You may have seen the recent media reports that singer Melissa Ethridge and her partner of five years, Tammy Lynn, are splitting up. The California couple had two children together. California law recognizes same-sex couples and allows for dissolution of …

Gays using anti-gay law Read more »

When a family breaks apart and parents go their separate ways, the issue of who will retain custody of the children can become a heated battle. With emotions running high and deep between the parents involved, the courts must sometimes …

Custody of children can become heated battle Read more »

Dread of the unknown hung in the air as Lynn France typed two words into the search box on Facebook: the name of the woman with whom she believed her husband was having an affair. Click. And there it was, …

On Facebook, wife learns of husband's 2nd wedding Read more »

Advances in reproductive technology that were the stuff of science fiction just a few decades ago are wreaking havoc on a corner of the Social Security system—survivor benefits for some children whose parents have died. Every year, more babies are …

In Vitro Sparks Fight Over Survivor Benefits Read more »

In a divorce settlement, it's common for both parties to focus on immediate financial concerns. Yet it is the long-term financial consequences of divorce that frequently are more devastating. Here are some of the most common mistakes and how to …

Long-term finances often are ignored in divorce settlements Read more »

My childhood home broke in half during the autumn of 1973, when my twin sister and I were 10 years old. Our parents called us together one evening to announce that they were splitting up, and just like that we …

In Praise of the Broken Home Read more »

It’s the rare bride and groom that boast multimillion dollar wedding budgets like Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky. But with summer wedding season in full swing, many newlyweds find money is a huge topic, as much after the honeymoon as …

Love and debt: Couples need to get together to map out their money plan Read more »

Society is full of whispered scenarios in which spouses live apart, in different homes or in the same mega-apartment in order to silence gossip, avoid ugly divorce battles and maintain the status quo, however uneasy. In certain cases, the world …

Why Divorce? Just Stay Separated Read more »

A new wave of legislation aimed at rectifying perceived injustices in divorce cases is rolling into state legislatures. For example, in Massachusetts, a controversial “father’s rights” bill would create a presumption of joint child custody, and proposed changes to alimony …

Divorce is costly. The settlement need not be. Read more »

IN the wee hours of July 14, Elizabeth Roach, a 70-year-old widow, got out of bed and went to the living room of her Virginia ranch home. She sat in her favorite chair for 15 minutes, then returned to bed. …

Monitoring Elderly Parents Read more »