RSSApril, 2011 - Chicago Illinois Family Law Blog Archive
Charlie Sheen, Brooke Mueller Appear in Court over Custody of Twin Boys
KTLA reports that infamous actor Charlie Sheen and his estranged third wife Brooke Mueller appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom on Tuesday morning, April 19, 2011, for a custody battle regarding Max and Bob, their 2-year-old twin boys.
Alabama May Drastically Change Child Custody Laws
WAAY-TV in Alabama reports that the state is considering major changes to their laws regarding child custody. Legislators are currently working on a bill that would automatically grant both parents equal custody of their children during a divorce. Cases that involve abuse or neglect would be excepted from the equal custody provisions.
What You Need to Know about Taxes and Divorce: Part II
In a previous blog post, we addressed the impact divorce has on filing taxes, and discussed what happens to taxes for a primary residence as well as what marital status a person should claim depending on their situation. Now, we will touch on other factors one must consider when paying their taxes after divorce, including child custody and alimony.
Recently, custody arrangements have become very complicated, with many parents sharing custody of their children over weekends or during the week. These arrangements become problematic in that IRS regulations and the most recent version of the tax code do not precisely define custodial parent or custody. In general, someone can only claim their children as dependents if they were the designated custodian by court order. If no such agreement or order exists, or if someone has joint custody of their child, the custodial parent is considered to be the parent that had physical custody of the child for the majority of the year. If custody is shared 50-50, many divorced couples alternate who claims the child on their taxes from year to year in order to share the tax benefit. It is illegal for both to claim the same child as a dependent in the same year. If there is more than one child, many tax experts suggest dividing the children’s dependency between the parents in order to avoid confusion. Even if both children spend the same amount of time with each parent, doing so is legal.
What You Need to Know about Taxes and Divorce: Part I
Filing taxes is a process that can quickly become complicated, particularly if someone divorced during the tax year. Generally, the rules for divorced taxpayers have not changed much over the past few years; however, divorce has, with changes in the way property and custody is divided. This makes figuring out what a person owes in taxes more complicated than ever. Time recently shared several tips to help those who are divorcing or already divorced when filing their taxes, which we will discuss in a two-part series.
For marriage status, follow the calendar. Even if a person’s divorce was finalized in 2011, in regards to 2010 taxes, they are still considered married. However, if someone’s divorce was finalized in December, they are not able to file as married, even if they were married for the majority of the year.
Frank and Jamie McCourt May Be Headed to Resolution Regarding Dodgers Ownership
The Los Angeles Times reports that Frank and Jamie McCourt are working quietly to settle their high-profile divorce, which has grabbed national headlines. The infamous case involves ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
According to the article, a court hearing scheduled for April 11 was delayed to May 11 at the request of Jamie McCourt, who asked that Frank be ordered by the court to provide her with financial documentation of the business operations of the Dodgers. However, the adjustment also grants both parties more time to concentrate on negotiating an agreement to end their contentious divorce, which began in late 2009 after almost 30 years of marriage.
Colorado Moves Toward Approving Civil Unions
According to CNN, the Colorado Senate recently approved a civil unions bill that would provide same-sex couples with many of the same rights already afforded to heterosexual couples. Senate Bill 172, which was approved by a 23-12 vote, would grant the right to share medical decisions, apply for family leave, and inherit property, among other rights, to same-sex couples in a civil union. The legislation now goes to the Colorado House.
Currently under Colorado law, only a man and a woman can be married. This bill would authorize two unmarried adults to enter into a civil union, regardless of their gender. Previously, in 2006, voters in Colorado rejected a domestic partnership measure.
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