Archived Posts - March 2011
Parents of Twins More Likely to Get Divorced
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Parents of twins may be slightly more likely to get divorced than parents without twins, according to a new study. The findings "are not surprising, given the stresses that caring for (twins) brings," Dr. John Moore, a pediatrician at Virginia Tech-Carilion School of Medicine in Roanoke who was not involved in the study, told Reuters Health. The difference in divorce rates was small - only 1 percent - and the authors say they can't be sure what would account for the added risk. It's possible, they note, that either the emotional or financial stre …
No Fault Divorce Means Keeping "Dirty Laundry" out of the Courtroom
The "No-Fault" Divorce Law is now applicable in all 50 states. This means that either spouse, with or without the consent of the other, can file for and obtain a dissolution of marriage for any reason. The fact that your spouse may have had countless affairs throughout your marriage will have no bearing on your divorce case. The courts will not award the injured spouse more assets or more parenting time based on infidelity alone. In fact, clients must be careful about airing "dirty laundry" in a court of law because they risk alienat …
Hiring a Family Law Attorney vs. Representing Yourself in a Court of Law
For a variety of reasons, many people choose to represent themselves when dealing with divorce, custody, child support or other family law matters. Making the decision to choose an attorney to represent you, verses representing yourself, may be one of the most important decisions you will ever make regarding your children's future and your financial security. We often meet clients who have attempted to represent themselves, but found they became overwhelmed and/or made significant errors, and are now trying to "undo" what happened in the …
The Harris Law Firm Seeing More Divorces in Rural Areas
By SABRINA TAVERNISE and ROBERT GEBELOFF So it is a bitter mark of modernity that even in rural America, divorce is up nearly sevenfold since 1970, giving the county the unwelcome distinction of being a standout in this category of census data. Divorce is still less common here than the national average, but its sharp jump illustrates a fundamental change in the patterns of family life. Forty years ago, divorced people were more concentrated in cities and suburbs. But geographic distinctions have all but vanished, and now, for the first time, rural Americans are just as likely to be divorced …
Remember to Address the Issue of Grown Children
Older couples who file for divorce often have children who are no longer minors. But the fact that custody and parenting time issues do not exist, does not mean that the best interests of the children are being addressed. If you are a parent with adult children, think about creating a financial plan, such as a trust, that clearly defines how you will distribute your assets to your children in the event of your passing. Otherwise, it is more likely that your new spouse, and/or his or her heirs, who will become the n …
Factor in Taxes on Retirement Accounts Before Dividing Marital Assets
For couples over 50, retirement assets held in 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and other retirement accounts may represent a significant portion of their net worth. At age 59 1/2,retirement assets can be distributed without penalty, but the distribution is still subject to taxes upon withdrawal. If an individual is subject to a 30% tax bracket , then the net value of the account is really only about 70% of the statement balance. According to the lawyers at The Harris Law Firm, before marital assets are distributed during a divorce, it …
Social Media Posts are Being Used as Evidence in Divorce Cases
Information posted on Facebook, Twitter, other social media sites, and email records can all be obtained as evidence in Colorado divorce proceedings. So if you are currently involved in a divorce action where there is potential conflict regarding parenting time, child custody, or the division of assets, be aware that damaging information collected from these channels can be used against you. Twenty percent of divorces now involve obtaining information about the opposing party via an online social media site, and an increasing number of Denver divorce attorneys say they are seei …
Relocating Following a Divorce – How This Can Affect Your Kids
If you are considering a long distance move from your former spouse after your divorce is final, you must first consider the effect a move may have on your children. When the custodial parent moves far away from the other parent, the separation can cause child to suffer from grief and separation anxiety. They have not only lost the daily interaction with their mother and father together as a family, but now the great distance from one parent makes consistent contact even more difficult . Additionally, a long distance move will also deny your& …
Strategize Before You File for Divorce
STRATEGIZE WITH A FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY Before you file for divorce, consider meeting with a Colorado family law attorney to discuss strategy. A domestic relations attorney will help you to understand your options according to Colorado law. Parties to divorce often create agreements that are not in their best interests because they were not fully informed or aware of their rights. One of our lawyers can help you to strategize by working with you to create budget for your future living expenses, to divide assets in an equitable manner, and craft a parenting plan that considers the b …
Colorado Child Custody: Try a Free Co-Parenting Calendar!
Finally a co-parenting calendar for divorced or separated parents! To obtain a free and easily shared calendar with your co-parent, just call Co-Families at 720 221 7797 or email them at info@cofamilies.com
TOP TEN LAWYERS OF THE DECADE!
Congratulations to Rich Harris for being selected as one of the finalists for the Top Ten Lawyers of the Decade by Law Week Colorado!
Colorado Divorce: Fort Collins Family Law Cases
For Colorado divorce and child custody issues in Weld, Larimer, Boulder counties and Loveland, call The Harris Law Firm in Fort Collins. Partner Steve Vertucci and Jonathan White can be reached at 970 472 1838. The office is located at 123 North College, in the Executive Suite #200.The Harris Law Firm is Colorado's Family Law Team.
Colorado Civil Unions Bill for Gay Couples
The Judiciary committee of the Colorado Senate approved a bill on Monday that would grant homosexual couples many of the same rights currently reserved for married heterosexual couples. Senate Bill 172, sponsored by Denver Democrat Pat Steadman, would "authorize any 2 unmarried adults, regardless of gender, to enter into a civil union," which would afford them eligibility for public assistance benefits, rights to visit one another in a correctional facility, and the ability to inherit property, among other rights. The bill passed its first legislation hurdle as the Judiciary Commit …
Colorado Divorce: Ask a Marriage Counselor a Question Via from the HFL Website!
Ask a marriage counselor a question via our website and receive an answer in 48 hours! Just click on the email form on the upper right hand side of our website!
Women in Military are Twice as Likely to Divorce as Their Male Counterparts
Recent statistics from the Pentagon indicate that women in the military are twice as likely to divorce as their male counterparts. . In 2010, 7.8 percent of women in the military obtained a divorce, compared with 3 percent of military men. Women in the military also get divorced at higher rates than their peers outside the armed services. Why military women are more burdened by divorce is unclear, but societal pressure is likely a factor. One speculation is that while more traditional men join the military, women who are attracted to military life are less conventional — an …
Colorado Custody: Should Unbalanced Parents Have Unsupervised Parenting Time?
Example: Per the attorneys at The Harris Law Firm, it is very possible that actor Charlie Sheen will have his parenting time modified soon. Sheen and his soon to be ex wife Brooke Mueller have 2 year old twin sons, Bob and Max, and he also has 2 young daughters, Sam 6, and Lola 5, by former wife Denise Richards. Following his very recent and ongoing public rages, the apparent mental decline of the actor is of the utmost concern to the mothers of his children. Given the public nature of his exploits, alleged drug abuse, and the questiona …
The Complexity of Famliy Law Cases for the Non-Traditional Family Continues
Per the lawyers at The Harris Law Firm, Colorado's family law team: Until we have laws that govern same-sex marriage, the family law cases associated with these non-traditional families is going to continue to be highly complex. A recent decision by the Texas Court of Appeals illustrates the complexity of one particularly ugly gay divorce. The partners lived in Houston but they traveled to Canada in 2003 to get married and then they registered as domestic partners in California in 2005. Because of the restrictions on gay partnerships and parentage in Texas, they arranged for a surrogate in C …
Social Media Cited in One of Every Five Divorce Cases
According to a recent survey of divorce lawyers by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the use of information obtained via Facebook and other forms of social media has been cited in more than 20% of divorce cases. Lawyers report that when one spouse begins to communicate via social media with a love interest from their past, their ongoing communication often leads them to a deeper connection. Typically, people who begin these interactions have no intention of having an affair, but the more they communicate, the more likely it is that they will create a meaningful relationship a …
Colorado Divorce: The Go To Family Law Firm in Fort Collins
For family law matters in Loveland, or Weld and Larimer counties, The Harris Law Firm also has an office in Fort Collins, Colorado. Located at 123 North College, in Suite 200 of the Executive Center, you can arrange a consultation with Stephen Vertucci, a partner at the firm, or Jonathan White, an associate, to discuss divorce, legal separation, parenting matters, or post decree issues. Call 970 472 1838 to schedule a meeting today.
