RLF Family Law

RLF Family Law RLF Family Law is a boutique Family and Divorce Law Firm in New York City. We guide, advocate and support our clients through challenged times.

Proudly serving clients in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens

Before a New York court can divide property, award maintenance, or grant a divorce, there must first be a legally cogniz...
10/09/2026

Before a New York court can divide property, award maintenance, or grant a divorce, there must first be a legally cognizable marriage to dissolve. That threshold question can become surprisingly complicated when the parties participated in a religious wedding ceremony but previously signed a court-filed agreement stating that they never entered into a valid civil marriage. In a recent New York case, a prior stipulation proved decisive when one party later attempted to pursue a divorce based on the same relationship. If you have questions about your right to seek a divorce, it is wise to consult a New York divorce attorney as soon as possible.

Learn More: https://www.nydivorceattorneyblog.com/new-york-court-examines-documentary-evidence-in-divorce-cases/

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Contact Us: https://www.rlffamilylaw.com/contact-us/

10/08/2026

🐾 Who Pays For A Pet’s Expenses After Divorce?

Veterinary bills, food, grooming, pet insurance, boarding, and other expenses can add up—especially when a pet has been part of the family for years.

After a New York divorce, responsibility for these expenses may depend on the terms the spouses negotiate and include in their divorce agreement.

🐶 An agreement may address:

• Routine veterinary care and annual checkups
• Emergency or unexpected medical expenses
• Pet insurance premiums
• Food, grooming, and medications
• Boarding, daycare, or pet-sitting costs
• How larger expenses will be approved and divided

When one spouse keeps the pet, that spouse may assume ongoing expenses. Couples may also agree to share certain costs or establish their own arrangement based on the pet’s needs.

Addressing pet ownership, care, and expenses during divorce can provide greater clarity and help avoid disagreements about the pet’s future after the divorce is finalized.

📞212-706-2001

🌐www.rlffamilylaw.com

📍Proudly serving clients in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens

🔑Your Key to a Successful Resolution

📅 2 Things to Clarify Before School Holiday WeekendsA long weekend from school can quickly create confusion when parenti...
10/07/2026

📅 2 Things to Clarify Before School Holiday Weekends

A long weekend from school can quickly create confusion when parenting time, exchanges, or travel plans are not clearly addressed in advance.

NYC co-parents should confirm who has parenting time and the details of any exchanges, as well as discuss anticipated travel plans or requested schedule changes ahead of the holiday weekend.

If school holidays repeatedly create disagreements, reviewing the terms of your parenting agreement can help determine whether expectations around these dates are clearly addressed.

At RLF Family Law, we represent NYC parents in custody and parenting matters with an individualized approach tailored to each family’s circumstances.

📞212-706-2001

🌐www.rlffamilylaw.com

📍Proudly serving clients in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens

🔑Your Key to a Successful Resolution

10/06/2026

💼 Can A Prenup Protect The Future Growth Of My Business?

A business you own before marriage may begin as separate property, but its growth during the marriage can raise additional questions if the marriage later ends in divorce.

A properly drafted New York prenuptial agreement can establish how the business and certain aspects of its future growth will be treated between the spouses.

⚖️ Depending on the circumstances, a prenup may address:

• Existing business ownership
• Future appreciation in the business
• Business income and distributions
• Ownership interests acquired during the marriage
• Valuation methods in the event of divorce
• Each spouse’s rights regarding the business

For entrepreneurs, professionals, and business owners, addressing these issues before marriage can provide greater financial clarity and establish expectations for an asset that may change significantly in value over time.

Every business is different. A prenup can be tailored to reflect the ownership structure, financial circumstances, and priorities of the individuals entering the marriage.

📞212-706-2001

🌐www.rlffamilylaw.com

📍Proudly serving clients in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens

🔑Your Key to a Successful Resolution

10/05/2026

📘 Term of the Week: Inheritance in Divorce

Receiving an inheritance during a marriage does not automatically mean it will be divided in a New York divorce. An inheritance received by one spouse is generally considered separate property.

However, how inherited assets are handled during the marriage matters. If inherited funds are mixed with marital assets or used in ways that make them difficult to trace, determining their separate-property status can become more complex.

💰 For individuals with significant inheritances or other complex assets, maintaining clear financial records can be particularly important during the equitable distribution process.

📞212-706-2001

🌐www.rlffamilylaw.com

📍Proudly serving clients in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens

🔑Your Key to a Successful Resolution

10/01/2026

When parents divorce in New York City, custody decisions are based on what is in the best interests of the child. There is no single factor that determines the outcome—each family’s circumstances are considered individually.

⚖️ Depending on the case, factors may include:

• Each parent’s relationship with the child
• Each parent’s ability to meet the child’s needs
• The child’s existing routine and stability
• Each parent’s ability to support the child’s relationship with the other parent
• The child’s preferences, depending on age and maturity
• The overall circumstances of the family

Custody arrangements can address both legal custody, which involves important decisions about the child, and parenting time, which determines when the child spends time with each parent.

Whether custody is resolved through an agreement or determined by the court, the goal is to establish an arrangement centered on the child’s best interests.

📞212-706-2001

🌐www.rlffamilylaw.com

📍Proudly serving clients in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens

🔑Your Key to a Successful Resolution

📚 Communication Rules for NYC Co-Parents During the School YearBetween school schedules, homework, extracurricular activ...
09/30/2026

📚 Communication Rules for NYC Co-Parents During the School Year

Between school schedules, homework, extracurricular activities, appointments, and last-minute changes, the school year requires consistent communication between co-parents.

Keeping conversations focused on your child and sharing important updates promptly can help both households stay informed and reduce unnecessary misunderstandings.

When communication repeatedly becomes a source of conflict, it may be time to look more closely at whether your current parenting agreement clearly addresses school-year responsibilities and expectations.

At RLF Family Law, we represent NYC parents in custody and parenting matters with an individualized approach based on each family’s circumstances.

📞212-706-2001

🌐www.rlffamilylaw.com

📍Proudly serving clients in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens

🔑Your Key to a Successful Resolution

09/29/2026

💼 How Are Custody Arrangements Structured For Parents With Demanding Careers?

A demanding career does not automatically determine a parent’s custody arrangement. In New York, custody and parenting-time decisions are centered on the best interests of the child and the circumstances of each family.

For executives, business owners, physicians, attorneys, and other professionals, a parenting plan may need to account for:

• Long or irregular working hours
• Business travel and overnight trips
• School-day pickups and drop-offs
• Nannies and other childcare arrangements
• Weekends, holidays, and school breaks
• Procedures for unexpected schedule changes

⚖️ The goal is to create a parenting arrangement that reflects the child’s needs while considering the practical realities of each parent’s schedule.

For families with demanding careers and complex lifestyles, a thoughtfully structured parenting plan can provide greater clarity, consistency, and flexibility as schedules and a child’s needs evolve.

📞212-706-2001

🌐www.rlffamilylaw.com

📍Proudly serving clients in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens

🔑Your Key to a Successful Resolution

09/29/2026

⚖️ Term of the Week: Custody Modification

A custody arrangement that worked when it was originally established may no longer reflect a child’s needs or a family’s circumstances.

In New York, a parent seeking to modify an existing custody arrangement generally must demonstrate a sufficient change in circumstances and that the requested modification would be in the child’s best interests.

Changes involving a child’s needs, parenting arrangements, relocation, or other significant circumstances may raise questions about whether an existing custody order should be revisited.

📞212-706-2001

🌐www.rlffamilylaw.com

📍Proudly serving clients in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens

🔑Your Key to a Successful Resolution

Custody agreements involving supervised parenting time and reunification therapy can create a carefully structured path ...
09/25/2026

Custody agreements involving supervised parenting time and reunification therapy can create a carefully structured path toward rebuilding a parent’s relationship with a child. But what happens when a parent stops participating in that process and later asks the court to discard the agreement entirely? A recent New York ruling addresses that question, examining whether a reunification therapist was improperly given control over parenting time and whether a parent’s dissatisfaction with the progress of reunification justified sole custody and unsupervised access. The decision demonstrates that New York courts will closely examine both the terms of a negotiated custody agreement and the parties’ compliance with it before considering a significant change in custody.

Learn More: https://www.nydivorceattorneyblog.com/new-york-court-discusses-custody-agreements/

Subscribe: https://app.lawmatics.com/forms/share/43374b48-a776-4e8a-81e2-9bc89a6d5ab8

Contact Us: https://www.rlffamilylaw.com/contact-us/

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