The Law Office of Lauren S. Cohen, LLC

Will I be able to keep the house if I bought it before the marriage?

The state has some strict laws regarding the stepchild adoption process.

How are spousal maintenance payments determined in New York?

I can assist with stepparent, in-family and private adoptions.

Attorney Lauren S. Cohen is dedicated to bringing families together.

Divorcing parents should consider their options for landing on a preferable custody agreement.

An important lesson for all of us

What can divorcing New Yorkers do to ensure financial stability is on the horizon in their post-divorce future?

Dione helpful ideas

For 40 years, I have served families with the care they need during a conflict, including divorce and child custody disputes.

It can feel like mom against dad in custody hearings, but laws help protect parental rights.

Be kind to yourself s during the holidays. The first holidays after a divorce are the hardest. But you will make new traditions

Our firm strives to preserve our clients' presence in their children's lives throughout this process.

Everything you write or say WILL be used against you by your spouse in a divorce or by the other parent in a custody proceeding. Think before you type.

Just passing this on so that we’re all aware

Lauren S. Cohen is a caring and compassionate attorney with 40 years of experience. She helps New Yorkers through life's challenges.

A comment made by the former spouse of one of my divorce clients made me think this was a good time to clarify what the role of attorney's in a divorce or family proceeding are. In that post, the former spouse was expressing her annoyance/displeasure/unhappiness that I never contacted her teenage daughter to discuss the child's thoughts and feelings about the divorce. As the attorney for either the wife( mother) or husband(father) my role is to zealously represent the int...erest and desires of my client. I may discuss with my client issues such as his child's feelings and desires, but in the end, I have an ethical obligation to proceed as per my client's stated desires. The attorney for the opposing party has the same ethical obligation towards their client. When there are children involved in divorce, the courts will very often appoint an attorney specifically to represent the interests and desires of the children. This attorney (known as an AFC - Attorney for the Child) is appointed to the court, has no connection with either parent and costs neither parent any money. The AFC is paid for by a special fund created by New York State. This insures that the AFC has no initial bias in favor of or against either party and helps keep the children from being put in the difficult situation of having to be directly involved in their parent's divorce. I should point out that the AFC, like all attorneys has an obligation to zealously represent the desires of their client (ie, the children), so an AFC will not remain unbiased depending on what the children say to them. The AFC may, with the permission of the parents' attorneys speak with the parents but the attorneys for parents should never be speaking to the children. It is a breach of an attorney's ethical duties to do so. Finally, an AFC will only be appointed where issues of custody and visitation of the children is involved. Children have no say in nor any right to representation with respect to how the parents' property and money are divided in the divorce.

Costs can become overwhelming when they're no longer shared.

After almost 40 years of practice if there was one thing that I could etch into the brains and hearts of all people who split up but have children it common, it would be this:

Divorced parents can trade holidays and birthdays or host separate parties.

When divorce threatens the life you have built, experienced guidance is available from an attorney who cares about your future.

It can be hard for both spouses to have their cake and eat it too.

Divorce has more financial risks when you're close to retirement https://bit.ly/3fNZL72

How are assets divided in a divorce? https://bit.ly/309kjkS

Filers might need to take another look at finances when plans change.

Shared parenting presents the best of all worlds for a child who's parents are divorcing. It satisfies their inate sense of "fairness" and it allows them ample time with each parent. Of course, this type of arrangement is only possible when both parents can put the needs of their children above their own feelings of hurt and anger towards the other parent.

Ending a marriage later in life can be intimidating, but there is plenty more life to live.

Offering the care families need when issues of divorce, maintenance and asset division arise.

How is maintenance determined in New York? https://bit.ly/31BrROv

The length of a marriage is important when determining spousal meintenance.

Some good advice

The gray divorce mindset https://bit.ly/2NsE0gq

Your last child goes to college, and you file for divorce https://bit.ly/3feY3L1

New York favors shared custody, but divorce may divide generations.

When your child isn't coping well with divorce https://bit.ly/2zx0BVC

How a divorce can separate you from your beloved grandkids https://bit.ly/2ZsyhP2

How divorce divides retirement assets https://bit.ly/2ySn8fz

Don't struggle with money when you have the option of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy https://bit.ly/2ApW5Zi

Don't let divorce keep you from your children https://bit.ly/3fbtTJp

Focusing on court: Getting the custody schedule you want https://bit.ly/3bNXrel

Don't do these 3 things while going through divorce https://bit.ly/3ccx0hY

Can you pass the means test for New York Chapter 7 bankruptcy? https://bit.ly/34oyumA

Changing times lead to people believing it's time for a change.

Stressed during divorce? These 3 tips can help https://bit.ly/2we3ide

Why are more older couples deciding to divorce later in life? https://bit.ly/2yt1MES

Bankruptcy can lead to emotional distress https://bit.ly/2QVsagV

Bankruptcy comes with some unexpected emotions https://bit.ly/2wz7EvN

It is possible to make divorce easier https://bit.ly/2ycLEqU

Money issues might lead to a divorce https://bit.ly/3dkuCqH

It is possible to make divorce easier https://bit.ly/2QugBgD

Work through child custody negotiations http://bit.ly/2U3EiP4

When is uncontested divorce an option? http://bit.ly/2IK5mwl

Who thinks about keeping written accounts of what happens during their marriage?

3 tips for keeping a child custody journal http://bit.ly/2vk5crZ

Bankruptcy is often sparked by medical expenses http://bit.ly/2NKfM1z

The following are typical misconceptions about "winning your divorce" that family lawyers often hear from clients, and explanations to help clients understand and set realistic expectations for the process.

Parenting plans based on child development http://bit.ly/2T27q90

https://www.divorcemag.com//6-to-dos-when-facing-a-divorce Anyone considering a divorce come the new year should resolve themselves to start preparing for it now. #divorce #newyear #newyeardivorce

Bankruptcy may not eliminate student loan debt http://bit.ly/35WizMl

For the sake of the little ones, I hope all single parents and blended families take this article to heart.

How to pay medical bills without credit cards http://bit.ly/2PSiDpN

Here are 4 reasons why some couples ring in the new year with divorce papers.

Study finds 137 million Americans overwhelmed by medical debt http://bit.ly/380LlNl

4 reasons divorce happens after the holidays http://bit.ly/2Rg7q4H

Bankruptcies on the rise for older adults http://bit.ly/2Q8Oswa

Small business owners face challenges during a divorce http://bit.ly/2BVSrUg

Three factors that indicate a marriage is headed for divorce http://bit.ly/2Bjm95i