In the News (Summer 2026)

Posted on by

Below is a roundup of Blank Rome Matrimonial and Family Law Partners’ recent awards, recognitions, media, and other accomplishments from around the country.

Defining ‘Emancipation Events’ in Divorce Agreements
July 23, 2026
Blank Rome partner Alan R. Feigenbaum authored this New York Law Journal article discussing the growing impact of AI on the college experience, and how it raises questions about how “emancipation events” may be interpreted in divorce settlement agreement.
Jacqueline Combs Joins The Last Show with David Cooper Podcast
July 20, 2026
Blank Rome partner Jackie Combs joined The Last Show with David Cooper to discuss the money-related questions people should consider asking on a first date.
What’s at Stake for Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff? Why Their Split Is Likely a ‘Walkaway Situation’
July 13, 2026
Blank Rome partner Bret S. Ward was featured in this People Magazine article discussing how courts often view short-term, childless marriages as “walkaway situations,” particularly when both spouses entered the marriage financially established and independently successful.
How Stars like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Protect Their Assets
July 9, 2026
Blank Rome partner Marilyn B. Chinitz authored this Wealth Management article discussing how prenuptial agreements are not simply tools for planning for divorce, but proactive instruments that help couples openly discuss finances, expectations, and long-term goals before marriage.
Continue reading →

Attorney Spotlight: Ryan J. Casson—New York

Posted on by

Stacy D. Phillips ●

With this edition of Attorney Spotlight, I am pleased to feature one of our esteemed New York colleagues in Blank Rome’s Matrimonial & Family Law group: Ryan Casson.

Ryan J. Casson headshot photo
Ryan J. Casson
Partner

With more than 16 years of legal experience, Ryan is a highly respected and integral member of our Matrimonial & Family Law team. A graduate of Washington University School of Law, he has developed a distinguished practice representing his clients in a wide range of complex and high-conflict family law matters, including divorce, equitable distribution, spousal support, and child custody disputes.

Ryan was drawn to family law through both personal experience and an early realization that the practice aligned with his strengths and personality. He values the opportunity to connect with people, understand their unique circumstances, and guide them through some of life’s most emotional and challenging moments. Unlike general commercial litigation, which often centers on corporate interests, family law allows him to work closely with individuals and make a direct impact on their lives. He finds helping clients navigate difficult personal transitions far more rewarding than simply advancing a business dispute through the litigation process.

Read more on our website.

To Be or Not to Be, or Be Single or Be Married

Posted on by

Stacy D. Phillips ●

Marriage and divorce rates continue to change, but one trend is clear: more people are choosing to remain single. At the same time, single life has become more widely accepted. As social norms evolve, lifestyles once viewed as unconventional are increasingly regarded as ordinary, and in many cases, fully embraced.

We have not heard the word often, yet matrimania (the common focus on marriage and coupling) has been a ubiquitous sentiment for some time. We do get excited when we or someone we know is getting married, or even married again after a divorce. This, of course, is natural and understandable; as social beings, we are wired for connection, and partnership has long been one way people build families and carry life forward. At the same time, we should not overlook those who choose to remain single or assume, through a traditional lens, that single life is any less meaningful, fulfilling, or valuable.

Single Is Not Solitary

Before marriage, after marriage, and every stage in between, I have spent time working through life’s challenges and maintaining healthy relationships with friends and family. Being single does not indicate a lack of care for loved ones. In fact, “family” is not limited to the traditional image of a married couple with children, a pet, and a comfortable home. It encompasses a wide range of connections, including parents, siblings, grandparents, extended relatives, stepfamily, adopted family, chosen family, and others who hold significance in one another’s lives.

Read more on our website.

Defining “Emancipation Events” in Divorce Agreements

Posted on by

Alan R. Feigenbaum ●

New York Law Journal, July 23, 2026 —

If you read the newspaper, listen to podcasts, or in some other way, shape, or form are attuned to the growing influence of artificial intelligence (“AI”) in our culture, you have likely heard about the possibility of material job displacement that could occur in various sectors of the workforce over the course of the next decade.

The news is also reporting how AI is impacting the college experience—specifically, with reference to instances of college students using AI to complete assignments, and professors spending their time using AI to try to detect cheating.

At the same time, anyone with college-aged children has in all likelihood wondered what the job landscape will look like on graduation day.

The question then becomes: will more young adults gravitate to some form of vocational school or program, perhaps, versus a traditional liberal arts education, to try to find some assurance that a profession awaits that is not going to get replaced or otherwise diminished by AI?

With all of this in mind, it may be time to re-examine how we, as divorce lawyers, define “emancipation events” in our settlement agreements. That brings us to the Honorable Jeffrey A. Goodstein’s recent decision in J.L. v. R.L., 2026 NY Slip Op 50813(U) (Sup. Ct., Nassau Cty.).

The parties in J.L. were married in 2002. T.L., the parties’ daughter, was born in July 2005. The ex-wife filed for divorce in 2021 and in 2023, the parties signed a Stipulation of Settlement and were divorced in that same year.

In J.L., the ex-husband filed a motion to direct the sale of the parties’ former marital residence, together with an order that his daughter, T.L. be deemed constructively emancipated thereby warranting the termination of his child support obligation. This article will focus solely on the issue of emancipation.

The ex-husband argued that his daughter finished school and was employed full-time. While the daughter did not go to college, the ex-husband claimed she completed an aesthetician (art and science of skin care) program and is employed at a salon. The ex-husband provided no proof of the name of an employer, or proof of income with respect to his daughter.

The ex-wife argued that under the stipulation of settlement, to become emancipated prior to age 21, the daughter had to be working full-time and be self-supporting. She claimed that her daughter did not work full-time and that she supported her daughter (paying for all of her housing expenses, and basic necessities such as food, toiletries, and her cell phone bill).

The stipulation of settlement was “silent” as to what happens if the daughter did not attend an undergraduate school. The Stipulation also did not define “undergraduate school.”

Read more on our website.

Child Support for Developmentally Disabled Adult Children

Posted on by

Alan R. Feigenbaum ●

New York Law Journal, June 25, 2026 —

At the end of 2021, New York State passed legislation that enables parents in New York to petition for extended child support for adult children over the age of 21 who are developmentally disabled under New York law.

The Honorable Stacy D. Bennett’s recent decision in JMC v. VC III (unpublished, March 2026, Sup. Ct., Nassau Cty.) explains how the laws in New York are applied to the facts, and the burden of proof that is required, when a petition for extended child support is filed.

In JMC, the parties signed a settlement agreement in 2007 and were thereafter divorced. At the time, they had three unemancipated children. On September 21, 2021, the parties’ son (“J”) was deemed emancipated under the settlement agreement and the father stopped making child support payments on his behalf to the mother.

Relevant to this discussion is the mother’s motion dated Feb. 1, 2023 seeking an award of child support until J turns 26 “on the basis that he suffers a developmental disability.” In support of her motion, the mother provided the court with a psychological evaluation of J completed by the Genesis Outreach Autism Center (which identified J as having an educational classification of autism), medical records showing that J suffers from “Developmental delay” and “Autistic Disorder,” as well as other medical records showing assessments of J having “ADHD, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, Impulse Control Disorder, Autistic disorder” and “long term use of therapeutic drug.”

The mother stated that J is “entirely dependent” on her for “prescription management, supervision, manage team of doctors’ appointments, integrate into society, teach activities of daily living and independent living skills, keep him safe during behavioral episodes.”

The father did not refute that the parties’ son has an autism diagnosis, or that he resides with the mother and has functional limitations. His opposition papers did, however, allege, inter alia, that the mother’s application asserted “bare … legal conclusions … without providing any substantive proof.”

Read more on our website.

In the News

Posted on by

Below is a roundup of Blank Rome Matrimonial and Family Law partners’ recent awards, recognitions, media, and other accomplishments from around the country.

Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani: Co-Parenting from Parallel Paths
April 27, 2026: Blank Rome partner Morgan F. Mouchette authored this Forbes article discussing how the divorced Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale handles raising their children. 
Parental Alienation in Divorce: Judicial Insights
April 23, 2026: Blank Rome partner Alan R. Feigenbaum authored this New York Law Journal article discussing how courts define parental alienation within custody dispute cases. 
Inside the ‘Financial Infidelities’ That Tear Marriages Apart
April 20, 2026: Blank Rome partner Marilyn B. Chinitz was featured in this Wall Street Journal article discussing financial infidelities within marriages. 
Ask Stacy – What Your Garden Can Teach You About Divorce
April 16, 2026: In this LinkedIn Article, Stacy D. Phillips answers questions from her readers and podcast listeners and shares her “hot takes” and insights on the issues.
Ask Stacy – Divorce is No Laughing Matter … Or is It?
April 15, 2026: In this LinkedIn Article, Stacy D. Phillips answers questions from her readers and podcast listeners and shares her “hot takes” and insights on the issues.
Ask Stacy – Surviving the Chill of Divorce
March 30, 2026: In this LinkedIn Article, Stacy D. Phillips answers questions from her readers and podcast listeners and shares her “hot takes” and insights on the issues.
Inside the Stunning Downfall of NBA Icon Dwight Howard as New Bodycam Footage Lays Bare Latest Feud
March 23, 2026: Blank Rome partner Sarah M. Luetto was featured in this Daily Mail article discussing potential repercussions for the former Los Angeles Lakers star Dwight Howard amid recent abuse allegations.
Blank Rome Welcomes New Matrimonial & Family Law Of Counsel Jackielyn H. Abellada in Los Angeles
March 23, 2026: Blank Rome is pleased to announce that Jackielyn H. Abellada has joined the firm’s Los Angeles office as an of counsel in the Matrimonial & Family Law practice group
Michelle Piscopo Joins Financial Planning: Explained
March 20, 2026: Blank Rome of counsel Michelle Piscopo joined host Michael Menninger on Financial Planning: Explained, a weekly educational show that discusses unique approaches to financial planning.
Groundbreaking Decision on Authentication of Video Evidence
March 19, 2026: Blank Rome partner Alan R. Feigenbaum authored this New York Law Journal article discussing how even amid disturbing facts and concerns about child safety, video evidence must meet strict evidentiary standards, particularly in an era of potential digital manipulation.
What the Oscars Gift Bag Says About Divorce Planning
March 18, 2026: Blank Rome partner Morgan F. Mouchette authored this Forbes article discussing the “Everybody Wins” gift bags given to top Oscar nominees and the notable inclusion of a custom prenuptial agreement within.
Brett S. Ward Joins the Disrupting Divorce Podcast
March 13, 2026: Blank Rome partner Brett S. Ward joined host Rhonda Noordyk on the Disrupting Divorce podcast to discuss the concept of “alienation of affection” and its role in modern divorce disputes.
Stacy D. Phillips and Kristina Royce Named 2026 Top Family Lawyers by Daily Journal
March 13, 2026: Blank Rome partners Stacy D. Phillips and Kristina Royce, who also serves as co-chair of the firm’s Matrimonial and Family Law practice group, have been named 2026 Top Family Lawyers by the Daily Journal.
The Gates’ Divorce: Insights for Affluent Couples Who Run Foundations
March 13, 2026: Blank Rome partners Morgan F. Mouchette and Kyle G. Durante were featured in this Inside Philanthropy article discussing charitable giving in the wake of the divorce between Bill and Melinda Gates.
Whose Charity Is It Anyway? How Family Law Treats Philanthropy Made During Marriage
March 11, 2026: Blank Rome partners Jackie Combs and Sarah Luetto authored this National Law Review article discussing how charitable giving can spark disputes in high-net-worth divorces.
Zendaya’s Secret Wedding: The Legal Art of Keeping Love Private
March 6, 2026: Blank Rome partner Morgan F. Mouchette authored this Forbes article discussing how actors Zendaya and Tom Holland kept their marriage largely hidden from the public eye. 
Michelle M. Gervais Recognized in the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Global Leaders in Crisis Management Guide
March 2, 2026: Blank Rome is pleased to share that partner Michelle M. Gervais has been named to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Global Leaders in Crisis Management guide.
Gen Z Is Embracing the Prenup, Says Family Law Attorney: ‘The Taboo of Divorces Is Long Gone’
February 28, 2026: Blank Rome partner Jackie Combs was featured in this CNBC Make It article discussing how more Gen Z prenuptial agreements are trending.    
Marilyn B. Chinitz on Life After Divorce
February 26, 2026: Blank Rome partner Marilyn B. Chinitz recently appeared on PIX11 News to discuss why divorce isn’t a failure, but an opportunity for healing, growth, and stronger relationships ahead.
Influencer Prenups Are on the Rise. How the Legal Arrangement Differs from a Traditional Prenup
February 20, 2026: Blank Rome partner Alan R. Feigenbaum was featured in this PEOPLE article discussing some of the difficulties in developing prenuptial agreements. 
‘Who You Marry Is the Biggest Financial Decision in Your Life,’ Says Attorney: Ask These 6 Money Questions on a First Date
February 18, 2026: Blank Rome partner Jackie Combs was featured in this CNBC Make It article discussing interesting financial questions to ask a potential partner on a first date.   
Equitable Distribution Agreements Are Final Agreements
February 19, 2026: Blank Rome partner Alan R. Feigenbaum authored this New York Law Journal article discussing how equitable distribution provisions in divorce settlements are final and binding, even when a party later obtains new information that could have altered the deal.
Diamonds Are Forever, Divorce Rings Are for What Comes After
February 13, 2026: Blank Rome partner Jackie Combs was featured in this Wall Street Journal article discussing the significance of engagement and marital rings after a divorce.
Kyle Cooke & Amanda Batula Skipped a Prenup, Is Loverboy in the Lurch?
February 10, 2026: Blank Rome partner Morgan F. Mouchette authored this Forbes article discussing the recent separation of reality stars Kyle Cooke and Amanda Batula.
Highly Attractive Partners Have ‘Financial Stability’—but These 4 Money Red Flags Doom a Relationship, Survey Finds
February 10, 2026: Blank Rome partner Jackie Combs was featured in this CNBC Make It article discussing financial alignment when choosing a marital partner.  
Marilyn B. Chinitz Joins the I Do, Part 2 Podcast
February 4, 2026: Blank Rome partner Marilyn B. Chinitz joined host Jennifer Fessler on I Do, Part 2, an iHeartRadio podcast.

Business Valuation in Divorce: Judicial Discretion Reigns

Posted on by

Alan R. Feigenbaum ●

New York Law Journal, May 19, 2026 —

At some point in life, you probably had this discussion: is medicine a science or an art? The same question might be posed when it comes to valuing a spouse’s business interest in divorce.

Perhaps, as with medicine, the answer is that business valuation comes down to a combination of science and art.

At least one thing is certain, and that is this: if you ask a trial court to decide the value of a divorcing spouse’s business interest, the trier of fact—after considering the evidence presented by the lawyers and the experts—will be tasked with making the final call in answering “what is this worth”?

That brings us to the Judge Ronald Castorina Jr.’s recent decision of AP v. RP, 2025 NY Slip Op 52138(U) (Sup. Ct., Richmond Cty.).

In AP, the parties married in 2008, with one child of the marriage. The defendant owns a 25% interest in “AOC”, a construction company that builds laundromats. The defendant’s brother (CP) also owns 25%, and the remaining 50% of AOC is owned by the defendant’s father (RJP, Sr., referred to in the decision as “Senior”).

The court issued an order for an appraisal and current valuation of AOC to be performed by KLG Business Valuators and Forensic Accountants, LLC (“KLG”) as a neutral. KLG issued a report, which provides that the fair market value of the defendant’s 25% interest is worth $7,900.

The plaintiff in AP filed a motion seeking to have the court reject KLG’s valuation as it was “conducted based on limited documentation and without the participation of all business members, noting that RJP, Sr., who owns 50% of AOC, was not interviewed independently by the evaluators”. According to the plaintiff, “the absence of Senior’s input renders the valuation inherently incomplete and unreliable as to the true fair market value of the business”. The plaintiff also moved to amend the complaint to add Senior as a third-party defendant, however that aspect of the motion is not the subject of this article.

In response, the defendant argued that KLG stated it “was able to attain all information it required” without Senior’s participation from appropriate sources including “the accountant who had all intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the business”. Further, an email from KLG, which responded to inquiries regarding the “need for an interview with Senior”, read as follows: “we did not feel it was necessary to speak to the father as we received all of the information we required”.

Read more on our website.

Attorney Spotlight: Ory Apelboim—New York

Posted on by

Stacy D. Phillips ●

With this edition of Attorney Spotlight, I am pleased to feature one of our esteemed New York colleagues in Blank Rome’s Matrimonial & Family Law group: Ory Apelboim.

Ory Apelboim
Partner

With over two decades of legal experience, Ory is a valued and indispensable member of our Matrimonial & Family Law team. A graduate of The Bronx High School of Science, University of Buffalo, State University of New York, and Brooklyn Law School, Ory has built a successful practice representing clients in a broad range of complex and high‑conflict matrimonial matters, including divorce, equitable distribution, and child custody issues.

Ory was born and raised in Queens, New York, spending his formative years in New York City. He attended the Bronx High School of Science, where he studied with students from all five boroughs of NYC, an incredibly unique experience that strengthened his connection to his hometown and helped shape his path toward a legal career. Ory began his practice in commercial litigation at a boutique firm before joining a mid-sized firm that offered family law services. As high-net-worth divorces are at times akin to a business dissolution, Ory transitioned naturally into this practice. In doing so, he gained the opportunity to support clients not only with professional legal matters but also through the profound personal decisions that significantly impact their lives.

Read more on our website.

When Divorce Hurts: Understanding the Stages of Grief

Posted on by

Stacy D. Phillips ●

Change in life can be painful, especially after losing someone who is or was once dear to your heart. In moments like these, grief can feel overwhelming, but understanding it is often the first step toward healing. Divorce, in particular, often carries a sense of loss comparable to the death or serious illness of a family member. Recognizing that grief and learning to process it are vital steps to moving forward.

Years ago, a psychological framework was developed to help explain the emotional responses of individuals facing terminal illness or death. Known as the Kübler-Ross model, this framework has been widely applied to experiences of personal grief and loss. The model describes five primary emotional stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Though these stages are not necessarily linear and may recur over time, they offer a helpful framework for understanding emotional responses to loss, including grief that can accompany divorce.

The Winds of Change Move Quickly

Change is inevitable, regardless of the stage of life we find ourselves in. Unlike the death of a loved one, grief after a divorce often unfolds in quieter, more complex ways. Although the marriage has ended, the person we have lost often remains with us, not only in our memories, but sometimes woven into everyday moments. This lingering presence can create uncertainty and complex emotions, often requiring patience and resilience as individuals learn to navigate a new reality.. However, when continued interaction is necessary, particularly when children are involved, the emotional weight can deepen, stretching grief over time rather than allowing it a clear ending. Denial is often the first response, and one that can come surprisingly easily. Although life undergoes significant transitions, divorce represents a deliberate decision that can alter an individual’s self-perception, identity, and self-worth. The impact of such changes differs from person to person and may occur in unforeseen ways. These shifts are often most apparent in relationships with friends and family, as well as in the daily social adjustments required in this new chapter of life.

Read more on our website.

Parental Alienation in Divorce: Judicial Insights

Posted on by

Alan R. Feigenbaum, Judge Richard A. Dollinger*, and Deepti Shenoy* ●

New York Law Journal, April 23, 2026 —

Parental alienation has been characterized by the appellate courts as an act so—alien—to a child’s best interests as to render a parent presumptively unfit to have custody of the child. Given the ubiquity of claims of parental alienation in custody litigation, and the significance of findings of alienation on the outcome of custody decisions, it bears inquiring: what, in fact, is parental alienation? How does it affect a child’s best interests? And in what circumstances should it play a determinative role in a custody decision?

Last month, these authors presented an online CLE titled “Parental Alienation: A Primer”. In that CLE, we addressed Justice Richard Dollinger’s (Ret.) decision in J.F. v. D.F., 2018 NY Slip Op 51829(U) (Sup. Ct. Monroe Cty., 2018). J.F. stands out as arguably the most comprehensive effort in New York caselaw to drill down on these questions and explore the concept of parental alienation in depth.

In J.F., Justice Dollinger wrote that “The tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress

consists of four elements: (i) extreme and outrageous conduct; (ii) intent to cause, or disregard of a substantial probability of causing, severe emotional distress; (iii) a causal connection between the conduct and injury; and (iv) severe emotional distress…Simple word substitution—‘parental alienation’ for ‘emotional distress’—creates an equivalence between this tort designed to protect an individual’s emotional status and the family law concept to protect and preserve a parent’s relationship with their children. If the substitution works, then parental alienation consists of four elements: (i) extreme and outrageous conduct; (ii) intent to cause, or disregard of a substantial probability of causing, severe alienation of any parent from a child; (iii) a causal connection between the alienating conduct and the child’s rejection of a parent; and (iv) severe parental alienation.”

We spoke with Judge Dollinger in an effort to solicit his view as to the state of the discourse on parental alienation and what remains for practitioners, courts, and interested parties to consider as we continue to explore the concept of parental alienation and the role it should play in custody matters. What followed was an illuminating discussion—a view from the bench—which we present in Q&A form below:

1. In J.F., you wrote that parental alienation is an “undefined concept” in New York family law. How is it that a concept which is at stake in so many contested custody disputes remains undefined?
Judge Dollinger: The concept is undefined because of the complex factors at play in intra-family squabbles that come to the courts. Trying to isolate and prioritize facts, when contested by fathers, mothers, and often children, and to then evaluate those facts in complicated family relationships that are aggravated by separation, defies easy definition. 

Read more on our website.

*Richard A. Dollinger is a retired member of the Court of Claims and served as an acting Supreme Court Justice in the 7th Judicial District where he supervised matrimonial cases. Deepti Shenoy is senior counsel at Aronson Mayefsky and Sloan.