Author Archives: Lauren Kane
Mediation And Alimony: Will I Get What I Need?
Alimony is paid from one spouse to another in cases where one spouse does not make enough money to support their current lifestyle. Ultimately, alimony is determined by a number of factors, but the most significant of those factors is whether or not your spouse can afford to pay and how much they can… Read More »
Is Cheating Grounds For Divorce In Pennsylvania?
Today, most divorces are filed on no-fault grounds. Some states don’t allow fault divorces at all. Does that mean that in these states it’s okay to cheat on your spouse? Not really. Adultery can still be considered when divesting the marital estate, assigning alimony, or child custody issues. The rules are more about how… Read More »
Should I Pursue A Fault-Based Divorce In Pennsylvania?
The law provides Pennsylvania residents with the ability to either file for divorce on the grounds of fault or no-fault. The vast majority of divorces are no-fault because they are cheaper and easier to file. There are precious few scenarios when filing for divorce on the grounds of fault is more beneficial than pursuing… Read More »
What Is An Online Divorce And Should I Pursue One?
In some cases, pursuing an online divorce might be preferable. Imagine, for instance, that you go on a bender and wake up next to someone whose face you don’t recognize. They assure you that you married them the night before. In such a situation, an online divorce might make sense. You don’t have a… Read More »
How Do Spouses Hide Assets During Divorce?
Hiding assets from your spouse is illegal. However, understanding how assets are hidden and the asset-hiding process can make you a savvier divorcee if your spouse decides to use subterfuge during your divorce proceedings. It is important to understand that unless you have a prenuptial agreement or the law is on your side, everything… Read More »
Cryptocurrency Fraud In Divorce
Do you want to hide assets from your spouse? One way to do that is to divest your assets into a form that is harder to track down. Cryptocurrency is held in digital wallets which can be accessed by forensic accountants. Still, the money won’t show up in a bank account or be obviously… Read More »
Life Insurance Policy Lawsuit Goes Before SCOTUS After Divorce
A lawsuit over who should get the proceeds of a life insurance policy went before the U.S. Supreme Court. At issue was who should be the beneficiary of the policy. Minnesota has a rule making spouses the default beneficiary of any life insurance policy. However, this is revoked upon divorce. In one case, the… Read More »
Old Case Shines Light On Malpractice Claims Against Custody Psychologists
Folks have been filing lawsuits against child custody psychologists for at least 20 years. In Pennsylvania, one such case involved outrageous accusations of falsified data. The lawsuit was filed in 2001 and involved allegations against a former spouse and the forensic psychologist who was hired to provide a recommendation to the court. In this… Read More »
What Is A QDRO?
There is only one reason you have to know what a QDRO is. You’re in the early stages of a divorce. A QDRO stands for “qualified domestic relations order” and it applies to retirement funds and asset distribution in divorce. The QDRO is an order that authorizes a judge to split the proceeds of… Read More »
Divorce And PTSD: Understanding Divorce’s Impact On The Psyche
In 1967, precocious scientists invented the Social Readjustment Rating Scale, essentially defining which life events cause the most stress. As might be expected, a death in the family rated the highest with divorce coming in at number two. The study indicated that divorce causes more stressful changes to an individual’s life than most other… Read More »