New York Family Law

by Schechter,Sara P.

• ISBN13: 9781401879563
• ISBN10: 140187956X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-09-06
• Publisher: Cengage Learning

Summary

This second edition of New York Family Law is designed specifically for undergraduate students and paralegal education students. It covers both matrimonial law (annulment; separation; divorce; and equitable distribution of marital property) and Family Court proceedings, such as family offenses, child protection, termination of parental rights, and adoption. Features of the text include thought-provoking discussion topics; Basics Boxes, which introduce each type of Family Law litigation; Practice Tips; Chapter Review Questions; and Chapter Assignments. New York forms are integrated throughout and the text offers many new websites to aid in computer-assisted legal research projects. New to this edition is the expanded coverage of ethics and divorce, a new section on interviewing skills, greater coverage of inter-jurisdictional conflicts, and a discussion of permanency planning in the Child Protection and Adoption chapters

Table of Contents

Preface	xvii
Table of Cases	xxiii
Table of Web Sites	xxxi
Introduction	1	(34)
What Is a Family?	2	(19)
Traditional Families	2	(2)
Nontraditional Families	4	(17)
The Changing Legal Status of Women	21	(6)
The Married Women's Property Acts	21	(1)
Property Distribution Upon Dissolution of Marriage	21	(2)
Domestic Violence	23	(1)
Employment	24	(1)
Voting and Public Office	25	(1)
Equal Protection	26	(1)
Equal Rights	26	(1)
Education	26	(1)
The Changing Legal Status of Children	27	(6)
Parent and Child	28	(1)
From Property to Person	28	(1)
When Is a Child Not a Child?	29	(1)
Child Labor	30	(2)
The Right to Education	32	(1)
Corporal Punishment	32	(1)
Summary	33	(1)
Key Terms	33	(1)
Chapter Review Questions	33	(1)
Chapter Assignment	34	(1)
Working in Family Law	35	(21)
Employment Opportunities	36	(1)
Legal Assistant Tasks and Skills	37	(9)
Interviewing Skills	37	(2)
Getting Oriented	39	(1)
Standing	39	(1)
Grounds and Defenses	40	(1)
Subject Matter Jurisdiction	40	(4)
Venue	44	(1)
Statutes of Limitations	45	(1)
Where to Find New York Family Law	46	(5)
Primary Sources	46	(3)
Secondary Sources	49	(2)
Ethics	51	(1)
The Family Court	52	(2)
Docket Numbers	52	(1)
Terminology	53	(1)
Summary	54	(1)
Key Terms	54	(1)
Chapter Review Questions	55	(1)
Chapter Assignment	55	(1)
Marriage	56	(25)
Entering into Marriage	60	(6)
Common-Law Marriage	61	(1)
Non-Marital Partners	62	(1)
Ceremonial Marriage	63	(3)
Void and Voidable Marriages	66	(1)
Annulment	67	(4)
Grounds For Annulment	67	(4)
Antenuptial Agreements	71	(7)
Requirements for Enforceability	77	(1)
Summary	78	(1)
Key Terms	79	(1)
Chapter Review Questions	79	(1)
Chapter Assignment	80	(1)
Separation	81	(28)
Separation Agreements	82	(12)
Agreements Reached in Court	83	(1)
Incorporation in Divorce Judgment	83	(1)
Arbitration	84	(1)
High Standard of Fairness	85	(1)
Spousal Support Provisions	86	(1)
Child Support Provisions	87	(1)
Custody Provisions	88	(3)
Partial Invalidity	91	(1)
Breach	91	(2)
Provisions that Prevent Future Legal Problems	93	(1)
Preparing the Agreement	93	(1)
Judicial Separation	94	(12)
Grounds For Separation	106	(1)
Summary	106	(1)
Key Terms	107	(1)
Chapter Review Questions	107	(1)
Chapter Assignment	108	(1)
Divorce: Grounds and Ethics	109	(35)
Special Ethical Considerations	110	(2)
Unauthorized Practice of Law	111	(1)
Dual Representation and Conflicts	111	(1)
Contingent Fee Agreements	111	(1)
Special Rules for Domestic Relations Matters	112	(1)
Confidentiality	112	(1)
Grounds for Divorce	112	(14)
Cruel and Inhuman Treatment	112	(7)
Adultery	119	(1)
Abandonment	119	(4)
Imprisonment	123	(1)
Living Separate Pursuant to a Separation Decree	124	(2)
Living Separate and Apart Pursuant to Agreement	126	(1)
The Complaint	126	(10)
Verification	127	(1)
Specific Pleading	127	(1)
Alternative Pleading	127	(1)
Removal of Barriers to Remarriage	128	(1)
Drafting the Complaint	128	(8)
Recognition of Foreign Divorces	136	(1)
Summary	136	(1)
Key Terms	136	(1)
Chapter Review Questions	137	(2)
Chapter Assignment	139	(5)
Divorce: Procedures and Papers	144	(24)
Documents Required in Divorce Actions	145	(1)
Court Rules and Part Rules	146	(1)
Special Procedures Applicable to Matrimonial Actions	146	(13)
Case Management Procedures	146	(1)
Jurisdiction and Service	146	(2)
Required Residence of Parties	148	(1)
Personal and In Rem Jurisdiction	149	(2)
Service and Proof of Service	151	(5)
Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law	156	(3)
Judgment of Divorce	159	(1)
Effects of Judgment of Divorce	159	(7)
Economic Consequences	159	(1)
Right to Remarry	159	(6)
Name Changes	165	(1)
Legitimacy of Children	165	(1)
Summary	166	(1)
Key Terms	166	(1)
Chapter Review Questions	166	(1)
Chapter Assignment	167	(1)
Custody and Visitation	168	(46)
Custody	169	(2)
Historical Background	169	(2)
Parent Versus Parent Custody Disputes	171	(14)
``Best-Interest'' Factors	172	(13)
Parent versus Nonparent Custody Disputes	185	(3)
Foster Parents	188	(1)
Modification and Enforcement	188	(6)
Procedures	189	(1)
Guardianship	190	(4)
Interjurisdictional Conflicts	194	(13)
Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act	194	(12)
Hague Convention Treaty	206	(1)
Visitation	207	(4)
Noncustodial Parent Visitation	207	(1)
Relocation	207	(1)
Nonparent Visitation	208	(2)
Grandparent and Sibling Visitation	210	(1)
Summary	211	(1)
Key Terms	211	(1)
Chapter Review Questions	212	(1)
Chapter Assignment	213	(1)
Support	214	(50)
Subject Matter Jurisdiction	215	(1)
Referees and Support Magistrates	216	(1)
Spousal Support	217	(8)
``Opting Out'' of the Equitable Distribution Law	217	(1)
Duration of Maintenance	217	(1)
Standards for Maintenance	218	(1)
Tax Consequences of Maintenance	219	(6)
Child Support	225	(23)
Obligation of Both Parties	225	(1)
Duration of Child Support Obligation	225	(1)
Child Support Standards Act of 1989	226	(11)
Deviating from CSSA Guidelines	237	(5)
``Opting Out'' of CSSA Guidelines	242	(1)
Children Receiving Public Support	243	(1)
Methods of Payment	243	(1)
Procedural Considerations	244	(4)
Tax Consequences of Child Support	248	(1)
Modification of Support	248	(4)
Modification of Maintenance	249	(1)
Modification of Child Support	250	(2)
Support Enforcement	252	(5)
Enforcement Remedies	253	(3)
Visitation and Support Enforcement	256	(1)
Uniform Interstate Family Support Law	257	(4)
Establishing Support Under UIFSA	257	(2)
Modification of Support Orders Under UIFSA	259	(1)
Enforcement of Support Orders Under UIFSA	259	(2)
Summary	261	(1)
Key Terms	261	(1)
Chapter Review Questions	261	(2)
Chapter Assignment	263	(1)
Property Division	264	(45)
Economic Partnership	265	(1)
Marital Fault	266	(4)
Identification	270	(4)
Financial Disclosure	274	(1)
Preservation	274	(17)
Characterization	291	(6)
Tracing	294	(1)
Commingling	295	(1)
Marital Residence	296	(1)
Evaluation	297	(2)
No Merger Doctrine	298	(1)
Double Dipping	298	(1)
Distribution	299	(3)
Liquidity	300	(1)
Pension and Retirement Benefits	301	(1)
QDRO	301	(1)
Tax Considerations of Property Division	302	(4)
Capital Gains	302	(3)
Recapture	305	(1)
Summary	306	(1)
Key Terms	306	(1)
Chapter Review Questions	307	(1)
Chapter Assignment	308	(1)
Non-Marital Children	309	(21)
Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity	310	(3)
Paternity Proceedings	313	(7)
Agreement or Compromise	314	(1)
Genetic Testing	315	(2)
Special Procedural and Evidentiary Rules	317	(3)
Effects of Order of Filiation	320	(7)
Presumption of Legitimacy and Equitable Estoppel	323	(4)
Children Conceived by Artificial Insemination	327	(1)
Summary	327	(1)
Key Terms	327	(1)
Chapter Review Questions	328	(1)
Chapter Assignment	329	(1)
Family Offenses	330	(26)
Theories about Domestic Violence	331	(3)
``Battered Woman's Syndrome''	332	(2)
Family Offense Proceedings	334	(11)
Concurrent Jurisdiction	334	(3)
Grounds	337	(1)
Preliminary Procedures	337	(6)
Hearing	343	(1)
Settlement	344	(1)
Disposition	344	(1)
Order of Protection	345	(5)
Duration of Orders of Protection	345	(1)
Statewide Order of Protection Registry	345	(4)
Terms of Order of Protection	349	(1)
Effects of Order of Protection	350	(3)
Mandatory Arrest	350	(1)
Violation Proceedings	350	(1)
Multiple Violations	351	(2)
Summary	353	(1)
Key Terms	354	(1)
Chapter Review Questions	354	(1)
Chapter Assignment	355	(1)
Child Protection	356	(32)
Other Cases Involving Child Neglect and Abuse	357	(1)
Criminal Prosecutions	357	(1)
Custody Cases	357	(1)
Family Offense Proceedings	358	(1)
Phases of a Child Protective Case	358	(21)
Investigative Phase	358	(1)
Article 10 Petition	359	(1)
Who May Be Charged with Child Abuse or Neglect	360	(2)
Definition of Child Abuse	362	(1)
Definition of Child Neglect	363	(1)
Preliminary Court Appearances	363	(1)
Searching for Missing Parents	364	(1)
Discovery	365	(2)
Pretrial Resolution	367	(4)
Special Procedural and Evidentiary Rules	371	(1)
Shifting Burden of Proof	371	(6)
Dispositional Phase	377	(1)
Dispositions	377	(2)
Providing Litigation Support	379	(2)
Preparing the Discovery Package	380	(1)
Contacting Potential Witnesses	380	(1)
Preparing a Trial Notebook	380	(1)
Assisting at the Trial	381	(1)
Voluntary Placement	381	(1)
Court Approval of Voluntary Placement Agreements	382	(1)
Permanency Planning	382	(2)
Adoption and Safe Families Act	383	(1)
Summary	384	(1)
Key Terms	385	(1)
Chapter Review Questions	385	(1)
Chapter Assignment	386	(2)
Adoption	388	(45)
Ethical Considerations	390	(5)
Payments to Birth Parents	390	(1)
Dual Representation Prohibited	390	(3)
Baby Brokers	393	(1)
Confidentiality	394	(1)
Who May Adopt	395	(1)
Consents to Adoption	396	(8)
Whose Consent Is Required	396	(1)
Equitable Adoption	397	(1)
Consent of Out-of-Wedlock Father	397	(4)
Indian Children	401	(1)
Form of Consent---Private Adoption	401	(1)
Dispensing with Consent---Private Adoption	402	(1)
Voluntary Surrender for Agency Adoption	402	(2)
Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights---Agency Adoption	404	(15)
Standing	405	(1)
Venue	405	(1)
Subject Matter Jurisdiction	405	(1)
Grounds	405	(5)
Special Procedural and Evidentiary Rules	410	(5)
Dispositional Phase	415	(1)
Dispositions	416	(2)
Interstate Compact Approval	418	(1)
Best Interests of the Child	419	(2)
Private-Placement Adoptions	421	(5)
Certification of Prospective Adoptive Parents	421	(4)
Temporary Order of Guardianship	425	(1)
Surrogate Parenting	425	(1)
Agency Adoptions	426	(4)
Religious Preference	426	(3)
Race as a Factor in Adoptive Placement	429	(1)
Subsidy	430	(1)
Effects of Adoption	430	(1)
Summary	431	(1)
Key Terms	431	(1)
Chapter Review Questions	431	(1)
Chapter Assignment	432	(1)
Glossary	433	(10)
Index	443