Judge Gives Engagement Ring to Woman Based On Break Up Text

iStock_000005823202SmallThanks to the ruling of a NY judge, a broken off engagement has resulted in one woman being able to keep her $53,000 engagement ring over the protests of her former fiancé, the NY Daily News reports. Read more

High Society Couple to Hold Hamptons “Divorce Yard Sale”

iStock_000015202352SmallThe posh summer season in the Hamptons will get off to an usual start this Memorial Day Weekend with the “divorce yard sale” of James B. Fairchild and Whitney St. John, a couple once billed as a modern day F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. According to the NY Daily News, Fairchild, son of former Women’s Wear Daily and W publisher John Fairchild, and St. John, a high society real estate broker, have decided to hold a joint sale of antiques and collectibles as part of their divorce settlement. Read more

How to Protect Your Finances in a Divorce

iStock_000018458248MediumNo matter how amicable (or not) a split your divorce is shaping up to be, it’s completely normal to be concerned with how best to safeguard your financial future as you move forward into your new life. How do you go about protecting your finances during a separation or divorce? Here are six basic steps: Read more

What is “Conscious Uncoupling”?

In headline-making news yesterday, Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin announced their marital separation through a blog post on Paltrow’s lifestyle site, Goop.com titled “Conscious Uncoupling“:

“It is with hearts full of sadness that we have decided to separate,” the pair wrote. “We have been working hard for well over a year, some of it together, some of it separated, to see what might have been possible between us, and we have come to the conclusion that while we love each other very much we will remain separate.” Read more

Senate Panel Approves Bill To Cut Off New Jersey Child Support At Age 19

Teenage boy with school backpack

Is New Jersey child support about to undergo a fundamental change? With bill S-1046, allowing for the end of child support payments once the child reaches the age of 19 recently advanced by a Senate Judiciary panel, we appear to be one step closer.

Update July 23, 2015: The New Jersey Senate approved bill S-1046 by a vote of 31-2.  The bill must still be acted on by the Assembly and signed by Gov. Chris Christie to become law.

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Ex-Husband’s Refusal Give Jewish Divorce ‘Get’ Called Act of Domestic Abuse

The New York Times recently reported about the story of Lonna Kin, a 52-year New York woman who says she is being held hostage by ex-husband Meir Kin over his refusal to grant her a “get,” the document required by Orthodox Jewish law to legally end a marriage in the eyes of the Orthodox faith. According to intricate Jewish laws dictating marriage and divorce, only a husband has the power to grant a religious divorce. For the Kins, though their civil divorce was granted by a California court in 2007, without the get, Ms. Kin is now forbidden under Jewish law to remarry. Read more

Johnny Weir Marital Split Marks New Jersey’s First High Profile Same-Sex Divorce

Same-sex marriage was legalized in New Jersey in October 2013, but it took until March 2014 for New Jersey’s first high profile same-sex divorce, when Bergen County resident and Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir announced that he and husband, attorney Victor Weir-Voronov, are ending their marriage of just over two years. Read more

The Aga Khan & The German Princess: How Long Does Divorce Take When Billions Are At Stake?

The Aga Khan, well-known spiritual leader to millions of Muslims, has finalized his divorce from a German princess after nearly a decade of legal disputes, according to a statement released last week. The Aga Khan and ex-wife, Gabriele Zu Leiningen, have ended their marriage “by consent,” say the couple’s attorneys, with a final divorce settlement reached after a Paris Court of Appeals approved a private settlement. Read more

Thinking Ahead: The Power of a Prenup

iStock_000016304397SmallWith spring almost here, wedding season is on the way. If your nuptials will take place sometime in the coming months, have you taken a moment to think about the road ahead, after the ceremony and honeymoon, when “real life” as a married couple begins? It is always the hope that the stage will be set for marital bliss, but it’s also prudent to take some realistic steps towards making sure you are protected and “insured” no matter what the future brings. Read more

5 Divorce Apps Offering “Smart” Advice From Your Phone

iStock_000019937684SmallLooking through Huffington Post Divorce’s list of smartphone apps for managing post-divorce issues made us curious about iPhone and Android apps that might help during separation and throughout the divorce process. How can your smartphone help make your smarter about divorce? Here are five apps that might be worth a download. Read more