As of January 17, 2017, the State of Alaska enacted new law in divorce cases which now grants the Court the authority to consider the well-being of pets when determining ownership or custody of the pet. Historically, the law has treated animals and pets like property, no different than a piece of furniture. However, Courts have moved toward treating […]
When one spouse dies after a divorce complaint has been filed, but before a final judgment of divorce is entered, neither the probate code nor the divorce laws about the equitable distribution of marital assets will control in relation to what, if anything, a surviving spouse will receive from the deceased spouse’s estate. That said, there is […]
When a couple divorces and there are children involved, determining child support is one of the most important issues that the couple must address. Because the final support award is based on the income of both parents, both parties must understand what funds are legally considered income and which ones are not. Federal law states that the definition […]
Typically upon a divorce, marriages of a substantial duration deal with commonplace issues of spousal support and equitable distribution. Very often, equitable distribution will touch upon the parties’ retirement assets including their 401Ks, pensions, and IRAs. The retirement asset that may be overlooked is Social Security. The Social Security Administration provides the following guidelines that must […]
Lyons & Associates, P.C., makes a promise to all our clients that they are our first priority. Each client enters into a relationship with us with the feeling and certainty that they are our most important client, and we offer personalized and knowledgeable service to prove it. We provide the necessary elements for winning your case to […]
Indigent parents have a constitutional right to a lawyer when the Division of Child Protection & Permanency (formerly DYFS) seeks to remove children from their care. Recently, the New Jersey Supreme Court expanded this right to include indigent parents sued by foster families or private adoption agencies who are seeking to terminate their parental rights. The […]
Women going through a divorce can face a great deal of self-doubt, confusion, and fear. If you have been married for many years, you may not be able to conceive of what a new life might look like. If you are financially dependent upon your spouse, you also may have serious concerns about striking out on your […]
For 16 years, families across the United States have celebrated National Adoption Day every November 19th. Since its inception, the project has help to achieve over 58,000 adoptions nationwide. The concept was a pet project of Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s restaurant. Both Dave Thomas, and his daughter Wendy, after whom the restaurant chain […]
Theresa Lyons, Managing Partner at Lyons & Associates P.C., has been named one of the Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneurs in New Jersey for 2016. This honor is bestowed annually upon 25 women who have demonstrated exceptional business acumen and achieved tremendous accomplishments in their respective fields. Selections are made by an advisory board that […]
Recently, a Wisconsin judge pulled a married same-sex couple from Virginia into an eleven-month long legal battle over their parental rights. A woman from Wisconsin had agreed to be the couple’s surrogate and delivered their son last year. Judge Jim Troupis was assigned to their case in Wisconsin. Troupis viewed surrogacy as a form of human trafficking, […]
