> Litigation legal services are expensive, but if you are involved in a family court case in Vermont or New Hampshire, you have options that can reduce the cost of litigation while still receiving legal assistance. Both Vermont and New Hampshire have made it easier for parties to represent themselves in family court while having […]
> Author’s note: This was first published in our Vermont and New Hampshire real estate blog, now discontinued. In our office, we frequently have clients who have had work done on their homes–new roofs, additions, renovations, and even new construction–and the work is not satisfactory. Homeowners are faced with potentially expensive litigation against the contractor […]
> Its tax time again, and divorced parents and family law practitioners should be aware of the IRS rule that went into effect in 2009. Prior to that, a non-custodial parent could claim exemptions for their children if it was part of a divorce decree or child support order. The parent need only file a […]
>In June 2009, the Vermont legislature changed rules involving how a person’s estate is distributed after death if there is no will. The previous laws followed the centuries old common law of inheritance with dower rights for women and curtesy rights for men. They were confusing, in that there were different rules for real estate and personal property, and dependant […]
>An advance directive is a form you fill out to tell your family about your end of life wishes. It includes instructions on whether or not you want extraordinary measures to keep you alive, a designation of a person who will make health care decisions on your behalf if you cannot, and even directions about […]
>In a recent case, a father attempted to modify a parent child contact order which provided for 50/50 split between the parents. A daughter had not stayed with her mother for a period of over a year, and father decided to ask the court to change the order to reflect the new reality. Under Vermont […]
>The Vermont legislature enacted comprehensive legislation last year involving estates, trusts, and intestacy statutes, some overturning centuries old law. I will do a series of articles on the new statutes. The first will be on on a brand new provision to take care of your pets after you die. Vermont has enacted a provision to […]
>During the recent debate in the Vermont legislature, a state representative asked for my ideas on how things might be improved. The following were suggestions which, although beyond the scope of the judicial reform bill, address some examples of extra legal expense and extra time in the system. Since I am most familiar with family […]
> Vermont’s Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 1, calls for court rules to “be construed and administered to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action.” This first rule of Vermont’s courts appears to have been forgotten or ignored and the result is H.470 (An act relating to restructuring of the judiciary) which […]
> One of the most frequent questions we get this time of year from clients in the middle of a divorce is “what do I do about my taxes?” For couples without children the answer may be as simple as working out a filing status. For couples with children, the answer can be more complicated. […]