Queens

Published on: January 15, 2012

Woman’s Wrongful Death Suit Reinstated by Appeals Court

by Stephen Bilkis

“A state appeals court reinstated a woman’s lawsuit,” a New York Family Lawyer reports. The wrongful death suit was over a man she had considered to be her husband for four years, but who was not divorced from his previous wife before their wedding day.

The Sixth District Court of Appeals in ruled that someone who “believed in good faith” that he or she was legally married is, indeed, entitled to marital rights – including the right to sue in the case of wrongful death. This ruling goes against more than 20 years of opposing rulings in the cases of “putative spouses.”

A putative spouse is one who mistakenly believes they are married. California courts have recognized the rights of such spouses for a century or more. Legislation affirmed those same rights in 1969.

Published on: September 21, 2011

Christie Brinkley Divorced

by Stephen Bilkis

Christie Brinkley, known for her beauty, is starting to set records for failed marriages. She has announced her separation from her fourth and current husband. A NYC Family Lawyer is constantly involved in these high profile cases. Billy Joel was number two and she and Billy had a daughter together.

After a decade of marital bliss, Brinkley is calling it quits with Peter Cooke. She has a daughter with Cooke, and a son with Richard Taubman who was husband number three. Attorneys in Queens and Staten Island study these cases in case one comes their way.

Taubman made out well when the couple split. He was paid a couple of million to leave the marriage quietly and go on his way. the marriage only lasted 10 months. As for Billy Joel, he was also coming off a failed marriage when he met and married “The Uptown Girl.” He is married again to Katie Lee and that one is still going.

Published on: September 13, 2011

Divorce doesn’t have to Mean Refinancing

by Stephen Bilkis

Many divorced home owners find it very difficult to remove their name from their mortgage agreement. After buying out the equity stake in the house, the only option that many people have is to refinance according to a New York Family Lawyer. There is however, a much easier option that can help you to avoid the costs and difficulties with refinancing.

Refinancing can actually cost as much as 3-6% of the outstanding balance on the loan. There is however an easy way to avoid this cost. That’s to ask your lender to remove the other partners name from the loan which will leave the loan in only your name. Manhattan and Queens lawyers try to make their services affordable for clients who may not be millionaires.

While this sounds very easy, it’s not actually something that is possible with all lenders. This is known as a release of liability and normally they will need to do a separate credit check on both parties at the time of taking out the loan. They will also normally require both people to agree the changes which could be difficult in some divorces.

Published on: March 3, 2011

New Jersey Man Recalls Heartbreak and Joy in Book About Five Year Custody Battle, According to a NYC Family Lawyer

by Stephen Bilkis

There is a lot to be said for dedication and perseverance, according to a New York Family Lawyer. David Goldman is the king of perseverance and dedication in many ways. Back in 2004 his girlfriend took their then 4 year old son Sean to Brazil for what was supposed to be a vacation to visit her parents.

Once they got there, Goldman’s girlfriend broke up with him and said that she was staying in Brazil with their son, effectively disconnecting contact from Goldman with the most important person in his life, reports the New York Family Lawyer. Goldman was not going to be deterred. Bravely and against all odds, he filed for custody and fought for his son for five long years.

Reports that the New York Family Lawyer submitted revealed that even after Goldman’s ex girlfriend died in childbirth in 2008, both the step dad and maternal Grandmother would still not give up the fight for the right to keep Sean. Finally in late 2009, Goldman was elated to win custody of his son, who finally joined him for good.

Published on: November 29, 2010

School’s Laptop’s Rigged to Spy On Families Reports New York Family Lawyers

by Stephen Bilkis

What should the families involved in a situation where school officials are using laptops to spy on them? It seems that we make jokes about Big Brother quite often but in this case, it is more like Spying Schools. New York Family Lawyers can help the family’s sort out exactly what has occurred in this particular situation.

The laptops were basically school-issued equipment but were rigged with web cams without the knowledge of the students or parents. And, the officials at the lower Merion School District declined to comment on the accusations. It seems that many of the families were observed in compromising situations and obviously are unhappy.

The students in this school were angry enough to revolt by putting tape on the laptop’s camera and microphones. The sophomore students taped up the computers and seem to be simply disgusted that the school officials were even trying to watch his every move. The cameras were thought to have recorded various family members as they undressed. New York Family Lawyers know as well as the students, parents and school officials that this is simply not appropriate.