Category Archives: Other Matrimonial & Family Law Topics

Attorney Spotlight: Jacqueline Combs—Los Angeles

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Stacy D. Phillips ●

For this edition of Attorney Spotlight, I am proud to feature one of my esteemed Los Angeles colleagues in Blank Rome’s Matrimonial & Family Law group: Jacqueline Combs.

Jacqueline Combs
Partner

A graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Chapman University School of Law, Jackie has proven to be an indispensable member of our firm’s Matrimonial & Family Law practice group. Formerly an associate at the firm, Jackie was recently elevated to partner at Blank Rome. I am thrilled that she has achieved this very distinctive honor. 

Having been practicing law for more than 12 years, Jackie began her legal career as a corporate counsel for private and publicly traded companies and worked with clients on high-stakes business and legal issues. Over time, she found she wanted more direct ways to help people through her practice, which led Jackie to pursue family law. Jackie has integrated her experience as corporate counsel into her family law practice. A successful lawyer must excel in negotiation, especially in family law cases. Jackie exemplifies this by consistently bringing her exceptional negotiation skills to every client and case she handles.

Read more on our website.

Relationship Expectations. Expect the Unexpected.

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Stacy D. Phillips ●

In any relationship, especially marriage, managing expectations is crucial for achieving and maintaining overall success with your partner. Expectations are dynamic and play a significant role in our lives, defining who we are and shaping our relationships. These expectations come in various forms and magnitudes, influencing how we interact with our partners.

That said, it is not too bold of a statement to say many marriages fail due to our experience with these expectations, and how we react when those expectations are not met is of no less significance. Indeed, it feels great when our expectations are met, and that feeling of being gratified and reciprocated in life is what we have been looking for all along. However, living life by measuring relationships by our own expectations can be harmful, and how we manage these feelings and expectations will often be the determining factor of success or failure.

Read more on our website.

New Year’s Mandate: Respect Our Matrimonial Judges

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Alan R. Feigenbaum ●

New York Law Journal, December 12, 2024 —

When the legal historians write about the year 2024, one has to wonder what will be said. Only time will tell.

What we do know is that the dynamic between divorce litigants and matrimonial judges has been disrupted in ways that are cause for concern. More specifically, in 2024, we have seen various decisions of interest wherein divorce litigants flouted court orders with impunity.

With that in mind, we turn to the recent decision of Justice Edmund M. Dane in Y.R. v. A.O.R. 2024 NY Slip Op 51487(U) (Sup. Ct., Nassau County).

The Y.R. divorce saga involved a “tortured litigation history.” The parties married in 2000, had no unemancipated children, and an action for divorce was filed in 2011.

The parties’ June 2012 stipulation of settlement resolving the divorce action required the wife to either list and sell a residence in Great Neck, New York by March 1, 2017, or purchase the husband’s interest in the residence for $75,000. In short, she did neither.

The husband moved for a warrant of eviction, and the court granted the motion to the extent of setting a date certain by which the wife is to vacate the Great Neck residence, failing which a warrant of eviction “shall be issued” directing her removal by a sheriff.

Read more on our website.

In the News

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

Reconciling the Law of ‘Cohabitation’ with Social Realities
October 10, 2024 – Blank Rome partner Alan R. Feigenbaum authored this New York Law Journal article about alimony payments and when they should be terminated. 

Marilyn B. Chinitz Joins the Women Winning Divorce Podcast
October 7, 2024 – Blank Rome partner Marilyn B. Chinitz joins the Women Winning Divorce podcast to discuss how to handle and divide complex assets, tips for receiving alimony, and strategies to safeguard assets during divorce. 

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Attorney Spotlight: Pauline M. Martin—Los Angeles

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Stacy D. Phillips ●

For this edition of Attorney Spotlight, I am proud to highlight one of my esteemed Los Angeles colleagues in Blank Rome’s Matrimonial & Family Law group: Pauline M. Martin.

Pauline M. Martin
Of Counsel

A graduate of the University of California, Irvine, and the UCLA School of Law, Pauline has been practicing law for more than 20 years. She is an indispensable member of our firm’s Matrimonial & Family Law practice group. 

Pauline’s journey as a lawyer is remarkable in many ways, and it is notable that she did not begin her career working in family law. Initially, out of law school, Pauline began her practice in a large civil litigation firm. Within 10 years of working in this field, Pauline recognized that she wanted to get more of a “hands-on” legal experience that she felt she had not experienced quite yet as a lawyer. In 2008, Pauline became a mother and realized a new focus in life: family. Pauline spent a few years caring for her son and helping her husband with entrepreneurial ventures. She decided that in becoming a parent, she understood what was important in life and thus began her career path in family law.

Read more on our website.

The Story of Divorce. How It Has Evolved, and Where It Is Going.

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Stacy D. Phillips ●

Every experience has a story, even the unpleasant ones. The story, or even the entity of marriage and divorce, whether our own or “divorce” at large, evolves with time. A simple fact is that the longer we have been around, the greater the opportunity to take a look and contemplate where we have been and perhaps even glean where the often lamentable (or, in some cases, welcome) phenomenon of divorce is going.

There was once a time when a divorce that occurred on any basis would be considered unthinkable, even unacceptable, throughout any aspect of life, personal or professional. It is fair to say that the many characteristics of marriage, as well as its potential dissolution, have changed since I first began practicing family law. One important factor I have learned over time is that it takes courage to make marriage work, and divorce is no different. We can also find courage in asking what has changed and why. 

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Reconciling the Law of ‘Cohabitation’ with Social Realities

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Alan R. Feigenbaum ●

New York Law Journal, October 10, 2024 —

Many statutes have been on the books for decades in the State of New York. Some of those statutes have been amended over time to bring them current with evolving social realities. Other statutes, however, have remained the same.

An example of a statute that has largely remained untouched for years on end is Section 248 of the New York Domestic Relations Law (DRL). In general terms, DRL §248 empowers New York courts to modify a final judgment of divorce or order made with respect to alimony—termed “maintenance” in New York—upon proof that the payee “is habitually living with another person and holding himself or herself out as the spouse of such other person, although not married to such other person.”

The interplay between DRL §248 and current social realities was on display in the recent decision of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Justice Stacy D. Bennett) in the matter of Ceppos v. Ceppos.

In Ceppos, the parties married in 1987. They executed a Stipulation of Settlement in 2019, and they were officially divorced in 2020. The Stipulation of Settlement provided that the wife’s alimony payments “shall immediately terminate” upon the first to occur of several events, one of which was “Cohabitation by the [wife] pursuant to DRL §248.”

In support of the ex-husband’s motion to terminate his alimony payments, he argued that his ex-wife “habitually cohabitated” with her present fiancé “for years”, and that before the Stipulation of Settlement was signed, the ex-wife “acknowledged residing with her then-boyfriend but she represented that her cohabitation with her boyfriend was temporary and that she would secure an alternate residence in the event she received maintenance from the ex-husband.” The ex-husband claimed that his “reliance” on the ex-wife’s “misrepresentation was pivotal to the negotiation process.”

It comes as no surprise that the ex-wife argued that her ex-husband “knew that she was living with an unrelated male yet continued to make payments to her for a substantial period of time.” Further, while the ex-wife conceded that she was engaged to be married, she “never held herself out as married to her fiancé.”

Read more on our website.

In the News

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Below is a roundup of our attorneys’ recent awards, recognitions, media, and other accomplishments from around the country.

You Don’t Need a French Vineyard to Have a Prolonged Divorce Proceeding
July 25, 2024 – Blank Rome Partner Alan R. Feigenbaum authored this New York Times article discussing the occasionally absurd length of divorce proceedings amidst disputes over finances.

 
Chambers High Net Worth 2024 Highly Ranks Blank Rome Matrimonial & Family Law Group and Attorneys
July 24, 2024 – Blank Rome is pleased to announce that Chambers High Net Worth 2024 has highly ranked our firm’s Matrimonial & Family Law practice group in California and New York, as well as co-chairs Kristina Royce and Brett S. Ward and partners Marilyn B. Chinitz, Norman S. Heller, Lois J. Liberman, Morgan Fraser Mouchette, Sophie Jacobi-Parisi, Stacy D. Phillips, and Mary T. Vidas.


Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie’s Divorce Battle Nears 8 Years as His Romance with Girlfriend Heats Up
July 24, 2024 – Blank Rome Partner Sophie Jacobi-Parisi speaks to Fox News Digital about some of the financial hesitation that may come with the divorce between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. 


Shannen Doherty Died amid a Contentious Court Fight with Her Ex. How She Was Able to Divorce Him After Her Death
July 20, 2024 – Blank Rome Partner Ashley Silberfeld talks through some of nuances of divorce cases, when one of the parties has died.


How to Have an Actually Productive Argument, According to Lawyers
July 19, 2024 – In this HuffPost Life article, Blank Rome Partner Marilyn Chinitz discusses arguments as an art and social practice, and speaks to the best practices when it comes to arguing.


Breaking Up? Here’s What to Do About Joint Bank Accounts
July 13, 2024 – Blank Rome Partner Lois Liberman shares advice with The Penny Hoarder on how to begin navigating the process of dealing with joint bank accounts in a divorce.


Alan R. Feigenbaum Joins the To Dine for Podcast
July 1, 2024 – Blank Rome Partner Alan R. Feigenbaum joins the To Dine For Podcast and discusses the “Non-Linear Love” project, a collection of unique relationship stories that reframe the way we think about dating, romance, break-ups, divorce, and love.


Email Exchanges in Divorce Litigation Carry Immense Risk
June 28, 2024 – Blank Rome Partner Alan R. Feigenbaum authored this New York Law Journal article discussing the risks and stress associated with email exchanges as a divorce lawyer.


Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Went from ‘Domestic Bliss’ to Divorce: Inside Their Ongoing Multi-Year Legal Feud
June 20, 2024 – Blank Rome Partner Sophie Jacobi-Parisi shares commentary with CNN on the bifurcated divorce process and its potential for detrimental effects on proceedings.


Blank Rome’s Linda Kornfeld and Stacy D. Phillips Named 2024 Top Women Lawyers by Daily Journal
June 20, 2024 – Blank Rome Insurance Recovery practice group partner and co-chair Linda Kornfeld and Matrimonial & Family Law partner Stacy D. Phillips have been named 2024 Top Women Lawyers by the Daily Journal.


The Long and Winding Road to Gender Parity in the Legal Profession
June 20, 2024 – Blank Rome Insurance Recovery practice group partner and co-chair Linda Kornfeld and Matrimonial & Family Law partner Stacy D. Phillips have been named 2024 Top Women Lawyers by the Daily Journal.


Mary Craig Calkins, Robert L. Kahan, and Kristina Royce Named Entertainment Business Visionaries
June 18, 2024 – Blank Rome is pleased to announce that partners Mary Craig Calkins, Robert L. Kahan, and Kristina Royce, who serves as co-chair of our firm’s Matrimonial & Family Law group, have been named Entertainment Business Visionaries by the Los Angeles Times B2B Publishing.


Alan R. Feigenbaum Joins the Dating Daze Podcast
June 17, 2024 – Partner Alan R. Feigenbaum takes on the “Non-Linear Love” project, which aims to view love through a non-linear perspective rather than judging relationships based on their path and relativity to marriage.


Marilyn B. Chinitz and Lois J. Liberman Recognized in Spear’s Legal Indices 2024
June 13, 2024 – Blank Rome is pleased to announce that Spear’s Legal Indices recognized partners Marilyn B. Chinitz and Lois J. Liberman in its 2024 Family Law Index for a second consecutive year.


‘I’m Divorcing after a Lot of Heartache:’ Should I Suggest My Husband Keep His $200,000 401(K), So I Can Take Our $360,000 House?
June 6, 2024 – Blank Rome Partner Brett S. Ward provides perspective on the difficult distribution of assets in a divorce.


Navigating the Nuances of LGBTQ+ Divorce in California
June 5, 2024—In this Love Bytes blog, Stacy D. Phillips unpacks some of the unique challenges LGBTQ+ couples face when it comes to divorce.


When There Are No Custody Heartstrings to Pull
June 4, 2024 – Blank Rome Partner Alan R. Feigenbaum authored this New York Law Journal article discussing how important it is to critically analyze a parent’s claims regarding custody.


Conservatives Are Coming After This Type of Divorce- Here’s Why
May 31, 2024 – Blank Rome partner Marilyn Chinitz shares her thoughts with HuffPost on the benefits and efficiency of no-fault divorce.
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Attorney Spotlight: Alan R. Feigenbaum—New York

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Stacy D. Phillips ●

This edition of Attorney Spotlight highlights one of my esteemed New York colleagues in Blank Rome’s Matrimonial & Family Law Group—Alan R. Feigenbaum.

Alan R. Feigenbaum
Partner

A graduate of Tulane University and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Alan has been practicing law for more than 20 years and is an invaluable member of our firm’s Matrimonial & Family Law practice group.

Alan has been interested in reading, writing, and communication as far back as he can remember, and a career in law turned out to be an excellent avenue for his passions. Following law school, Alan practiced commercial litigation at a large firm for several years, where he found that the training and initial experience overall was essential to a young lawyer. However, Alan was eager to build even deeper attorney-client relationships and the best path forward was to transition into family law. Alan always strives to add value to the lives of others, and working so directly in his clients’ lives is what he has found truly rewarding.

Read more on our website.

Epochs and Change. Facing Our Times, along with Ourselves.

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Protecting Your Family Matters Newsletter, Summer 2024 ●

Stacy D. Phillips ●

Are you the same person you were 20 or 30 years ago? Even 10? Are we our same selves in any given era of life? Of course, the answer to each of these questions is “no.”

Times change, and eras or “epochs” of our lives change with them. We can look back on who we were in high school, college, or graduate/law school, and so on, and we were continually changing, hopefully evolving as individuals. Similarly, when we became parents, our needs and selves adapted. For example, being a mom or dad to a toddler was different from raising teenagers. Times and needs change, and these truths are no different in our marriages.

When speaking with my clients, it often seems they once had a “Hollywood” mentality regarding marriage. There are many films featuring couples living happily ever after as if the happy moments we enjoy will be the day-to-day norm and everything will work out perfectly. It is tragic to me that most people going through divorce realize that they have experienced just that: fantasy. They did not sign up for the tough times and were caught unaware of the tremendous amount of commitment, work, and compromise marriage takes over time and eras. As it often turns out, we do not always grow in the same ways, and everyone’s eras are uniquely their own.

Read more on our website.