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ToughLove is an inside scoop on some of the counsel we give our clients, and ourselves, as we navigate difficult periods in our lives. Join us as we share the good, the bad, and the ugly about getting divorced in New York (and other messy family dynamics).
Prenup Season Is Here: 6 Things Marrying Couples Should Know
Prenup season is here, and prenuptial agreements are about far more than wealth. This guide explains why prenups matter for modern couples, how timing, real estate, and financial complexity affect planning, and what provisions actually work in real life. Learn how a thoughtful prenup process supports clarity, fairness, and trust before marriage.
The Intersection of Divorce and Taxes: What to Know Before the April 15 Filing Deadline
Divorce and tax season often collide with costly consequences. As the April 15 filing deadline approaches, this guide explains how divorce impacts filing status, spousal maintenance, child tax benefits, real estate transfers, and retirement assets—highlighting critical differences between federal and New York tax law. Smart, early planning can reduce surprises and protect your financial outcome during and after divorce.
Rethinking Custody: Moving Beyond Gender Bias and Toward Equal Parenting
Custody decisions should reflect children’s needs, not outdated gender assumptions. This article explores lingering bias in custody arrangements, the benefits of equal parenting, and how shifting from parental “rights” to child-centered planning leads to healthier outcomes. Learn how modern custody approaches support meaningful involvement from both parents and create stability for children during and after separation.
Reflections on Marriage in Uncertain Times
In uncertain times, marriages are shaped by more than infidelity or finances. This reflective essay explores how economic strain, institutional distrust, and personal growth affect relationships, reframing divorce and endurance as acts of integrity, compassion, and honesty. A thoughtful perspective on love, change, and navigating partnership with intention during challenging seasons of modern life today.
Holiday Travel with Children: 7 Clauses to Check in Your Custody Order
Holiday and winter break travel can get complicated when you’re co-parenting under a custody order. From notice requirements and passport rules to consent, exchanges, make-up parenting time, and communication expectations, this guide highlights seven essential clauses to review before booking a trip. Keep travel smooth, conflict low, and your parenting agreement enforceable.
What “Couples Therapy” Teaches Us About Divorce (Yes, Really)
Showtime’s Couples Therapy reveals emotional patterns that mirror what many clients experience in divorce. From communication breakdowns and conflicting narratives to avoidance, acknowledgment, and healing, this blog unpacks how insights from the show can make the legal side of separation clearer, calmer, and more manageable. A thoughtful guide for anyone considering or navigating divorce.
Navigating the Holidays: Healthy Coparenting Tips for a Peaceful Season
The holidays can be tricky for co-parents, but they don’t have to be stressful. Discover five practical, heart-centered coparenting tips to keep communication clear, traditions joyful, and schedules flexible. From managing emotions to creating consistency for your kids, learn how to bring more peace (and fewer arguments) to your holiday season.
Divorce Readiness? Key Considerations Before Taking the Next Step
Thinking about divorce? Before you take the next step, make sure you’re truly ready - emotionally, financially, and practically. From custody and child support to budgeting for two households, refinancing your home, and managing post-divorce health insurance, here’s what every New Yorker should consider before moving forward. Clear. Practical. Empowering.
Dividing Assets in Divorce: Real Property
Navigating the division of real property during a divorce is rarely simple, especially when it involves the primary marital residence, or weekend homes where the family has shared invaluable memories and experiences. Whether your home holds financial or emotional value, understanding your options early can help you make informed decisions that align with your goals.
Generally, there are three potential outcomes when it comes to dividing real property in a divorce.
Top Five Divorce FAQs During Tax Season
Divorce and Taxes. Blech.
Around this time of year, we typically get a bunch of questions from our divorce clients about what they’re supposed to do when they file their tax returns.
Here are our Top Five Divorce FAQ’s During Tax Season…
Why I Love Collaborative Prenups
I am a pretty big advocate of prenuptial agreements. Couples get to choose the way the law will apply to them if their marriage ends. The cost is miniscule compared to a divorce without a prenuptial agreement, and the process often uncovers areas of opportunity for partners to discuss expectations and potential outcomes in advance. What is not to love?
Well, even the loudest advocate must admit that we cannot entirely eliminate the awkwardness of presenting the subject, or the first draft, of a prenuptial agreement to one’s partner. Even in those relationships where one partner alerts the other in the very beginning stages of commitment that a prenup is expected, there is always an element of anxiety when drafting terms that will be presented for the first time.
Enter the collaborative prenuptial agreement.
When is the “Right” Time to File for Divorce?
Deciding whether or not to pursue a divorce is one of the most life-altering choices you can face. We hear from potential clients every day who are grappling with the uncertainty of whether—and when—they should take that step. There’s no universal formula, but there are key indicators and considerations to help you decide when the time is right for you.
Here’s a guide to help you reflect on your situation and move forward with clarity and confidence.
How to Prepare for Divorce: A Guide from a Family Law Partner in NYC
Divorce can be one of the most emotionally and financially challenging experiences of a person’s life. Whether you’ve already made the decision or are simply considering your options, preparing for divorce adequately can be the difference between a smooth versus a chaotic and unnerving experience. At Artese Zandri, we have guided countless clients through the divorce process and, while no two divorce cases are alike, there are key steps that anyone considering divorce can take to prepare for each of the issues that will arise.
Custody and Relocation: A High Bar for the Relocating Parent
In times of major personal change, such as divorce, the desire to relocate for a fresh start can be alluring. However, when you share custody of a child with your ex, your ability to relocate becomes severely limited. Often, custody agreements address relocation, limiting relocation to a specific geographical region, one that is local enough for the other parent to continue having meaningful parenting time with the child. If you want to relocate beyond that region, you might be able to do so if you prove that the move will better serve your child’s best interests than having to stay.