Syracuse Family Law Blog

As an experienced Syracuse family law attorney serving client across Central New York, I often asked: “Who gets to claim the children as dependents on their tax return?” While tax laws are primarily governed by the federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS), New York State has its own considerations that align closely with federal rules. In…

Divorce is a life-altering event that extends far beyond the dissolution of a marriage. It can significantly influence your financial future, including how your assets are distributed after your passing. In New York, specific laws govern how divorce interacts with wills and broader estate planning, often leading to automatic changes while requiring proactive updates in…

Adopting a child can be one of the most fulfilling journeys a person or family undertakes, bringing love, growth, and new beginnings. In New York State, the adoption process is designed to prioritize the child’s best interests while ensuring prospective parents are prepared for this lifelong commitment. As a Syracuse adoption attorney serving clients across…

When child custody is in dispute, New York courts aim to determine what arrangement serves the best interests of the child. In some cases, questions about a parent’s mental health, emotional stability, or parenting capacity may lead the court to order, or the parties to request, a psychiatric evaluation, also commonly referred to as a…

When parents separate or divorce, it’s not uncommon for emotions to run high. Unfortunately, sometimes those emotions spill over into the parent–child relationship, leading one parent to influence a child against the other. One parent may engage in behaviors that undermine the child’s relationship with the other parent, often leading to the child reject or…

As an experienced Syracuse grandparent rights attorney practicing throughout Central New York, I often encounter grandparents who are deeply involved in their grandchildren’s lives and may find themselves in situations where they need to seek legal custody. Grandparent custody can arise in challenging family circumstances, such as parental unfitness, abandonment, or other issues that affect…

As an experienced Syracuse child support lawyer serving clients across Central New York State, I often hear from clients wondering if their child support orders can be adjusted to reflect changes in their lives. The short answer is yes; child support orders aren’t set in stone. New York law recognizes that circumstances change, whether due…

As a Syracuse divorce attorney practicing across Central New York, I’m often posed questions from clients about the divorce process. For many years, getting a divorce in New York required proving that one spouse was “at fault” for the breakdown of the marriage, such as through adultery, cruelty, or abandonment, which often led to lengthy,…

Child custody arrangements are designed to serve the best interests of the child, but life circumstances can change over time. In New York State, custody orders are not set in stone and can be modified if certain conditions are met. Whether you’re dealing with a relocation, a shift in parental responsibilities, or evolving needs of…

In New York State, child custody determinations are guided by the paramount principle of the child’s best interests. When domestic violence allegations enter the picture, they can profoundly influence the outcome of custody battles. Courts take these claims seriously, recognizing that exposure to violence, whether directed at the child or another family member, can have…