https://lawestmi.org/ awarded attorney David C. Sarnacki of The Sarnacki Law Firm the 2023 Michael S. Barnes Award. Over the decades, Sarnacki contributed nearly 800 hours on cases which he accepted from LAWM’s pro bono program, provided monetary support, and worked…
Grand Rapids Magazine’s 2023 Top Lawyers in Both Family Law & Mediation: Peer Review and Rating of David C. Sarnacki
Once again, David C. Sarnacki has been selected to Grand Rapids Magazine’s list of Top Lawyers, this time for 2023. Recognized by his peers for excellence in both Family Law and Mediation, he was chosen by a confidential vote of…
New legal resource: how to write a brief for court
David C. Sarnacki published The Essence of Writing Persuasive Trial Briefs: Big Ideas for Mastering Mediation, Arbitration & Trial Briefs. The short, practical book is available in both ebook and paperback form on Amazon and other retailers. A wealth of…
IRS publications on children of divorced or separated parents
The IRS has its “Tax Information for Non-Custodial Parents” posted online. The one-page resource addresses: Child support payments [not tax deductible by the payer] Claiming Your Child as a Dependent Child Tax Credit Earned Income Credit (EIC) Treasury Offset Program…
Women’s loss is government’s gain: the last year of alimony deductibility
The ABA notes the tax law change eliminating the deduction for spousal support (alimony) payers, something around for the last 8 decades. The change is effective at the end of this year (2018). The practical effect in divorces was to…
Do It Yourself Divorce? Sure, unless your future matters
It’s always sad when a good person comes in to meet with me about a post-judgment problem only to discover their DIY divorce locked him or her into a bad, unworkable situation. We’ve seen this many times, and it recently…
Should I loan money to my brother, sister, in law, son, daughter, friend, et cetera, et cetera: Four big questions
USA Today provides some insights into lending to family and friends. Susan Tompor writes (excerpt): How do you know if you can afford to help out a friend or family member without putting yourself in danger of a financial hardship?…
Beware: Called ID scamming
The American Bar Association reports that scammers are fooling people into sending money by using fake Caller ID displays. Please understand that all devices can be manipulated to display false information about the identity of the person making the call…
Top tips for conscientious conscious capital uncoupling
The Wall Street Journal focuses divorcing couples on financial planning for “getting unmarried.” Veronica Dagher offers and discusses these tips (excerpt): 1. Know What You Own and Make Copies. . . . 2. Save and Budget. . . . 3.…
From sinking to stearing a new course: Divorce later in life
The New York Times highlights the financial problems for divorce in your 50s and 60s. Constance Gustke writes (excerpt): [M]ore Americans are going through so-called gray divorces and the downsizing that follows. **** “There isn’t much time left to enhance…
Divorce, joint tax returns and the IRS
Rhemann CPAs and Consultants show how spouses often are treated as “Guilty Until Proven Innocent” by the IRS. They explain how married couples might be jointly responsible for taxes, interest and penalties, and how a former spouse might be responsible…
The high cost of COBRA coverage: For most, no end in sight
USA Today highlights the problems displaced workers are encountering when their COBRA subsidy ends or they do not qualify. Note: At the time of a divorce, an employee’s former spouse is eligible for COBRA coverage for 36 months, but someone…
Just say no?: Separation without divorce
The New York Times highlights the “Un-Divorced” who choose to stay separated. Pamela Paul writes (excerpt): “Many people I’ve worked with over time enjoy the benefits of being married: the financial perks, the tax breaks, the health care coverage,” said…
Resource for workshops & classes: Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services
Pine Rest is presenting workshops and classes of interests to parents: Starting March 4–Parenting With Love & Logic (March 4 – April 29): Pine Rest’s Holland Clinic presents an 8-week class for parents of children ages 6-12. Call 616/820-3780 for…
Creating goodwill in marriage: making sense of dollars and cents
CNN and Parenting.com make cents–rather, sense–of fighting over money and how couples can improve their marriage by resolving money issues. Michele Bender writes (excerpt): 1. Remember that your relationship is about more than the bottom line . . . .…
Money can’t buy me love?: Money matters to your marriage
The New York Times your smartest financial decision is marrying someone who shares your attitudes about money. Tara Siegel Bernard writes (excerpt): “A lot of the debates people have about money are code for how we want to live our…
Taxing child support recipients: Federal law leads to Michigan withholding $25
The Grand Rapids Press explains why custodial parents in Michigan will be paying the federal government $25 per year from the child support they receive. Kyla King writes (excerpt): “The Michigan legislators determined that it would be handled in this…
COBRA coverage: keeping your health insurance after the divorce
COBRA [Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985] provides the right for certain employees and their dependents to purchase continuation health care insurance coverage through their employers. The act applies to employers with 20 or more employees, including certain federal…
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes health insurance
The New York Times presents the flip side of a problem we deal with in divorce on a regular basis: health insurance. [See my related post on COBRA.] Kevin Sack writes about people who “rush to marry” in order to…
How to estimate your Social Security benefits: divorced spouses, married couples, single persons
The Social Security Administration’s new retirement estimator taps into your actual earnings history to provide more accurate estimates of benefits. It also allows for alternative future income scenarios. The estimator explains (excerpt): How the Retirement Estimator Works The Retirement Estimator…