If you are experiencing domestic violence in your home, you still have access to the courts for help even in a time when the coronavirus pandemic is shutting down businesses and other institutions. Even if there has been no physical violence yet, you may still fear for your safety. In this time of mandatory “stay at home” orders, things may get challenging and frightening quickly. Please know that your local County Family Court in New…
At The Colwell Law Group our attorneys understand that the outbreak of COVID-19 has created a challenging time for all families. Each day disruptions both large and small occur as a result of this Coronavirus pandemic. These sudden disruptions can have a negative affect on your family, especially your children and your custody situation. Your family may be facing new challenges such as closed schools, different work schedules, changes in monetary income, or illness. In…
Albany family law attorneys will tell you that most divorce cases settle and that only five percent proceed to trial. They will also tell you if asked, that the main question in your divorce is how difficult and expensive it will be before you and your spouse will be able to settle and finalize your divorce. There are common mistakes divorcing couples make that lengthen the divorce proceedings and roughen the road they travel on…
Equitable Division of Property in a Divorce How to Divide Property Equitably—What the Court Considers Deciding what to do about the marital home is just one aspect of the bigger question of how to divide your marital property in the divorce. If you and your ex are negotiating a no-fault divorce, you can work with your respective attorneys to iron out a settlement agreement that works for both of you. If it goes to litigation,…
Is a Prenup the Right Thing for You? Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions and misunderstandings about prenuptial agreements. For many couples, prenups can be useful. They provide real benefits, important clarity, and help to facilitate open and healthy communication. At the same time, prenups also carry a certain stigma, which makes many people inherently resistant to signing one. However, there is strong evidence that the stigma is changing. Recently, the American Academy of…
Financially Preparing for a Divorce A divorce is one of the most emotional events a person will go through. It’s also one of the most costly. The average cost of a divorce ranges from $15,000 to $30,000. Given that this such a huge number, it’s a good idea to prepare for a divorce ahead of time. If you think you might be ending your marriage soon, now’s a good time to start saving up. Before…
Figuring Out Spousal Support in a Divorce —How It Works and How to Secure the Support You Need Once you’ve ironed out equitable distribution of your marital assets and debts in your divorce, you still have to figure out the matter of income and ongoing support—both for you and any children you may have. Unfortunately, determining these amounts can get quite complicated here in New York, and for that reason, it frequently causes contention between…
At the Colwell Law Group, we regularly hear from grandparents who are being denied visitation with their grandchildren. They are very upset, and they want to know what rights they have. The truth is that the law is very convoluted when it comes to grandparents’ rights. Although you might have the ability to obtain visitation, you will need an experienced family lawyer by your side to guide you through this process. Visitation Children benefit from…
What are My Rights as a Father? New York law regarding fathers’ rights has changed dramatically. Not too long ago, judges automatically gave mothers custody and ordered fathers to pay child support and alimony. Today, courts treat mothers and fathers equally—in theory. However, we see far too many fathers not protect their rights during a divorce. Fathers Have a Right to Temporary or Permanent Custody As soon as someone files the divorce papers, a judge…
Types of Custody in New York When a couple with children separate, several decisions must be made regarding the welfare of the children. One of the issues parents face is determining the custody of the children. In Albany, there are several forms of child custody, and parents should try to work out an agreement that works for everyone involved. Legal Custody Legal custody is granted to one or both parents. Whoever is granted legal custody…
The global impact of Coronavirus has been unprecedented, and just as each of you, we are taking the situation one day at a time. Our thoughts go out to all who have been affected by the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19). Please know that the Colwell Law Group takes the safety and wellbeing of our clients and team members very seriously. In accordance with the firm's emergency response plan, all team members have begun working via secure remote connections. However, 100% of our regular operations will continue uninterrupted via these remote connections.
Most court clerks remain open to accept new filings and motions. Emergency applications can still be heard. However, previously scheduled appearances have been adjourned until further notice. If you have a scheduled call or meeting with any member of the CLG team, you can expect it to proceed as scheduled. Given the situation, all such meetings will take place over the phone or video conference until further notice.
Thank you for your understanding and patience during these trying times. We know that your family law issues do not just disappear because we must shelter in place. In fact, in many situations the quarantine will only serve to make these issues worse. CLG stands ready to help! We are dedicated to serving your needs in this new normal and further your best interests as always. While the developing situation surrounding COVID-19 is serious, at CLG we’re focused on combating fear with proactive solutions rather than reactive retreats.
For further information, please contact our Director of Operations, Jennifer Stevens at Jstevens@colwell-law.com or 518-462-4242. Thank you.
