New York Family Law Blog

Published on: June 25, 2011

Ron Reagan Divorce Caused By Congressional Testimony?

by Stephen Bilkis

Actually, I think this should be something like common sense. Saying the unexpected or the controversial has a price. Losing your job is only one part of the potential price you pay for non-conformity. You may keep your job but be given the silent treatment by colleagues; many would find loss of bonhomie nearly as frightening as loss of a paycheck. Exercise of free speech can certainly damage family relations; one theory of the Ronald Reagan-Jane Wyman divorce is that it came because Reagan was willing to testify before Congress on communist influence in Hollywood. Many might consider a divorce more drastic than losing a job.

If you are a party in a divorce in Brooklyn or the Bronx, it is crucial to have a N.Y. Family Lawyer representing you. The custody of your children either full or joint and visitation privileges could be at stake. A capable New York Family Lawyer will be able to get results that you can live with. Child abuse and neglect may cause the court to issue an order of protection.

Simply guaranteeing employment will not foster intellectual independence. If you want to go that route, you’ll have to guarantee that every tenured professor gets to keep his or her friends and stay married as well.

Published on: June 23, 2011

A scam involving child support reported

by Stephen Bilkis

In Texas, child support payments didn’t make it to the receiver because of a child support scam that has three main suspects. The three have plead guilty to the crime of Child support payment mail fraud and aggravated identity theft last Tuesday. They worked for a company that does processing of child support payments for the state of Texas, reported a N York Family Lawyer. They face 20 years in prison for these charges.

Thirteen are involved in this case but three have already plead guilty. The child support payments were made with Affiliated Computer Services who had an 18.2 million dollar contract to make payments to Texans in the form of Texas debit cards. The 13 people accused took advantage of this contract and used the debit cards to buy themselves things. They gave these Texas debit cards to friends. They friends then bought things for the accused using the debit cards.

Xerox recently bought out Affiliated Computer Services. This new company paid back the debit card victims $275,000, according to the US attorney generals office.

Published on: June 22, 2011

Child trafficking concerns halt adoption proceedings in Nepal, reports New York Family Lawyer 

by Stephen Bilkis

Families who are looking to adopt a child from Nepal, or who are in the process of doing so, have been put on hold as adoption proceedings have been made more difficult in recent months because of fears of child trafficking, said a New York Family Lawyer.   Dozens of families that have spent thousands of dollars in adoption fees and overseas travel in attempt to open their homes to abandoned children have been stopped short of finalizing the proceedings because officials in Nepal are concerned that some of the children being adopted out were not really abandoned, but stolen, which has devastated those who are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their new son or daughter.   The New York Family Lawyer cited cases where adoptive families were given a choice by Nepalese officials to either stay in India until investigations into the birth parents of the child had been resolved, which happens very slowly, or to go back to the US and wait until such proof has been established. In a country where poverty and disease is rampant and children are left to die because no one can care for them, it seems as if adoption by a US family would be in the best interest of the child.   Even so, describes the New York City Family Lawyer, Americans cannot typically afford to suspend their livelihoods and put everything on hold to remain in Nepal for an undetermined amount of time. Leaving the children that they crossed the globe to rescue and to love proves to be one of the most difficult things an adoptive parent can do, but often there is no choice since things move so slowly.   

Marriage, divorce, custody and adoption all fall under the category of Family Law. A reputable New York Family Attorney is a good resource if you are struggling with any of these issues. Call a recognized New York Family Attorney today for information, education and representation in these areas.The firm of Stephen Bilkis & Associates with convenient locations in the Metropolitan Area, including servicing Brooklyn, New York City, can be of invaluable assistance to you if you find yourself a party to a case. Facing the Court without professional representation could lead to bad results.

Published on: June 20, 2011

Authorities crack down on truancy by sending non-compliant parents to jail

by Stephen Bilkis

 Remember the good old days when skipping a day of school was not punishable by fines and jail time? Most of us have taken an unscheduled day off of school at one time or another as children, having begged our parents, with sleepy eyes, to just let us stay in bed, suggests a New York Family Lawyer. According to school officials and lawmakers, those days are no longer acceptable.   Truancy is a big problem in public schools, reports a New York Family Lawyer. A truant child is one who has three or more unexcused absences in a school year. Those just because days are to blame. Authorities are sending a big message that it is not okay for children to miss school just because they don’t feel like going.

Although this is not your normal Child Neglect, in New York City and Queens this kind of parental action or lack thereof comes very close.

Now a new law has been enacted that will fine parents of habitually truant children up to $2000 if they do not attempt to see that their children are at their desk each and every day.   Granted, there are parents who simply do not care whether their kids get an education or not, and these parents are the focus of these heightened penalties. And while a $2000 fine might seem excessive, failing to pay that fine and get your kids up and on the bus could land parents in jail, according to this new law.   Obviously this bill is targeted towards parents of children whose truancy has become excessive and will not affect a family who decides to take a road trip one day rather than sit in a stuffy classroom or work cubicle, establishes the New York Family Lawyer. Even so, it might make parents think twice when considering the pleas of sleepy children that a day off from school is exactly what they need.

Published on: June 18, 2011

Benefits of marriage still outweigh the disadvantages

by Stephen Bilkis

It seems as if marriage has become on outdated institution in recent decades. The partnership between husband and wife has lost its significance as single parent households are becoming more commonplace. Laws have been changed, benefits to singles have been increased, and more children now come from broken homes than ever before. Even so, by all accounts, marriage still has its benefits, says a New York Family Lawyer.   Aside from the union of two hearts, marriage can be seen as a union of two lives, bound in one common goal to meet the needs of the family. It is much easier to succeed in this world if we are not doing it alone, according to the New York Family Lawyer. Cooperation, the division of time and skills and the sharing of resources are just a few of the benefits that a marriage brings to life.   The New York Family Lawyer reports that financially, marriage is still the best way to succeed, what with tax breaks for families with children being more available to married couples than non-married couples. Social security is set up for married couples to reap the benefits of their spouse’s years in the work force. Non married couples do not receive such benefits, even if they have been together for years.   The NY Family Lawyer went on to suggest that even with the financial gains that married couples sustain, such a union should not be entered into strictly for financial reasons. Couples who wish to raise a family together would do well to get married if they are committed to the family and the partnership. All of the financial benefits of marriage mean nothing if the couple ends up divorcing a few years later.  In matters of marriage, civil union and divorce, emotions run high.

Successfully navigating the waters requires the knowledge and reliability of a New York Family Attorney, who can see through the heightened emotional pain and effectively guide you through. Call a New York Family Attorney today for consultation and representation.The firm of Stephen Bilkis & Associates with convenient locations thorughout the Metropolitan Area, including servicing Rockaway, New York City, can be of invaluable assistance to you if you find yourself a party to a case. Facing the Court without professional representation could lead to disastrous results.

Published on: June 15, 2011

Woman accused of setting boyfriend on fire denies charges, cites New York City Family Lawyer

by Stephen Bilkis

A 40 year old woman has been accused of dousing her boyfriend with nail polish remover in an argument and lighting him on fire, according to reports by a New York Family Lawyer. The woman’s 10 year old son and the couple’s small daughter were reportedly present in the house at the time of the incident.   Neighbors called police when they heard an argument escalate into screams of pain. Police arrived on the scene to find the man seriously burned, and blaming his girlfriend. The 44 year old victim alleges that his girlfriend was angry about his drinking, which started the argument that led to the incident in question.   The woman denies lighting her boyfriend on fire, claiming that it was he who doused himself with nail polish remover and set his clothes alight, accusing her of the crime, reports the N York Family Lawyer. Neighbors who live in the building expressed surprise and shock when they heard about the incident, saying that they had heard the couple argue on numerous occasions but had never expected that violence would erupt in the apartment.   A judge ruled the woman to stand trial and has place her under arrest with $200,000 bail. The two children were taken into custody and have been placed in foster care and they are undergoing evaluation, stated the New York Family Lawyer. More information on this case will be released pending further investigation. A trial hearing had been set for January 12 and results of that hearing are as yet unavailable.   Domestic abuse is often a precursor to legal disputes within a family unit.

If you find yourself in a dangerous or questionable situation, needing consultation or legal advice, call a N York Family Attorney to find out what your rights are. do not let a bad situation escalate into a criminal case. Call a respected New York Family Attorney today.

The firm of Stephen Bilkis & Associates with convenient locations thorughout the Metropolitan Area, including servicing Arverne, N.Y., can be of invaluable assistance to you if you find yourself a party to a case. Facing the Court without professional representation could lead to disastrous results.

Published on: June 14, 2011

Same-sex Nebraska City couple denied divorce

by Stephen Bilkis

A Nebraska district court judge denied a divorce to a same-sex couple on Tuesday. The couple got married in 2003 when they lived in Vermont.

The judge said that according to Nebraska Constitution, Nebraska does not see them as a married couple, a New York Family Lawyer stated. According to the constitution, “only marriage between a man and a woman shall be valid or recognized in Nebraska,” the judge said.

Nebraska does not see the marriage as validate and he cannot dissolve the union. Nebraska is not the only state that does not recognize same-sex marriages. Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Texas and Rhode Island also have similar constitution.

Published on: June 13, 2011

Bill Reintroduced to Congress: Same-Sex Couples to Sponsor Foreign Partners

by Stephen Bilkis

About two months ago, the Obama Administration announced that it would not defend the Defense of Marriage Act, the controversial act that restricts federal benefits for heterosexual couples. Since that announcement, Immigration Equality, a nonprofit based in Washington and New York that advocates in favor of gay immigrants, announced its plans to challenge the immigration law affecting same-sex couples.

As a New York Family Lawyer relates, gay couples face a conundrum when one of the two is a foreign national. They have to make hard decisions. Either the immigrant partner has to live in the shadows of America, hiding and becoming paranoid, or both have to move to a more accommodating country. The decision to leave your country of birth is a monumental leap, and some wonder why it should even have to be considered.

A NYC Family Lawyer shares that under current legislation, heterosexual couples can sponsor their spouse for visas or green cards. Recently, however, U.S. lawmakers reintroduced a bill that will allow gay Americans to do the same with their same-sex partners. The Uniting American Families Act was introduced in both the House and the Senate, and has the largest number of supporters it’s had since 2000 when it was introduced. While the bill has remained stagnant for the last decade, now there are 98 cosponsors of the bill in the House and 18 in the Senate. If passed, UAFA will allow Americans to sponsor their gay “permanent partner,” who is defined as someone who has the intention of maintaining a lifelong intimate relationship with his or her partner. Same sex marriage is on the agenda in counties like Brooklyn and The Bronx.

Published on: June 12, 2011

Charlie Sheen’s Twins not in His Custody

by Stephen Bilkis

Actor Charlie Sheen has stumbled into a mess of recent struggles. The latest rebuff came when his petition to take custody of his twin sons from his estranged wife, Brooke Mueller, was shot down in court. The custody is to remain as an earlier custody agreement outlines. According to a New York City Family Attorney, those records have so far been kept confidential.

Both Sheen and Mueller were at the hearing. It is public knowledge that both have been struggling with sobriety for quite a while. In fact, Mueller just recently returned to rehab.

After the hearing, Sheen left the courthouse surrounded by his security detail and flew straight out to Washington D.C. to perform his stage show. When Mueller left the courthouse she was smiling and even hugged her attorney. She declined to comment, however.

Published on: June 11, 2011

16-Year-Old Mother Arrested After Taking Own Child

by Stephen Bilkis

Daytona Beach police told of a 16-year-old mother who was arrested after taking her baby from a foster home agency that worked with abused and neglected children to give them new homes.

The girl and her baby had been taken to Community Partnership for Children in Daytona Beach, Florida. She was brought in by a caseworker from Jacksonville.

Once the girl understood she and her child were going to be separated, she sent texts to two of her friends, asking them to come pick her up, investigators told NYC Family Lawyers. According to police, she took her baby and ran to the car.