In many cases, spousal support isn’t intended to be a permanent shift of wealth from one person to an ex-spouse. While your former spouse may not remarry, if they begin cohabitating with a new partner, the support obligation generally ends. Much depends on the type of spousal maintenance agreement you sign onto, which will be […]
Author Archives: Friedman & Ranzenhofer
Yes, Buffalo allows collaborative and mediated divorces, so many couples are able to dissolve their marriage without the expense or drama of a litigated divorce. Collaborative and mediated divorces are similar to filing an uncontested divorce action, but in mediation, the parties work with a neutral mediator to come to terms about the elements of […]
It may seem impersonal, but rather than paying your child support directly to your former spouse, the judge will typically order you to remit payment to Buffalo’s Support Collections Unit (SCU), which is responsible for disbursing funds to your ex for the care of your children. The system is set up this way to better […]
A Buffalo driver arrested for Driving While Intoxicated Per Se as a class D Felony faces a very serious criminal charge. A defendant convicted of this offense not only will have a permanent criminal record, but also faces very high fines and the possibility of extensive jail time. While a first time DWI offender faces […]
A defendant who has previously been convicted of multiple drinking and driving offenses requires the help of an experienced Buffalo criminal defense lawyer. In almost all cases, having a history of DWI convictions will result in the current charge being enhanced and much greater penalties being imposed if convicted. Driving While Intoxicated Per Se as […]
Defense Attorney For DWI and DWAI Charges And Arrests Many courts in New York State, including courts in the Buffalo area, now have what are termed “drug court” or “drug treatment court” programs. While the specific criteria for entry into one of these court programs may vary from court to court, individuals arrested for alcohol-related […]
One of the most difficult situations faced by Buffalo drivers accused of drinking and driving is loss of driving privileges. Under New York State law, the driver’s license of most individuals arrested for DWI will be suspended by the judge during arraignment on the charge, which usually occurs at the first court appearance. The suspension […]
While a verbal agreement isn’t enforceable, if you’ve moved and the original custody order is no longer workable, you’ll have to petition Family Court with a request for modification. This can be done in Rochester or the new jurisdiction where you live. The court will probably want to know why you chose to rely on […]
Discovery is the process by which the two parties in a divorce divulge their financial records, property lists, net worth statements, and similar material to one another in order for each side to develop a valuation. In other words, discovery is how your attorney learns about your spouse’s financial situation in order to develop an […]
It’s very common for the court to order a parent to purchase a life insurance policy designating the child, children, or ex-spouse as the beneficiary in the event of the parent’s death. For the vast majority of policyholders, it never comes into play during the child support obligation, but acts as a backstop to protect […]
