United States: Family and Matrimonial

How family law mediation can help parties break cycles of powerlessness, escalation and conflict

When divorced parents face significant financial disparities, Illinois courts may look beyond standard child support formulas to ensure children maintain a lifestyle comparable to what they experienced before the marriage ended. A recent appellate decision examines when guideline amounts fall short and upward deviations become necessary to protect children's interests.

Money secrets can destroy relationships just as thoroughly as romantic betrayal. Drawing on a recent Bankrate survey revealing that 43% of U.S. adults view financial secrets as seriously as physical infidelity, this conversation explores the warning signs of financial deception and the legal protections available when trust is shattered.

How family law mediation can help parties break cycles of powerlessness, escalation and conflict

When divorced parents face significant financial disparities, Illinois courts may look beyond standard child support formulas to ensure children maintain a lifestyle comparable to what they experienced before the marriage ended. A recent appellate decision examines when guideline amounts fall short and upward deviations become necessary to protect children's interests.

Separation and divorce change the structure of a family, but they don’t end the lifelong relationship parents share in raising their children.

Something labeled “defective” usually does not work properly. The intentionally “defective” grantor trust, or “IDGT,” however, is a proven workhorse for tax-efficient business succession planning. A carefully planned and executed IDGT transaction enables business owners to transfer significant value in trust for the benefit of younger generations, with remarkable tax efficiency, while retaining control over the business. Two seemingly contradictory tax attributes of the IDGT underlie its tax efficiency.

Money secrets can destroy relationships just as thoroughly as romantic betrayal. Drawing on a recent Bankrate survey revealing that 43% of U.S. adults view financial secrets as seriously as physical infidelity, this conversation explores the warning signs of financial deception and the legal protections available when trust is shattered.

New York courts issued significant estate litigation rulings this spring, addressing undue influence claims, attorney-client privilege protections, and the admission of lost wills. These decisions clarify important procedural and substantive standards for estate practitioners navigating complex probate disputes.