Buffalo Divorce Blog

Three signs that you are married to a narcissist

On behalf of Keith B. Schulefand, Esq. posted in Divorce on Wednesday, August 15, 2018.

Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Generally, when we get involved with someone, we try to see the best assets they have to offer and the potential to improve in areas that are not as strong. However, some personality flaws are more than just shortcomings -- they may be signs of a genuine disorder. Such is the case with narcissistic personality disorder.

It takes a diagnosis from a trained professional to get an accurate reading of a disorder versus a character flaw. Nevertheless, it still can be helpful to learn the signs that can provide insights into the behavior, particularly if you are married and it is creating a high level of stress in the relationship.

How to deal with “back to school” stress as a single parent

On behalf of Keith B. Schulefand, Esq. posted in Child Custody on Monday, August 13, 2018.

Single parents have a lot on their plate; they have to balance their careers, social lives and a healthy lifestyle. However, a parent’s largest priority is typically their children and their needs. It makes sense that most single parents dread the back-to-school advertisements every August.

Going back to school means buying new clothes, school supplies and backpacks for the kids. It also includes meeting with teachers, visiting classrooms and preparing your child for the mountain of homework in September.

Taking measures to prevent mistakes and prepare for divorce

On behalf of Keith B. Schulefand, Esq. on Friday, August 10, 2018.

Going through the end of a marriage is rarely a stress-free experience. If you and your spouse make the decision to dissolve your marriage, you may face a variety of difficult decisions, each of which could have a significant impact on your life, even if only temporarily.

With numerous factors to address and a certain level of uncertainty involved, you could be feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the process. Since you likely place a high priority on protecting your financial future, you could be in search of guidance on what to expect and how to prepare for legal proceedings.

Settling child custody issues can be peaceful and swift

On behalf of Keith B. Schulefand, Esq. posted in Child Custody on Wednesday, August 8, 2018.

Parents residing in New York may feel a sense of dread when they hear the words "child custody." On some occasions, attempting to get a child custody order put into place by the court can be a trying time for all involved. Parents in the midst of divorce proceedings may have an especially difficult time reaching an amicable agreement, since they are already dealing with a myriad of issues surrounding the end of their marriage.

Parents should be aware that, even when they do not see eye to eye, with proper legal guidance, a custody issue can be settled between both parties without exposing the children to a stressful legal battle. Recently, Donald Trump Jr. and his estranged wife Vanessa have proved that, though a marriage partnership is coming to a close, a new co-parenting partnership can begin peacefully.

New tax law to eliminate tax break for alimony payments

On behalf of Keith B. Schulefand, Esq. posted in high asset divorce on Wednesday, July 25, 2018.

The changes to the tax code will eliminate a break for those who pay alimony. The old system allowed those who paid alimony (also called spousal maintenance) to deduct that amount from their income taxes. The change goes into effect in 2019, but any agreement signed before the end of the year will be honored.

Rush to divorce

Are separations financially smart?

On behalf of Keith B. Schulefand, Esq. posted in Divorce on Monday, July 16, 2018.

The recent death of Anthony Bourdain was a tragedy for his many fans. While many were aware that he had started dating Italian actress Asia Argeto, they didn’t realize that he was amicably separated to his second wife and mother of their daughter.

Different family units work in different ways, but there has recently been a decided rise in couples not rushing to divorce even though they separate. The reasons for this are as unique as the couples themselves, but a common theme is that it enables them to save money. This may be the case, but this approach can also lead to problems.

Wall Street exec to pay $4.1 million before trial begins

On behalf of Keith B. Schulefand, Esq. posted in high asset divorce on Wednesday, July 11, 2018.

Anyone who has gone through divorce knows that it is never as easy or straightforward as it could be. Moreover, divorce involves many financial challenges for couples who have large and complicated estates. An extreme example of this is when an appellate court judge ordered hedge fund manager Remy Trafelet to pay $600,000 in 2017 and $3.5 million more in 2018 to his wife Lara as an interim fee while the divorce is litigated.

The reasoning behind requiring this money up front is the estimated cost of untangling the couple’s $200 million estate with its $150 million trust. The payments will cover the wife’s legal bills in what promises to be a long and litigious process – the couple filed for divorce in 2015 and Mr. Trafelet has taken what one story referred to as a “scorched earth” approach to the split.

How can I know if it's time to divorce my spouse?

On behalf of Keith B. Schulefand, Esq. on Monday, July 2, 2018.

There is no such thing as a perfect marriage. Even those New York couples who seem to have it all together in public likely have their secret disputes and conflicts. You may be among those people, or you may have deeper issues with your spouse. Perhaps you are having more rough patches the longer you are married, or perhaps your spouse's behavior is becoming increasingly difficult to excuse.

No matter the particulars, if you find yourself considering the option of divorce more frequently as years pass, you may be wondering if it is time to take steps to end your marriage. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of when it is the right time to divorce, there are some indicators that the damage to your relationship may be irreparable or the damage to your own well-being may be imminent unless you make a change.

There are now 6 ways to become a parent

On behalf of Keith B. Schulefand, Esq. posted in Child Custody on Wednesday, June 27, 2018.

The old way of thinking about parenthood involved two options. One was the traditional method of two biological or adoptive parents, either married or not. There was also the single parent. Based on recent changes, New York state is offering up to six different options for a parent. This is due to a change in the definition of parent, which has evolved quickly in light of rights of people and parents in the LBGTQ communities.

The old way of thinking

Married millennials more likely to keep separate bank accounts

On behalf of Keith B. Schulefand, Esq. posted in prenuptial agreements on Wednesday, June 20, 2018.

One sure sign that a couple was getting married used to be that they would open a joint bank account. The thinking was that it easier to run household when there a joint account to pay the bills, but symbolically it was also a show of commitment or loyalty where they now shared everything regardless of where it comes from. A recent study by Bank of American, however, polled 1,500 customers and found that the joint account is no longer a given for couples, particularly among millennials.

More than boomers and gen x-ers