Cynthia L. Hanley Law Blog

For divorces, couples may have a difficult time deciding on important issues. Instead of entering into litigation, they have the option to undergo mediation. Through divorce mediation, the spouses can decide on issues together. During this process, they will need to cooperate in order to be productive. Mediation is not for everyone since it requires […]

After divorce proceedings, parents are given custody of children. This can include physical or legal custody. Depending on the arrangement made, parents will have different amounts of power and authority over different aspects of their child’s life. When the court decides on child custody arrangements, they always try to judge with the best interests of […]

Beneficiaries and executors are individuals who are listed in a will. These individuals had a personal relationship with the deceased individual, which has led to their role in the document. A beneficiary is an individual who receives a possession in the estate administration. An executor is an individual who is named to distribute the estate. […]

For child custody matters, they can involve a variety of arrangements between parents. Legal custody refers to the role a parent plays in their child’s life when it comes to making important decisions. These decisions can include the child’s education, health, religion and much more. However, this does not grant the parent with physical custody […]

Upon filing for divorce, spouses will have to think about important marital issues. No matter what the cause or reason for divorce, there are more issues that need to be addressed. After a divorce, some couples can decide on these issues themselves by going through mediation. Through this process, they do not have to go […]

When couples consider a divorce, there can be issues that arise. By breaking up the marriage, they will also have to consider how this can affect them and their ownership. They may lose the rights to some of their assets or property. Divorce proceedings include the division of marital assets. Assets are categorized as marital […]

After couples get divorced, some spouses may have to pay alimony. This is put in place to support a dependent spouse. They may not be able to support themselves financially due to the nature of their previous arrangement in marriage. Although alimony can be set due to the differences of each case, mostly depending on […]

Planning for one’s estate is an important duty that individuals should take care of to ensure that their administration is in order. This can be a comforting experience. It can also better prepare your loved ones after you pass. Your family and friends will know of your plans and can be comforted to see that […]

Mediation is a way for spouses to resolve issues when deciding to get a divorce. For these couples, they are trying to avoid the courtroom and litigation proceedings. Through mediation, couples can meet with a neutral third party known as a mediator. The mediator is there to help conversation focus on being constructive and reaching […]

By having a trust, it provides a way to pass assets outside of probate. Because of this, there are some benefits to obtaining a trust. A trust can pass assets more quickly to people since it avoids the process of going through the Surrogate Court. With a trust comes tax benefits too. Through a trust, […]

After couples file for divorce, there are still many decisions that must be made. Filing for divorce may be one of the hardest decisions, but the decisions that are left to be made may cause more turmoil between spouses. During these times, couples are experiencing enough emotional distress. Now, they must also start thinking about […]

Divorces are the result of a breakdown of a marriage. If couples are considering divorce, it is likely due to a variety of reasons. Whether the couple has been having problems for a while or has faced an especially difficult dilemma that they cannot bounce back from, there is a reason they are feeling the […]