Divorce is never an easy thing to endure. For some couples, however, there may not be a way around it. These people may have tried mediation and working out their parenting or economic issues outside of the court room without success. If these other avenues for settling conflicts have been exhausted, you better be sure to choose your legal representation wisely as this field of Law is regarded, even among licensed Attorneys, complex and subjective and constantly changing. Below we have outlined some changes that the courts have instituted recently.
As of March 1st 2018, Administrative Order A/O/124/18 came into effect which includes revised Instructions and Forms for use in Matrimonial Actions for those seeking divorce actions. The updates are primarily intended for use by Attorneys in undefended matrimonial suits.
The new order signed into Law is an 80-page document which includes:
- “The basics” to understand before starting your divorce action.
- The schedule for filing fees.
- The proper documentation needed.
- Instructions for starting the action.
- Instruction for filing the action with the court.
These revised instructions and guidelines are a great tool for Attorneys and their clients to understand so that the client can have an advantage and have accurate expectations about the proceedings.
While all these changes are important, the main consideration is that the revisions reflect the required increase in the combined parental income cap under the Child Support Standards Act on March 1, 2018 to $148,000 per year. Additionally, the revisions further reflect the increases as of March 1, 2018 in the Self Support Reserve to $16,369 and in the Poverty Income Level for a single person to $12,140.
These courts have as a tool for Attorneys and their clients’ calculators by which they can accurately surmise incomes and deductions for the payer and the recipients.
For anyone considering unfortunate and often necessary legal actions we strongly advise choosing a family law firm that has the expertise and resources to know the absolute latest legal standards. As a final note, we caution any future potential clients to be aware that as of December 31, 2018 the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will drastically alter the way alimony suits are handled. Upon initial inspection the consensus in the Legal community is that this new Law will be costlier for those seeking divorce. Under this law, alimony will no longer be tax deductible and these payments will not be taxable for the recipient. This is regarded by some to be the most important aspect of the new bill.