Understanding Parenting Petitions in New Hampshire: Child Support & Asset Division for Unmarried Couples
If a couple is not married and has children together, they can file a Parenting Petition to resolve parenting time and child support issues. However, the Court does not have the authority to make orders regarding the division of assets and debts, personal property or the residence itself. If the parties are married, the Court can make such orders if a Divorce Petition is filed. The issue of the residence of the parties is simply who gets to stay. The...Read More
Three Things to Know if You are Considering a Divorce After 50
One of the most significant issues in a divorce later in life is the squeezed time frame to recover financially. A divorce means dividing assets with your spouse. Current market value is not the exclusive consideration of an asset. Some assets will become more valuable farther down the road. Deciding who gets the house is a primary example. Age triggers eligibility for tax exemptions and waivers for real estate tax. A reverse mortgage, which can offer a potential stream of...Read More
Guardianship and Adoption are Not the Same
A guardianship establishes a legal relationship between a child and an adult who is not the child’s biological parent. The guardian is responsible for all the basic day-to-day needs of the child, such as food, shelter, emotional support, education, consent for medical treatment, and so forth. There are various forms of guardianship; most of them do not nullify certain privileges or obligations of the biological parents, such as visitation, child-support payments, and inheritance when there is no will. In basic...Read More
Custody (Parenting Time) and How It Can Be Divided
Parents involved in a divorce or parenting petition often have questions about custody issues, or parenting time. The questions generally concern what options are best in any given situation. This article summarizes the key points of the ways in which parenting time is divided. In New Hampshire the law is that there is a presumption that parenting time should be shared, in other words divided equally between the parents. In the past that equal division was called joint custody. It...Read More
Divorce After Fifty
The biggest difference in a divorce later in life is the squeezed time frame to recover financially. A divorce means dividing assets with your spouse. Current market value is not the exclusive consideration of an asset. Some assets will become more valuable farther down the road. Deciding who gets the house is a primary example. Age triggers eligibility for tax exemptions and waivers for real estate tax. A reverse mortgage, which can offer a potential stream of income, is an...Read More
Parenting Issues in Family Court Cases
The question of time with and decision making for children are of course the most important issues in family court cases. The language that we use to discuss these issues has changed over time. We no longer talk about “custody”. The parties now make proposals for “parenting time”. The change in the wording is an attempt to make the issue less contentious. In addition, the law in New Hampshire now starts with the presumption that shared, essentially equal, parenting time...Read More
The Four Steps of Filing for Divorce in New Hampshire
Going through a divorce is a difficult time in anyone’s life — trying to navigate the legal process can prove to be a complicated process if you’re doing it alone. If you’re seeking a divorce in New Hampshire, it is best to work with an experienced divorce attorney who can help you in this new chapter of your life. Continue reading to learn more about the divorce process in New Hampshire. Navigating the Divorce Process in New Hampshire Issues that...Read More
New Hampshire Family Court Rule 1.25-A
New Hampshire Family Court Rule 1.25-A states that if you file a Petition for Divorce or a Parenting Petition you have to provide certain financial documents to the other side. When you’re involved in these cases, you will hear lawyers, clerks and judges refer to these documents simply as “1.25-A’s”. The list of what you need to provide is longer for a divorce than for a parenting case. People are often frustrated by the fact that they are required to...Read More