David Shapiro

There’s probably no legal presumption of privacy from your spouse in your own home, so if you have belongings or documentation that you don’t want your spouse to see, it may be beneficial to house them elsewhere. If you have a desk at work or wish to invest in a storage space, you can keep … [Read more...] about Can My Spouse Go Through My Things If We’re Divorcing In Queens But Still Living In The Same Apartment?

Unfortunately, once your settlement agreement is submitted to the court, your case will finalized when the judge can get to it. Because of the large backlog of cases, this can routinely take six months, and sometimes longer. The waiting can be truly maddening for both spouses, who are … [Read more...] about How Long Will It Take For My Divorce In Queens To Be Final Once We Submit Our Settlement Agreement?

Because each state governs its own matrimonial law, including how divorce is handled, you’ll need to retain counsel in the state where the action was filed. However, in some circumstances it may be possible to challenge the jurisdiction and move the proceedings to New York. You should talk … [Read more...] about My Spouse Moved To Another State And Filed For Divorce There. Do I Need A Lawyer There, Or In Queens?

If you are planning to file for divorce, do not purchase a home in the meantime. Even though you live apart, if you are not legally separated, your spouse will have a claim on the value of the home as a marital asset. You should consult an experienced divorce attorney before making any large … [Read more...] about My Spouse And I Have Been Living Apart For A Year, And I Would Like To Buy A Home. Will This Be A Marital Asset When We Divorce In Queens?

There are significant long term upsides to waiting for the ten year mark if you’re close to it and plan to retire in the near future. Social Security provides spousal benefits even after divorce, as long as the marriage lasted for at least ten years. If your Social Security benefit will be … [Read more...] about My Spouse And I Have Been Married In Queens For Nine Years And We’re Both Nearing Retirement Age. Is It Worth It To Wait In Order To Be Eligible For Social Security Spousal Benefits?

There is obviously the risk of abuse when one spouse is ordered to pay the other’s legal fees, and judges are well aware of that potential. One aspect of their job is balancing the need of a lower-earning spouse to access competent legal assistance during the divorce, and another is being … [Read more...] about If I Have To Pay My Spouse’s Attorney Fees In Queens, What Incentive Do They Have To Settle Reasonably?