child support

Preparing for Your Divorce

November 1, 2023 | Kearns Rotolo Law

Divorce can be overwhelming whether the decision is a mutual one or not. There are so many details to address and life-changing decisions to be made when you are least emotionally able to do so; being prepared and organized can help relieve some of the stress.

Gathering the necessary documents, financial statements, and other paperwork pertinent to your divorce is your first step in helping to prepare your case. Your divorce attorney can then help you navigate the process and arrive at decisions that are in the best interests of your future. For a list of the type of documents you may need, read “Divorce Checklist: Financial Paperwork You Need for Divorce.”

Coping with Divorce’s Most Common Fears

June 5, 2023 | Kearns Rotolo Law

Like all endings, divorce is a highly emotional process, and one of the strongest emotions it elicits is fear – fear over how people, particularly your children, will react … fear over money and financial stability … fear over what the future holds. But fear, when not confronted, can lead to inaction and, when it comes to unhealthy relationships, inaction may not be the best solution for anyone involved.

Looking at these fears head-on and considering the options for handling them can ease some of the stress and struggles couples experience during the divorce process. For a look at some of the more common fears associated with divorce and some mechanisms for coping with them, read “4 Common Divorce Fears (and How to Cope).”

It’s Tax Filing Time: How Will Your Divorce Impact Your Returns?

February 1, 2023 | Kearns Rotolo Law

It’s that time of year again when most of us are sitting down to prepare our income tax returns, or at least thinking about it. If you are newly divorced, don’t neglect to consider the impact that change may have on your tax returns.

One of the biggest changes may be in your filing status. Don’t be in too much of a hurry to check the ‘filing single’ box, though. Filing status is determined largely by your marital status as of December 31 of the tax year you are filing for. So, unless your divorce was finalized in 2022, you still need to select one of the married options when filling out your returns this year.

Filing status isn’t your only consideration. There may be changes in reportable income and deductions that you should be aware of, as well. To learn more, read “Do You Know How Divorce Will Affect Your Taxes?”

Stimulus Checks & Child Support: What You Need to Know

April 1, 2021 | Kearns Rotolo Law

The government-issued stimulus checks were intended to help those eligible address some of the financial challenges brought on by the pandemic, but for divorced parents who share custody of their children and pay or receive child support, these payments have proven a major source of confusion in some cases.

Criteria used to determine eligibility in the first two rounds of stimulus payments sometimes resulted in both parents receiving payments for the same child, or receiving a stimulus payment along with additional tax credits for that child. The eligibility criteria surrounding the third stimulus payment has changed yet again, but it still affects those dealing with child custody and support agreements. To learn how read, “Child support and the third stimulus check: Let us clear up the confusion.”

How Your Divorce May Impact Your Tax Returns

March 1, 2021 | Kearns Rotolo Law

If you are recently divorced or currently going through the process, even routine matters like filing your annual tax return raises questions.

Can we still file jointly?

Must I add spousal or child support payments to my adjusted gross income?

What Kids of Divorce Really Need

October 1, 2018 | Kearns Rotolo Law

As you go through a divorce, your attention understandably can be centered on your own problems and emotions. You’re hurt, angry, sad and uncertain of what the future holds. On top of that, you’re determined not to let your soon-to-be ex get the best of you in the divorce settlement. In the midst of all this, it is sometimes difficult to give sufficient attention to what your children really need from you at the moment.

Often, a parent’s first reaction while in the divorce process is to assure their children that the divorce is not about them and it is not their fault; it’s a situation between the adults. But divorce affects everyone in the family and placating your children just won’t work. In an article entitled “Divorce is never easy – but here’s what your kids need from you,” Dr. Kevin Leman explains what your children really need and how you can help them navigate this highly emotional time in their lives.

The ABC’s of Mediation – Part II: Financial Issues

November 8, 2017 | Kearns Rotolo Law

This second article from attorney and mediator Rosalyn A. Metzger on Mediation focuses on how the process addresses financial issues involved in divorce. To read the first article, see “The ABC’s of Mediation – Part I: The Process.”

Negotiating Financial Issues

Part of divorce mediation involves financial issues. Although you won’t need any documents for the first session, you will need to begin assembling financial statements, preferably from the same end date so that the values come from the same time frame. This way, when you reach the financial issues that are part of every divorce, you are prepared. It often can take a while to obtain all of the financial information necessary.

Parent of a Gifted Child? Your Support Payments Could Be Increased

November 28, 2016 | Kearns Rotolo Law

For many children, extra-curricular activities are a trial-and-error means of discovering their interests and talents. New Jersey’s guidelines for child support recognize this and generally take into account the costs associated with such activities in the basic child support payments. What happens, however, when a child is gifted in a particular area, requiring more extensive involvement to develop his or her special skills?

A New Jersey judge ruled recently that a parent could be ordered to pay additional child support to help cover the costs of his or her gifted child’s endeavors to improve the child’s talents. To learn more read the nj.com story regarding “Divorced parents of gifted children …”