STI Transmission as Domestic Violence in New York Divorce
Can giving your spouse a sexually transmitted infection (STI) cost you everything in a New York divorce?
According to 2025 NY Slip Op 51897(U), the answer can be yes. In that case, the...
STI Divorce in New York: Can Giving Your Spouse an STI Affect the Outcome of a Divorce?
When people search for “STI divorce New York,” they are usually asking one urgent question:
Can a sexually transmitted infection affect my divorce case?
Until recently, New York law offered no clear answer. That changed with a significant Supreme Court decision holding that transmission of a...
How Payment Plans Work for Your Divorce Case
Divorce is stressful enough without the added worry of how to pay for a lawyer. At Gilmer Law Firm, PLLC, we offer flexible payment plans that make quality legal help more manageable. Whether you are dealing with a complicated divorce or just need help getting the paperwork right, knowing how our payment...
Navigating Pet Custody in New York
When couples in New York divorce or separate, deciding who keeps the family pet can be one of the most emotional parts of the process. Until recently, the law viewed pets as personal property—no different than furniture or jewelry. That changed with the passage of New York’s pet custody law, which...
What Is an Exclusion Hearing in an Order of Protection Case in Family Court?
When a person in New York seeks an Order of Protection in Family Court, the judge can include specific conditions to ensure safety—such as staying away, avoiding contact, or leaving a shared residence.
When a person is temporarily ordered to leave their home, it’s called an exclusion order, and...
Clearing Your Name — How a Parent Fought Back Against ACS and Won Reform
Imagine this: A parent is accused by their child, a case goes to Family Court, and the judge dismisses the claim. It seems resolved—except it isn’t. Even with that dismissal, the parent’s name might still be entered into New York’s child...
When Absences Turn into Legal Risk — How a Parent Can Respond to Charges of Educational Neglect
A few missed school days may seem harmless. But in New York, chronic absenteeism or excessive lateness can escalate from a “school issue” into a legal one. When that happens, a parent may find themselves defending against accusations of educational neglect—a serious matter...
When Children’s Voices Matter — How Teens Influence Custody Modifications in New York
1) A Growing Voice in the Courtroom
As children get older, their opinions start to matter more when parents return to court to change a custody order. New York judges won’t let a teenager decide entirely, but they will listen closely. The goal is always to understand what arrangement...
Why Custody Modification Petitions Sometimes Fail — and How to Avoid the Common Traps
1) Why Some Parents Lose Their Cases
Filing to change a custody order can feel like a fresh start — but for many parents, the case ends before it really begins. The most common reason isn’t bad parenting or bias; it’s lack of evidence.
Judges need...
How to File a Custody Modification in New York — and What Are Your Chances?
1) Why people ask to change a custody order
Life changes. Jobs shift, housing moves, health improves (or dips), kids grow, and what worked two years ago may not work now. New York lets you ask the court to modify a custody or visitation order when there’s been a...