| Adoption and Safe Families Act - Reasonable Efforts |
| The Family Preservation and Support Services Act required states to make "reasonable efforts" to reunify families and prevent the permanent removal of a child from his or her home. The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) attempts to clarify the "reasonable efforts" requirement. More... |
| Pretrial Motions in Divorce Actions |
| Often times divorce actions require litigation. If the parties decide that litigating the case is the only way to resolve the disputed issues, parties may need to file pretrial motions. A pretrial motion is a motion filed by either party requesting that the court take some action. Some issues need to be determined prior to the final conclusion of the case. More... |
| Contested Adoptions Initiated by a Biological Parent |
| The consent of the biological parent or guardian of the child must be obtained before a valid adoption can take place, unless there has been a waiver or forfeiture of parental rights. Therefore, if it can be shown that the biological parent or guardian did not consent to the adoption, there may be sufficient grounds upon which to set it aside.More... |
| Tax Issues Related to Qualified Domestic Relations Orders |
| Distributions from a retirement or pension plan are normally taxable to the plan participant, as the distributee. However, the Retirement Equity Act of 1984 (REA) created special rules for the tax treatment of distributions governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) under a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) to an alternate payee who is the spouse or former spouse of the plan participant, from certain employee benefit plans that are prescribed by federal law.More... |
| Divorce Proceedings |
| If spouses decide to divorce there are many things they must consider. First, whether or not they are going to seek separate or joint representation. If the divorce is uncontested, meaning neither party objects to it, then the spouses may seek joint representation. The spouses may also separate representation or represent themselves. However, if the divorce is contested the spouses may seek either joint or separate representation or may represent themselves. More... |
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