South Hills Divorce Lawyers
Divorce: Hiding Assets Via Cryptocurrency
For as long as there has been divorce, spouses have suspected one another of hiding assets.
“Originally, it was under the mattress, and then it was the bank account in the Caymans; now it’s crypto,” according to a recent article in The New York Times.
The rise of cryptocurrencies has led to increased divorce litigation over suspicions that spouses are using the new medium to conceal the true value of the marital estate.
Forensic investigators are often hired to track the movement of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin from online exchanges to digital wallets.
Digital assets can be traced. Transactions are recorded on blockchains, enabling analysts to follow the money.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law, including: divorce, high net-worth cases, equitable distribution, spousal support, and alimony. In some cases, we work with forensic accountants to determine the value of a marital estate.
To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Divorce: Negotiating Settlements
In most divorce cases, attorneys informally provide one another documents regarding their clients’ marital assets and debts on their way to negotiating a financial settlement.
The parties have a legal obligation to share all relevant information prior to resolving their economic claims, including:
-Bank accounts
-Retirement accounts
-Investment portfolios
-Mortgage statements
-Credit card statements
If a financial settlement is reached, the attorneys will draft a marital settlement agreement or consent order of court resolving economic claims.
If necessary, we will also draft deeds transferring ownership of the residence and documents necessary to divide retirement accounts.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law, including divorce, spousal support, alimony, dividing assets and debts, child custody, and child support.
To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Divorce: Refinancing the Marital Residence
The marital residence often represents the greatest asset in a divorce. Some people sell the home and divide any proceeds remaining from the sale. In other cases, a decision will be made for one of the spouses to remain at the property after the divorce is finalized.
If both spouses are listed on the mortgage, it will be necessary to refinance the loan. Under a refinance, the spouse who stays at the marital residence will become solely liable for the mortgage and all fees related to the property. The lending institution will approve the refinance in most cases involving a good credit history.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation in all divorce and family law matters. To schedule a consultation, call us today at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Divorce and Legal Separation
Unlike many other states, Pennsylvania does not recognize legal separation.
But your date of separation may be highly relevant to your divorce.
Spouses who remain married for an extended period of time after separating may have legitimate disagreements about the contents of their marital estate.
If only one spouse wants a divorce and the parties have been separated for at least one year, a divorce may be granted so long as there is no dispute about the date of separation.
The one-year period begins at the date of separation, which may pre-date the filing of the divorce action.
To speak with an experienced family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Divorce: Hidden Assets
Discovery, the formal legal process for obtaining information in a divorce, is essential if your ex refuses to provide important financial information.
Discovery is also an important tool if you believe your ex is hiding financial assets.
People do not usually engage in formal discovery for divorce because it can be expensive and time-consuming.
But you have may have no choice if your ex withholds or conceals information that is necessary for determining the value of the marital estate.
The most common forms of discovery include:
–Requests for Production: requests for documents that must be provided
–Interrogatories: written questions that must be answered
–Depositions: sworn testimony given in the presence of a court reporter
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of divorce and family law. To schedule a consultation, call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Marriage and Divorce Rates
As the national divorce rate falls to its lowest point in decades, 73% of U.S. adults say divorce is “morally acceptable,” a recent Gallup poll finds. Divorce rates have fallen below the heightened levels of the 1980s and 1990s.
Researchers found that marriage rates have also fallen with more young adults delaying marriage. It may be that both marriage and divorce are no longer viewed in moral terms but rather seen as legal processes.
Based in Pittsburgh, Spivak Law Firm routinely handles all areas of family law, including: divorce, spousal support, child custody, child support, and Protection From Abuse (PFA). To speak with an experienced family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Divorce Waiting Period Reduced
The Pennsylvania State Senate recently passed an amendment reducing the separation period for no-fault divorces to one year. Prior to this amendment, if your spouse would not consent to a divorce, you had to wait a period of two years before requesting a final decree.
Once Governor Wolf signs the bill, the reduced waiting period will take effect within 60 days. However, the reduced waiting period will only apply to divorces filed after the effective date of the law. It is not retroactive.
If your spouse will not consent to a divorce, and you have not yet filed, you may consider postponing filing until the law goes into effect.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law, including: divorce, child custody, child support, and Protection from Abuse (PFA) hearings. To speak with an experienced family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Dividing Marital Property
Under Pennsylvania divorce law, marital property is divided through a process known as equitable distribution. Marital property includes property acquired during the marriage, such as: houses, cars, retirement accounts, jewelry, artwork, etc.
To save significant time, stress, and money, you may bypass the formal equitable distribution process by reaching agreement on the distribution of marital assets through a written Marriage Settlement Agreement.
Spivak Law Firm handles divorce, equitable distribution trials, and the drafting of Marriage Settlement Agreements. Call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.