Category: Child Support

33 S. Catalina Ave. Ste. 202

Pasadena, Ca. 91106

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Tags co-parenting, co-parenting advice, Divorce

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Georgia Man Snaps After Child Custody Issues

Post author By Scott
Post date February 17, 2015

New information has been revealed about Cedric Prather Jr., the man who recently snapped a killed four people. The couple’s past was filled with child custody and domestic violence issues.

According to Prather’s sister, the man’s three children were his whole life. When he lost his job as a truck driver, the pressure to try and make ends meet in order to support them caused him to snap and kill his ex-wife, her boyfriend, and two of Prather’s own children.

The Shooting

Just after 3 p.m. on February 14, 2015, Prather walked into the home of ex-wife, Latoya A. Andrews. He then gunned her down, along with her boyfriend, Joseph Terry Brown, and two of his own children: 7-year-old daughter, London and 9-year-old son, Jeremiah. He also critically wounded Andrews’ 15-year-old daughter, Demeshia Owens, and Brown’s 7-year-old daughter, Jada Brown. He then killed himself in the street outside the home.

“His children were his life,” said Prather’s sister Jerdonna Sawyer. “He wasn’t crazy at all. He just chose a terrible way to deal with his pressure and his stress.”

According to Sheriff’s Capt. Bruce Ferguson Prather left no note to explain his actions.

“I can’t tell you why he did it,” Ferguson said. “All I can do is to say he snapped or he had enough is what we’ve concluded in our investigation.”

Divorce

Prather and Andrews divorced in 2006. Court records indicate that the two went back and forth over child-custody. And about a year and a half ago Andrews sought a protective order against Prather, alleging that Prather had forced his way into her locked home and then pinned her down on the stairs and sexually assaulted her. There are no court records that indicate if criminal charges had been filed. A judge ordered Prather to stay away from Andrews and her home. Any meetings to exchange the children were to be done in the Douglasville Police Department parking lot. The protective order expired October 9, 2014.

Past-Due Child Support

State officials claim that in December 2013, Prather owed $31,800 in past-due child support. But in May 2014, Andrews and him reached a child custody agreement that allowed the children to spend half their time with their father. A few months after that, the court issued a final order for Prather to pay $437 a month for child support as well as pay a past-due sum that was to be determined.

According to Sawyer, Prather felt an enormous amount of stress when he recently lost his job as a truck driver and could not help provide for his children.

“We’re all hurting,” said Sawyer. “We’ve all had a great loss.”

Working with a skilled attorney can help ensure you get a fair case. For advice on divorce you need the expert law firm of Divorce Law LA. Schedule a consultation today.

Source: ABC News, Georgia Man Who Shot Ex, Kids Had Fought Over Child Custody, February 9, 2015

33 S. Catalina Ave. Ste. 202

Pasadena, Ca. 91106

(626) 478-3550

Tags Child Custody, Divorce, Domestic Violence

Child Custody Child Support Divorce Domestic Violence Spousal Support

Terrell Suggs Faces Divorce

Post author By Scott
Post date February 13, 2015

After allegations of infidelity, and previous incidences of alleged domestic violence, Terrell Suggs’ wife has filed for divorce.

Divorce and Child Custody

Candance Suggs (nee Williams) and the Baltimore Ravens linebacker have been married for two years. The couple shares two children, ages 6 and 7. Candance is seeking full child custody and alimony, as was documented in the divorce papers she filed last December. The petition states, the “Defendant has committed adultery during the marriage and the Plaintiff has not forgiven, or condoned the adulterous conduct.”

Terrell is denying the accusations of infidelity, claiming he remained faithful to his wife until they separated a year ago.

“The allegations she makes concerning Mr. Suggs occurred well after they separated,” said Terrel’s attorney Thomas C. Ries. “They were no longer in love and they no longer wanted to be married to one another.”

Domestic Violence Claims

Candance has previously filed for numerous protective orders in the past. Before the two were married, she claimed that Terrell had thrown bleach on her and her son during an argument. The couple reconciled and the protective order was lifted. But just a few years later, she filed another protective order when Terrell punched her in the neck and then dragged her along behind his car a he drove away with their two children. At that time Terrell was ordered to turn over seven guns to the police. The two reconciled, the order was lifted, and they were married less than a month later.

Divorce

Terrell Suggs filed his divorce response recently, asking for joint custody of the children. The two signed a prenuptial agreement, though the terms are being withheld.

Working with a skilled attorney can help ensure you get a fair case. For advice on divorce you need the expert law firm of Divorce Law LA. Schedule a consultation today.

Source: The Baltimore Sun, Terrell Suggs’ wife files for divorce, accuses him of infidelity, February 13, 2015

33 S. Catalina Ave. Ste. 202

Pasadena, Ca. 91106

(626) 478-3550

Tags Child Custody, Divorce, Domestic Violence, infidelity, Spousal Support

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Divorce: Know What You’re Getting Into

Post author By Scott
Post date February 10, 2015

Even the “simplest” of divorces can equal a big hit to your wallet. It’s important to know what you’re facing in terms of finances when you face divorce.

A “Simple Divorce” Example

Jennifer Zoschak, partner at a family law firm, handled the divorce of a couple that had been married for over 20 years. The wife earned 40 percent less than the husband. Because of this Zoschak knew alimony (spousal support) would most likely be a portion of any divorce settlement.

It was assumed that the divorce would be fairly straight-forward. But a year later the husband was still against paying any form of alimony. The case had to go to trial. The judge ultimately granted permanent alimony. And at the end of it, this “simple divorce” wound up costing $300,000 in legal fees.

Couples Have Power to Keep Divorce Fees Low

It’s easy to blame lawyers and the law system for high fees. But it’s also important to remember that you have way more control than you think. “The cost of a divorce is entirely based on how reasonable, fair and honest the couple is with each other,” said Zoschak. “If they can communicate calmly, not lie about assets or income and not fight about inconsequential minor things, I can do a divorce for $1,500 and have it finalized in a matter of weeks.” Remain calm, be willing to negotiate, be prepared, and you too can have a lower costing divorce. Here’s how!

Keeping Your Legal Bills Low

There are a number of tips you can take to reign in your divorce before it spins out of financial control:

Don’t fight over minor parenting issues. This means don’t argue over exact drop-off and pick-up times, days spent with you, etc… Be willing to negotiate and…
Be flexible.
Your lawyer is not your therapist. Attorneys work on an hourly rate. You’re paying them to handle issues related to property, finances, and your children. You’re not paying them to listen to your grievances.
Be prepared. Going into your divorce you should have: detailed financial statement listing sources of income, assets, and living expenses. You should also have a credit report.
Focus on the facts. If you stick to the facts and keep the emotions out of the way you will be able to get to the root of negotiations without spending time arguing.

Working with a Divorce Attorney

The most important thing to do if you are facing what could be a litigious divorce is work with a divorce attorney. And even more important is that you find a divorce attorney you feel comfortable with. A divorce attorney will be able to walk you through all aspects of a divorce including: alimony, marital property division, and child support.

Working with a skilled attorney can help ensure you get a fair case. For advice on divorce you need the expert law firm of Divorce Law LA. Schedule a consultation today.

Source: CNBC, Getting divorced without breaking the bank, February 9, 2015

33 S. Catalina Ave. Ste. 202

Pasadena, Ca. 91106

(626) 478-3550

Tags child custody marital property division, Divorce, divorce lawyer, divorce planning, financial planning

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Tax Repercussions and Support Payments

Post author By Scott
Post date February 4, 2015

If you’re paying or receiving spousal support or child support, there are some basic tax laws regarding support payments you need to remember. If you receive spousal support, you must declare it as taxable income . If you’re paying spousal support, you can deduct it. Child support is not taxable and not deductible.

Tax Strategy During Divorce Decisions

These rules are important to keep at the front of you’re mind when you and your spouse are working out alimony and child support agreements. The final ruling and decision should reflect your intentions for tax time. A decision that you and your spouse might make is to have the paying spouse agree to pay the recipient spouse’s tax liability.

A Helpful Tip

It might be helpful to try and work out the best tax deal for both spouses. While negotiations might be difficult, this negotiation might save you both around tax season.

To Keep in Mind

If you receive alimony, make sure you plan for the potential tax impact. Your former spouse will not be able to withhold taxes from the support check you receive, so you’ll need to be sure that you’re accounting for that fact when calculating how much you’ll be paying in taxes. You should consider paying quarterly taxes, just so you don’t get hit all at once in April.

If you are paying alimony, always remember that you are able to deduct the support payments on your income tax return, but not child support or distribution of property. Often times the IRS scrutinizes the payments made during the first three years to ensure that the payments were not disguised as property distribution or other post divorce obligations.

Working with a Lawyer

The tax laws that are associated with alimony and child support payments can be very confusing. Working with a lawyer that understands the ins and outs of the tax repercussions of divorce can help mitigate the confusion.

Working with a skilled attorney can help ensure you get a fair case. For advice on child support and spousal support, you need the expert law firm of Divorce Law LA. Schedule a consultation today.

Source: DivorceNet.com, Is Alimony Always Tax Deductible to the Paying Spouse?, 2014

33 S. Catalina Ave. Ste. 202

Pasadena, Ca. 91106

(626) 478-3550

Tags Alimony, Child Support, Spousal Support, support payments, tax deductions, taxes

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Anxiety in Co-Parenting Situation

Post author By Scott
Post date January 30, 2015

It’s not uncommon to feel uneasy in a co-parenting situation. This is especially true if the arrangement is a new one. Here are a few tips to how to get comfortable with your new way of life.

Dealing with Co-parenting

Co-parenting often means a radical change to the way you used to schedule your life and your kids’ lives.

Separation Anxiety

You might feel nervous being apart from your children, and knowing that you won’t be able to see them for a while (while they are spending time with the other parent). The best way to deal with this is to call it out for yourself and name it. This can be as simple as saying, “I am feel separation anxiety being away from my child.” Then identify what’s causing you to feel this way. Is it because it’s a new situation? Is it because you don’t trust the other parent? Or are you just not used to having a free night? Working with a therapist can help you work through these feelings if you’re not able to address them on your own. And if you’re nervous because you fear for your child’s safety, you might want to consult a lawyer.

Communication

Work out a plan for regular communication when your children are away. While it shouldn’t feel like you’re trying to dominate the other parent’s time, it’s completely fair to have a check in via phone or email. You should also have a plan for communicating with the other parent. Maintaining open and good lines of communication is key to addressing your anxiety. If you two are not able to be civil during in person or on phone conversations, take it to email, where you can state the facts of what needs to be addressed without getting emotional.

Custody Agreement

If at any time you feel there has been a violation of the custody agreement, take a step back and evaluate how big the violation is. If it’s an incident where the other parent is 15 minutes late to dropping of your child, maybe let it go. If this becomes a habit you might want to address it through altering your schedule or coming up with a new plan. If the parent refuses to drop off your child, that’s the time to seek a lawyer.

For advice on child support and child custody, you need the expert law firm of Divorce Law LA. Schedule a consultation today.

Source: AboutParenting.com, What if My Ex Refuses to Return My Kids? 2015

33 S. Catalina Ave. Ste. 202

Pasadena, Ca. 91106

(626) 478-3550

Tags co-parenting, co-parenting anxiety

Child Support

Raven’s Will Hill Fails to Pay Child Support

Post author By Scott
Post date January 29, 2015

The NFL’s Ravens’ safety Will Hill has allegedly failed to pay $16,588.18 in back child support.

Warrant for Arrest

Hudson County law enforcement officials have now issued a warrant for Hill’s arrest. While he is not actively being sought by police, he will be arrested if stopped by police, according to an initial report regarding the warrant.

Aware of Child Support Issues

Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun reporter Aaron Wilson says that Hill is well aware of his child support issues, but was not aware of the warrant. The Ravens are also aware of their player’s situation.

Other Issues

This is not the only issue Hill faces. Shortly after joining the Ravens just before the 2014 season he served a six-game suspension for being in violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy. Prior to joining the Ravens he had played for the Giants. But that prior suspension led to his release from that team – despite the fact that the Giants had stood by Hill through two other suspensions that totaled eight games as well as his 2013 arrest for non-payment of child support.

For advice on child support, you need the expert law firm of Divorce Law LA. Schedule a consultation today.

Source: NBC Sports: Pro Football Talk, Will Hill has active warrant in New Jersey for failure to pay child support, January 28, 2015

33 S. Catalina Ave. Ste. 202

Pasadena, Ca. 91106

(626) 478-3550

Tags Child Support

Child Custody Child Support Divorce Family Law Spousal Support

Considerations for a Short-Marriage Divorce

Post author By Scott
Post date January 28, 2015

Sometimes marriage doesn’t work out. And sometimes, you realize that fairly quickly. If you’ve only been married for a short amount of time and are now considering divorce, there are some factors you’ll want to consider.

Short-Term Marriage: Not Uncommon

Short-term marriages are not unusual. Some couples think that a marriage will help to heal a relationship. Factors such as not living together, or jealous thoughts can often feel “solvable” with a marriage. And that’s not often the case. According to the US Census Bureau, 11.5% of marriages that happened during 1995 to 1999 never lasted till the fifth anniversary.

Divorce Considerations

Even after a short marriage it can be difficult to decide to divorce. Divorce hurts. While you might not have as many things that need to be ironed out, such as property division or child custody, they are all things to be considered and presented to a divorce attorney should you decide to work with one. You’ll want to provide the following information to your attorney: details of your marriage date, your income, your soon to be ex-spouse’s income, and employment status. You’ll also need to provide a lawyer with any property you owned prior to the marriage, and property acquired during the marriage (if any was acquired). You’ll also need to provide any information regarding children (if you have them or are pregnant at the time of the divorce).

Working with a Divorce Lawyer

Seeking the advice of a divorce lawyer can be helpful. Just because your marriage is ending that doesn’t mean you should feel like you’ve failed. A divorce lawyer will be able to walk you through the divorce process, while also providing advice on how to get through this difficult time.

For advice on divorce, you need the expert law firm of Divorce Law LA. Schedule a consultation today.

Source: Rosen Law Firm – North Carolina Divorce, The Short Marriage: Divorcing after a Year (or Two), 2015

33 S. Catalina Ave. Ste. 202

Pasadena, Ca. 91106

(626) 478-3550

Tags Child Custody, Divorce, joint assets, short marriage

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Cannon Filed for Divorce Dec. 12

Post author By Scott
Post date January 21, 2015

Negotiation versus Litigation in a Slip and Fall Case

It looks like Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey have officially divorced. The two have been on rocky terms since last year.

Cannon Files for Divorce

Allegedly, the 34-year-old “America’s Got Talent” host filed for divorce on December 12. Cannon spoke openly about the two’s separation last year. Telling The Insider last August that the two had been, “living in separate houses for a few months.” He continued, “(Right now) my main focus is my kids.” Cannon has not been tight-lipped about the two’s separation, often taking to Twitter to express his kind feelings towards his ex-spouse.

Carey in the Spotlight

Carey, 44, was back in the headlines just a week prior to Cannon’s alleged filing after having shown up late to the taping of the Rockerfeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting.

“Last night’s situation was beyond my control. I apologize to all that showed up, you know that I would never want to disappoint you,” Carey tweeted to her 15 million followers. “You’ve kept me here, in your hearts, and I keep you in mine always. We are #lambily! #ThereForMe. I will be opening tonight’s live show in Rockefeller center with “All I Want For Christmas Is You”!!!!” The singer received criticism for not being able to hit some of her famous high notes while performing the song.

Just recently the singer revealed she will be heading to Las Vegas for a residency at Caesars Palace.

Marriage and Divorce

The two were wed in the Bahamas in April 2008. They share 3-year-old twins, Moroccan and Monroe. The terms of the divorce are not yet known, so it’s unknown if child custody has already been determined.

For advice on divorce, you need the expert law firm of Divorce Law LA. Schedule a consultation today.

Source: Daily News, Nick Cannon files for divorce from Mariah Carey: report, January 16, 2014

33 S. Catalina Ave. Ste. 202

Pasadena, Ca. 91106

(626) 478-3550