Actress and TV host, Sherri Shepherd, has been even more in the spotlight due to her recent divorce filing. Divorce comes with many matters for Alabama spouses to iron out, including child custody, and this case is no exception. In an unusual twist of events, Shepherd has requested not to have custody of the surrogate unborn baby. Shepherd and her newly estranged husband got married three years ago. At some point in time, Shepherd realized that she could no longer have children, which prompted her and her husband to take further action. They obtained services from a surrogate mother who became pregnant through in-vitro fertilization by a donated egg and the husband’s sperm. Initially, the husband requested for the court to grant him legal and full custody. The baby is expected to be born in the coming month, but Shepherd does not want to have anything to do with raising … Continue reading Sherri Shepherd decides she doesn’t want child custody
Tag Archives: divorce
In some circumstances, a prenuptial agreement can be set aside
For many individuals — whether they have important assets or children that they are trying to protect — a prenuptial agreement can be an essential tool to utilize before entering into a marriage. However, it may surprise some in Alabama to learn that these agreements are not necessarily airtight. After a divorce, a prenuptial agreement can actually be challenged for a number of reasons. When petitioning to have a prenup thrown out, the question of how and when it was signed may arise. Details concerning the circumstances of its signing are of particular importance as they might indicate that one party was placed under undue duress before signing. For example, a prenuptial agreement signed right before a marriage might be a sign of a spouse who felt pressured to sign rather than cancel a wedding for which they had already shelled out a substantial amount of non-refundable money. A judge … Continue reading In some circumstances, a prenuptial agreement can be set aside →
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Prenuptial Agreements
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Including prenuptial agreement in Alabama marriages
Planning a wedding can be a bittersweet moment that is fun and stressful at the same time. While Alabama couples are choosing the perfect venue for their wedding, they may also consider a prenuptial agreement. Prenuptial agreements can safeguard spouses’ assets in case of divorce. While some may view a prenup as a lack of trust and intimacy, there’s a difference between a young couple with no assets and an older couple with finances at stake. A large amount of couples may decide to get married at a time when they already have a successful career and own a home. They may also have large retirement savings and a considerable amount in financial assets. Even though a prenup may seem businesslike, it can still help to avoid a protracted divorce settlement in the future. Moreover, relationships can still be successful when a prenup conversation is brought up. It’s recommended that … Continue reading Including prenuptial agreement in Alabama marriages →
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Prenuptial Agreements
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Alabama couples to avoid contingency pitfalls in alimony
Alabama residents who are considering divorce may want to be aware of a pitfall relating to tax deductions. The U.S. Tax Court recently denied a man’s alimony payments that were deducted in 2008. Although his divorce decree stated that the alimony could be deducted and that his wife should report the received payments as income on her tax returns, the termination contingency on the divorce decree invalidated that stipulation. According to the man’s divorce decree, he had to pay a specific amount in alimony per month. His ex-wife was also eligible for a 40 percent portion of his bonus. It was stipulated in the decree that these payments would both terminate in the event of the ex-wife’s remarriage or the demise of either one of the two parties. However, the first termination condition on the decree stated that payments would be cancelled when the youngest child reaches high school graduation. … Continue reading Alabama couples to avoid contingency pitfalls in alimony →
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Making the best of child custody in Alabama
The topic of divorce can come up in a marriage for a number of reasons, whether the parties live alone or with a house full of children. In divorce proceedings that involve children, the stress increases and the process may seem more difficult. While deciding on child custody can be challenging, if both parties understand their options and are willing to work together, a solution that works for everyone can be achieved. Parents that are considering divorce in Alabama may benefit from understanding the types of child custody typically available and how to decide which one fits their particular circumstances. Divorce can seem to be a stressful life-change for those involved. For the children who watch their parents make this decision, it is even more confusing and nerve-wracking. As they deal with their own emotions, the parents should make a conscious effort to ease the tension of the transition for … Continue reading Making the best of child custody in Alabama →
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Child Custody
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Alabama issues with child custody schedules
The divorce process can bring on multiple arguments between spouses. One of the main issues divorcing spouses argue about is child custody. Many Alabama residents would agree that most parents want to spend as much time as possible with their children. Even after a custody schedule is formulated, there may still be issues present when it comes to weekend visitations. Throughout the years, child custody issues have increased. Some of the most popular scheduled days to appear in a courtroom is Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. At some point in time after the schedule is ordered, a parent may end up late in dropping off or picking up the child. In some instances, a parent may not show up at all. Non-custodial parents are may also raise visitation issues when they’re due to see their child. Some will go so far as to request law enforcement to escort them to the … Continue reading Alabama issues with child custody schedules →
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Child Custody
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How does stay-at-home parenting fit into property division?
When couples reach the decision to divorce, financial matters might be among the first things each spouse considers. Couples typically accumulate assets together during the course of their marriage and must try to untangle them during the course of divorce. As each spouse tries to figure out his or her post-divorce needs, there may be questions about exactly how to formulate the financial settlement. In cases where both spouses have maintained a steady income while being married, property division matters couple be slightly less complex because each individual can expect to have steady income after divorce. This situation for a stay-at-home parent, however, might be a little different. When a person decides to stay at home to raise children, he or she may also being putting a career on hold. Certainly, some parents are more than willing to do so, but having to resume a career after divorce may be … Continue reading How does stay-at-home parenting fit into property division? →
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Prenuptial Agreements
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Effective custody plans can ease concerns of parents, children
There’s no getting around it: Divorce will change how a family functions. This, however, shouldn’t stop a person from choosing divorce. It is a stressful experience, but many people realize that it might be best for the entire family in the long term. As couples are dealing with divorce, during and after the process, it may be easy to overlook all of its effects. According to a recent study published by the Huffington Post, parents may not be aware of how their children are coping with the divorce. The survey says that nearly 40 percent of kids hide their true feelings about divorce, suggesting that many parents are left in the dark. At first, children may not be able to understand why their parents got divorced. Of the children who responded to the previously mentioned study, 13 percent blamed themselves for their parents splitting up. Of course, these results show … Continue reading Effective custody plans can ease concerns of parents, children →
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Child Custody
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Alimony payments may be considered tax deductible
Although many people might not know exactly what to expect when deciding to file for divorce, it will certainly provide lifestyle adjustments. Of course, couples can work together to ease that transition for themselves and any children involved in the split. Some people may consider requesting alimony payments as part of a financial settlement. Spousal support in this form isn’t a mandatory aspect of divorce, but it can help ease some financial difficulties created by divorce. For example, one spouse may have a much higher income than the other. During marriage, both individuals become accustomed to the lifestyle associated with sharing income, so alimony payments can help balance out changes caused by living with a single income. Of course, before drawing any conclusions about a divorce settlement, it can be helpful to be aware of the ramifications for specific decisions. When couples reach an alimony agreement, for example, they may … Continue reading Alimony payments may be considered tax deductible →
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Alimony
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Father could lose parental rights over McDonald’s disagreement
Every parent has had a disagreement with his or her children. Kids might not understand exactly when their parents are trying to teach a lesson or reinforce healthy habits. According to one man, he has tried to do right by his son, but he could lose his rights to child custody and visitation. In New York, a mother and father are currently struggling with the custody and visitation agreement reached during their divorce. The current dispute started when the father was planning spending time with his son by going out for dinner. His 4-year-old son suggested eating at McDonald’s. However, the man felt his son was consuming too much unhealthy food, so he said they could go anywhere other than the fast-food restaurant or have no dinner at all. The child refused to eat, so his father brought him back to his mom’s house. Shortly after this event occurred, the … Continue reading Father could lose parental rights over McDonald’s disagreement →
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Child Custody
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