As some New York residents may know, the former reality show star Jon Gosselin said he wants a change in his child custody arrangement. Since their divorce in 2009, his ex-wife has had custody of the couple's eight children. Modifying a custody arrangement in this fashion requires evidence that the child would benefit from a change in custody and that overall circumstances have changed.
Reluctant state jeopardizes child support for everyone
New York parents who receive child support should be aware that a recent action in Idaho has the potential to jeopardize foreign child support enforcement for everyone. Due to misguided concerns about Shariah law, legislators in the state recently rejected a pending treaty that would make participating countries enforce foreign child support orders.
New York parents may get help getting their children back
The U.S State Department says that roughly 8,000 children were wrongfully abducted and taken to another country by their parents between 2008 and 2013. Of those taken to countries who are signatories to the Hague convention that deals with these matters, only half are returned. One of the biggest obstacles to returning children back to America has to do with diplomatic relations between countries.
Spouses need to follow procedures to split up 401K benefits
In divorces, 401K plans are treated as marital property to be split between spouses. The amount that each person receives depends on the couple's agreement and state and federal laws. The terms of 401K division should be recorded in Qualified Domestic Relations Orders, given to divorcing spouses by plan administrators. These forms need to be filled out a certain way and signed by judges and plan administrators to be valid. Attorneys on both sides should have these documents when exes plans to negotiate on 401K terms.
