Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

The Matrimonial StrategistFeaturesKickerLJN NewslettersNewsSections

The Time Has Come for Maintenance Guidelines

By Alton L. Abramowitz

Those of us who are members of the “baby boom generation,” or the “children of the Sixties,” have witnessed half a century of evolution in the world of family law. When many of us entered high school, the only ground for divorce in New York state, for instance, was also a criminal act ' adultery. By the time we graduated college, our legislature had added abandonment, as well as cruel and inhuman treatment, as additional grounds to enable previously “trapped” spouses to escape bad marriages. Like Chicken Little of our childhoods, crying, “the sky is falling, the sky is falling,” critics of this sea change in our approach to divorce proclaimed the demise of marriage as an institution that was a foundation of our society.

Today, few would question the right of our citizens to terminate the “bonds of matrimony” (a phrase that itself alludes to indentured servitude). For some 40 years, doomsayers managed to prevent New York from joining the No Fault Divorce movement that had begun in California. The cataclysm that opponents predicted when Irretrievable Breakdown of the Marriage Relationship was added as a basis for divorce in 2010 has yet to be witnessed; no calamity has befallen the people of New York, just as none occurred back in 1966. The perplexing and frustrating complexities that pervaded fault-based divorce gave way to a result-oriented process that has muffled the accusations that often formed a roadblock to reasoned solutions of issues such as child custody, division of marital property, child support and spousal maintenance. While judges still are called upon to act as referees, they are no longer compelled to participate in the soap opera that grounds trials presented to them.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Beach Boys Songs Written Decades Ago Triggered Current Quarrel With Lawyers Image

There's current litigation in the ongoing Beach Boys litigation saga. A lawsuit filed in 2019 against Nevada residents Mike Love and his wife Jacquelyne in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada that alleges inaccurate payment by the Loves under the retainer agreement and seeks $84.5 million in damages.

The Article 8 Opt In Image

The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.

Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws Image

This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.

Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin Image

With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.

Transfer Tax Implications on Real Property Leases Image

The real property transfer tax does not apply to all leases, and understanding the tax rules of the applicable jurisdiction can allow parties to plan ahead to avoid unnecessary tax liability.