolute truth. But the message has been sent. With the right set of facts, juries are…
A bill in the Connecticut Legislature looks to allow certain Connecticut municipalities (those with more than 48,000 people) to install red light cameras at intersections. The cameras would watch for cars running red lights. The drivers of those cars would then be ticketed approximately $50. The bill has started a public debate that weighs…
Five Ways To Tell If Your Husband Is Hiding Assets – Forbes Two points: 1. The article speaks only of husbands hiding assets. I understand that historically the husband was typically the higher (or sole) earner and therefore the spouse primarily responsible for accumulating assets. But here is an invite to join the rest…
Just read a great article from fellow family law attorney Henry Gornbein setting forth seven things clients should never say to their divorce lawyer. Henry Gornbein: Things You Should Never Say To Your Divorce Lawyer A few thoughts: These “things” are not unique to divorce law. Many of these points apply equally as well to…
A collaborative divorce is designed to be less contentious than a traditional, litigated divorce. In fact, both parties in a collaborative divorce sign an agreement that they will not participate in any court or adversarial action. They further agree to engage in “good faith” negotiations and to provide full, honest and open disclosure of all…
Three common tax issues arise with children and divorce: 1. Dependent child exemption. As a general rule, the custodial parent is entitled to claim the dependency exemption. The custodial parent is defined by the IRS as the parent whom the child lived with for the greater number of nights during the year. Note – joint…
I have seen a dramatic increase in clients inquiring about custody of their pet(s). Under Connecticut law, pets are considered property – like a house, car or other asset. Therefore, the term “pet custody” is somewhat misleading. Unlike issues concering children, the judge is not required to take into account the “best interest” of…
There are many issues to sort out in a divorce. When spouses disagree it is usually over children, support and money. In the process, spouses may overlook the importance of addressing common tax issues. The tax dependency exemption for qualified children is worthy of a separate blog. Here are the other top four: 1. Filing…