Jewell Law, PLLC

10/15/2026

North Carolina requires spouses to live apart for a full year before a can be finalized. A proposed bill aims to change that.

Senate Bill 626, the Domestic Violence Divorce Reform Act, would modernize a separation requirement that dates back to 1931. Key provisions include:

- Reducing the separation period from one year to six months
- Waiving it entirely for domestic violence victims with supporting documentation
- Allowing both spouses to waive it in uncontested cases without minor children
- Eliminating the state's alienation of affection law

The domestic violence provision is especially significant. A year-long wait can keep vulnerable spouses legally tied to an unsafe situation far longer than necessary.

New York already takes a more streamlined approach. There's no mandatory separation period for a no-fault divorce. One spouse simply needs to state under oath that the marriage has been irretrievably broken for at least six months, and the divorce can be finalized once financial and custody matters are resolved.

Read the full article from WECT here: https://hubs.la/Q04BgcLL0

Learn more about New York divorce: https://hubs.la/Q04BgcPp0

A bill moving through the North Carolina Senate would shorten the state’s required separation period for divorce from one year to six months and eliminate the state’s alienation of affection law.

10/08/2026

Dissolving a can take a real toll on your finances. Legal fees, a new household, and rising expenses add up quickly, especially when emotions drive the negotiations.

The good news is that a few steps can help you protect your .

- Take inventory of your significant assets. Your share will help support you after the divorce.
- Know what you owe. Debts are also divided under equitable distribution.
- Never hide assets. Concealment breaks the law, erodes trust, and often leads to costly forensic investigations.
- Consider a financial advisor or a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) to evaluate settlement offers.
- Plan for the long term with a realistic budget, savings for emergencies and retirement, and updated estate documents.

Separating the emotional issues from the financial ones puts you in a stronger position to reach a fair settlement and move forward with confidence.

Read the full blog here: https://hubs.la/Q04zCZYs0

10/06/2026

No prenup. A $6.2 billion claim. One of the world's biggest hedge funds at the center of it all.

John Overdeck, co-founder of Two Sigma Investments, is back on the stand in New Jersey's largest divorce battle. His estranged wife, Laura, wants a 35% stake in his Two Sigma holdings. The couple married in 2002 with no prenuptial agreement, and his side has offered her more than $600 million. A judge barred Laura from testifying after finding she hacked her husband's email.

The core legal question: when does a business founded before marriage become marital?

A premarital business generally starts as separate property. However, growth during the marriage, especially when tied to either spouse's efforts, can become subject to division. When a firm "barely existed" at the time of the wedding, nearly all of its value can end up in dispute.

A well-drafted prenup sets a baseline value, defines how future appreciation is treated, and spares both spouses years of costly litigation. That matters whether you own a hedge fund, a startup, or a small family business.

Read the full article from Yahoo Finance: https://hubs.la/Q04zlsFl0

Contact me to learn more about prenuptial agreements: https://hubs.la/Q04zlsJ10

The ex-couple locked in New Jersey’s biggest divorce battle only has one physical asset at stake — a home they bought years ago for $3.6 million — but there’s bonkers more on the table when they return to court Tuesday.

10/02/2026

Custody disputes are often the hardest part of a divorce to resolve. Both parents want what's best for their child, yet they can't always agree on what that looks like.

When that happens, New York courts typically take a first step before anything else: they appoint an attorney for the child.

When parents take the attorney's findings seriously, it often encourages them to settle rather than escalate to a forensic psychologist. A forensic evaluation is far more invasive and pulls children deeper into the dispute.

The attorney for the child isn't an obstacle. Often, they're a path to resolution that keeps the decisions in your hands rather than the court's.

Learn more here: https://hubs.la/Q04z4YP00

09/29/2026

Missouri just changed a law that let judges pause divorces when a spouse was pregnant; a rule from the 1970s that, in practice, kept some people legally bound to abusive partners during one of the most vulnerable times of their lives.

Gov. Mike Kehoe signed HB 1908 this month, and the message is clear: pregnancy status can't stop a court from finalizing a divorce.

It's worth noting where New York already stands by comparison. Here, pregnancy has never been grounds to delay or prevent a divorce. New York is one of the few states that allows couples to finalize a divorce before the child is born. Custody, support, and paternity issues are addressed on their own terms, not used as leverage to slow the process down.

Read the full article from CNN https://hubs.la/Q04yh_SK0

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe on Tuesday signed into law a bill banning state judges from delaying divorce proceedings because a spouse is pregnant.

09/25/2026

No prenup. A $930 million stake. Nearly 25 years of marriage.

In a recent Yahoo Finance article, Lululemon founder Chip Wilson is divorcing Shannon Gray, and the case raises a question that comes up far more often than people expect: what happens to a business stake when there's no agreement in place?

According to reports, Wilson's Lululemon holding is valued at roughly $930 million. Without a prenup, that entire stake is subject to scrutiny. Under equitable distribution principles, Gray could generally claim half, but the final number depends heavily on what she can show she contributed.

If she made direct contributions to the business, her share of his stake could land somewhere between 25 and 45 percent. Indirect contributions, like supporting the household or enabling his focus on the business, are weighed differently and make the analysis more complex. Without a prenup, none of this gets resolved cleanly. It goes through negotiation or litigation, which is costly, unpredictable, and very public.

A well-drafted prenuptial agreement answers these questions in advance. It sets a baseline valuation, defines how future appreciation is treated, and spells out each spouse's interest if the marriage ends. That clarity protects both partners before the stakes grow too large to ignore.

You don't need a $930 million fortune for this to matter. The same principles apply to a family business, a startup, or a growing professional practice.

Read the full piece here: https://hubs.la/Q04yh_9D0

Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) founder Chip Wilson’s divorce from Shannon Gray could put his roughly $930 million stake in the company under scrutiny, though a recent report says it remains unclear whether he would need to sell any shares.Divorce Puts Wilson’s Holdings Under ScrutinyWils...

09/22/2026

The lifestyle you build during marriage can follow you into a divorce.

Most couples don't think about it that way. However, in New York, your standard of living during the marriage can shape several outcomes if the relationship ends:

- Spousal support, especially when income exceeds the statutory cap
- Property division, where a court may weigh the marital lifestyle to reach a fair result
- Child support, when combined parental income tops the cap

That's why open, honest conversations about your financial situation matter well before the wedding. Talk through your income, assets, debts, and the lifestyle you each envision. A prenuptial agreement can take it a step further, allowing you to set clear terms in advance and avoid costly disputes later.

Read the full breakdown here: https://hubs.la/Q04y298k0

09/18/2026

Before You Sign a Prenup...
Scenario: The side hustle that becomes a company.

One partner runs a small business that's barely breaking even at the time of the engagement. It's modest today, but the potential is real. Fast forward a few years, and that side project could be a thriving company. So the question comes up: how should a prenup handle future appreciation?

It's one of the trickiest issues in prenup drafting, and here's why.

Does the business stay separate as it grows?
→ A business one partner owns before marriage generally starts as separate property. However, growth complicates that. Appreciation that happens during the marriage can create a marital interest, especially when it's tied to the couple's shared efforts. A clear prenup can define whether the business, and its future increase in value, stays separate or becomes partly marital.

How do you value early-stage potential?
→ Valuing a firm that's barely profitable is difficult, because so much of its worth is promise rather than proof. A well-drafted agreement can set a baseline value at the time of marriage and spell out how future appreciation will be measured. That clarity protects both partners and prevents a costly fight later.

What about marital effort?
→ This is the piece people overlook. If one spouse pours time, labor, or marital funds into growing the business, that contribution can give the other spouse a claim to part of the increased value. A thoughtful prenup can address how marital effort will be recognized, so both partners know where they stand.

Don't wait until the business takes off to think about how it's treated. Planning early lets you protect what you've built and honor what you build together.

If you're bringing a growing business into your marriage, let's put a clear plan in place: https://hubs.la/Q04xSPgQ0

09/17/2026

Thinking of handling your divorce without a lawyer in order to save money? Even in an amicable split, going it alone carries real risks.

Divorce law has nuances that are hard to navigate without experience. Assets, income, inheritance, and taxes all need to be divided fairly, and good intentions aren't enough. Child custody adds another layer. Even when both spouses agree on everything, each party still needs an attorney to confirm the final settlement is complete, fair, and legally sound.

Worried about cost? New York courts can order a wealthier spouse to pay the other's attorney fees when there's a significant disparity in resources. Much of the expense is also within your control. The more you're willing to compromise, the lower your bill.

Hiring the right lawyer isn't just an expense. It's an investment that protects your interests when it matters most.

Read the full breakdown here: https://hubs.la/Q04xNkQT0

09/10/2026

Before You Sign a Prenup...

Scenario: The house he bought before marriage.
One partner owns a home before the wedding. After the vows, both spouses pitch in on the mortgage and pour time and money into renovations. Years later, if the marriage ends, one question surfaces: who's entitled to the home's value?

The answer is more layered than most people expect.

1. Does the home stay separate property?

The home itself often starts as separate property, since one spouse owned it before the marriage. But "separate" isn't always permanent. What happens during the marriage can carve out a marital interest in an asset that once belonged to one person alone.

2. Mortgage payments made with marital funds.

When both spouses use income earned during the marriage to pay down the mortgage, those payments can build a marital interest in the home. The property may keep its separate label on the deed, yet the equity created through shared payments can become subject to equitable distribution.

3. Renovations funded together.

Joint renovations work much the same way. If marital funds increase the home's value, the appreciation tied to that work can be considered marital property. A new kitchen, an addition, or a full remodel doesn't just improve the home. It can reshape who has a claim to its worth.

This is exactly the kind of situation a well-drafted prenup can address. By defining upfront how the home, its equity, and any future improvements will be treated, you protect both partners and avoid a difficult, expensive dispute down the road.

If you're bringing a home into your marriage, make sure your agreement reflects your intentions clearly: https://hubs.la/Q04x5Y0k0