Vayman & Teitelbaum, P.C.

A well-drafted custody agreement shouldn't just say how much time each parent should get to spend with their child. It should also get into as many specifics as possible - like where the child will spend birthdays, vacations, and holidays. #VandTLaw

It's perfectly normal to agree to disagree with your ex or co-parent. Make sure that you stay on the same page on at least a few key issues where you see eye-to-eye so that the kids have a sense of structure. #VandTLaw

The time to discuss values and preferences is before you get married, especially in second marriages or when forming a blended family. Better to have one uncomfortable conversation ahead of time than to discover later that you don't agree on something fundamental. #VandTLaw

Spousal support is not about getting rich. It's about assuring a minimum standard of support for the spouse whose finances and earning capacity went down because they had been spending time and effort working on the home and the marriage rather than their career. #VandTLaw

Splitting the family home is one of the more heavy decisions in a divorce. There are typically three main choices: Selling the house and dividing the proceeds, sharing title to the home, or having one partner keep the home outright and refinancing the mortgage to remove the other partner from the title. #VandTLaw

The toughest piece of marital property that needs to be split in a divorce is the family home. Broadly speaking, this can be achieved by either selling the house and dividing the proceeds, sharing title to the home, or having one partner keep the home outright and refinancing the mortgage to remove the other partner from the title. #VandTLaw

They say that the devil is in the details, and sensitive negotiations with your ex are going to be no exception. In order to avoid shouting matches and nasty surprises as the conversations wear both sides down, it's critical to have periodic "check-ins" with your lawyer - without the other side - to calmly discuss where things are at and what needs to be done in order to reach a satisfactory conclusion. #VandTLaw

There's no real compensation that you can get from your ex for their fault in you having to miss out on quality time with your kids or other important life events. Still, it's important to keep a record of these little injustices so that you have a clear argument when the next inevitable confrontation or negotiation comes around. #VandTLaw

As the COVID-19 countermeasures stay with us into 2021, your custody and alimony terms may need to be updated to appropriately deal with the current situation. Temporary modifications are available while you wait for things to get back to normal - ask us how. #VandTLaw

If you feel your custody or alimony arrangement isn't working, we're happy to help you discuss any necessary changes. That being said, we also might have a thing or two to say about what steps you can take to make the current arrangement work for you. Sometimes, what you need isn't a new agreement - just a fresh perspective. #VandTLaw

Negotiating a divorce and custody agreement through a lawyer or mediator requires both sides to be on board. If one side doesn't cooperate, the only way forward is through the courts. #VandTLaw

Income stability is never guaranteed in life. If times are particularly good (or at least stable) when you are negotiating your child support and alimony arrangement, consider a clause requiring your ex to maintain life and disability insurance so as to provide an additional layer of comfort. #VandTLaw

Marital standard of living is a good benchmark for determining spousal support, but it is not the only measure. If the court finds that the marital standard of living was a result of irresponsible or unsustainable spending - expensive taste will not be grounds for higher spousal payments. #VandTLaw

Spouses tend to want to keep joint bank accounts, but there may be advantages to keeping some accounts separate - especially in second marriages. Among other things, keeping your assets separate can be very helpful when you plan on keeping separate wills for children from previous relationships, or when one spouse has child support obligations and you want the funds to come only from their private account. #VandTLaw

Divorce, as the saying goes, is just another form of marriage. If your relationship is coming to an inevitable end, make sure the arrangement is drafted to fit your own unique needs. #VandTLaw

Whether you communicate with your ex regarding the kids directly or through your lawyer(s), it's important to stay consistent and for everyone to know what the agreed process is. At the end of the day, what's best for your kids is certainty. #VandTLaw

You probably have issues that are less important to you when negotiating a settlement with your ex - but you don't necessarily have to let them know what they are. A better negotiating tactic would be to let your lawyer know all the different considerations and talking points, and see what kinds of terms you are offered. #VandTLaw

The court will consider factors other than income to determine how much alimony needs to be paid. Examples could be if one spouse has been particularly wasteful, of if they have low income but substantial property. #VandTLaw

Today we celebrate this country and its unique democratic process. We don't take liberty for granted, and as attorneys, we fight for it each and every day. #VandTLaw

The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has provided families with an opportunity to update outdated settlement terms. If you and your ex need to rewrite the ground-rules to reflect the new normal, contact us to discuss. #VandTLaw

All divorce and custody agreements must be approved by the courts in your state, even when you go through your lawyers and agree on everything ahead of time. Courts can potentially refuse to approve one or more elements if they determine that it is particularly unfair to one side. #VandTLaw

Prenups and marriage agreements shouldn't feel like a sign of bad luck. However, if the happy couple is too giddy to consider it, perhaps it's better off if mom and dad provide them with a little encouragement and stress that it's just a formality rather than a sign of things to come. #VandTLaw

If you and your ex can agree on the details, birdnesting can provide a sense of emotional stability for the kids and financial stability for you. One possibility, if the family home is all or partially paid off, is to take a home equity loan in order to buy a smaller place nearby for the other parent to stay while away from the kids. #VandTLaw

Ask your lawyer about how child support payments are calculated under your state's laws, given the relative amount of time each parent spends with the child(ren). Understanding the parameters could help you make an informed decision about issues like after-school care and weekend extracurriculars. #VandTLaw

If you notice a mistake in your divorce settlement or custody agreement, don't panic, and don't resign yourself to living with the mistake. Alert your lawyer as soon as possible and they will contact the other side to draft an amendment or addendum by mutual consent. If your ex doesn't cooperate, you can still go to court and petition to reform the agreement on the basis of the error. #VandTLaw

In equitable distribution states, abuse can be taken into account when dividing up property in a divorce. New York law even mentions it explicitly. However, even if you are in a community property state, there could be exceptions to the rule. Make sure you tell your lawyer all of the relevant factors - including abuse and other special circumstances. #VandTLaw

In many states, infidelity can be grounds for denying alimony to the unfaithful spouse. However, it usually is not a significant factor in determining custody - the main concern here is the welfare of the children. #VandTLaw

It's often a good idea to try and negotiate a reasonable agreement without having to go before a judge, but sometimes you have no choice but to make the dispute official by going to court. If and when that happens, we're here to guide you through the process. #VandTLaw