Syracuse Family Law Blog

With the recent political stir about the Supreme Court's decision to evaluate the Defense of Marriage Act, experts say that more same-sex couples are likely to take the plunge in coming months. Eleven states throughout the nation have passed legislation permitting same-sex marriages, and several others have designated such pairings as legal partnerships.

With the excitement of marriage, though, comes the sad reality of divorce. Just like heterosexual couples, same-sex partners need access to appropriate legal processes to terminate their marriages. This is not always the case, however, as most states with same-sex marriage laws have not caught up on the same-sex divorce trend. Federal rights are affected by the Defense of Marriage Act, and your local rights will be determined by the state in which you reside - not the state in which you were married.

If you are a parent of very young children who has just divorced, you may have noticed that child custody proceedings generally consider infants and toddlers in a different class from older children. These youngsters are considered to be in their “tender years” and still more vulnerable because they require a significant amount of personal care. As you work through the details of your child custody agreement, experts say you should be mindful of certain differences between arrangements for infants and those for older children.

It is most important to remain composed and calm during child custody negotiations. You and your ex are unlikely to make positive decisions while you are in a rage; instead, allow yourself to view the proceedings from a neutral position that disregards blame and drama. Determine your personal obstacles to co-parenting and work on your shortcomings while you work toward becoming a great mom or dad.

Newly released 2011 vital statistics show that Central New York experienced its highest divorce rates in nine years. Experts say the 2,500 filed divorces were mostly filed under the state's new "no-fault" divorce provision, a law that was passed in October 2010. Couples in New York are now permitted to file for divorce simply because their relationship is irreconcilable; previous regulations required the partners to prove cruel and inhuman treatment, infidelity or a similarly egregious wrong.

Attorneys in the area confirm the statistical evidence with anecdotes, saying that their desks have been replete with divorce requests in recent months. Many area family lawyers say they suspect at least one more factor is playing a role in the divorce rate increase: The rebounding economy is helping more people afford their divorces.

Mental health professionals and attorneys acknowledge that divorce brings out extreme behaviors and emotions in their clients. Divorcing men and women who are normally poised, calm and mature can rapidly devolve in the face of divorce. Experts have identified a few common personality changes that can result from such a massive life transition. Many of these personality issues can cause problems in professional and interpersonal relationships. Today we will review basic profiles of distressed divorcé(e)s, providing you with the information to modify your behavior if you notice these traits in yourself.

Experts say that some people are so desperate to show their fun-loving side to their ex and friends that they go off the deep end with partying. These people fall into one-night stands in an attempt to obtain another relationship. The faster they can build another intimate relationship and move in with another person, the better they feel about "winning" the divorce race. Prevent this from happening to you by sticking to social activities that do not involve the opposite gender.