Q&A

My wife and i separated a year ago, have 4 children ranging in age from 9 to 17, and have both names on the deed to our home valued at $500,000.i earn approximately $230,00/year, and my wife works part time earning $15,000/year as a teaching assistant. She gave up her career to take care of the children 18 years ago. My questions are:
i. how will child support be determined,
ii. Will her salary enter into it?
iii. Am I obligated to provide spousal support, if so indefinitely or until she can become financially independent.
iv. most importantly, the disposition of the house
v. is the maintenance and support of the house separate from child or spousal support
vi. Can I force her to sell it, or am i obligated to maintain her in the home as custodial parent until my children reach legal age?

After 20 yrs. of marriage and two children (ages 12 & 7), my husband wants a divorce. I have not worked outside the home since my 12 yr old was born. I know NYS allows 25% of my husband’s income for child support, but I would like to see if I can receive more money. Is it reasonable to expect my husband to pay the mortgage while my children and I live in the house, and if so, is this usually done until the children are 18? I would like to receive part of his profit-sharing account, stock options account, and retirement account, and can I receive part of the future value that will go into these accounts? Can I obtain full ownership of the house and give up my right to the retirement plan? I have no college degree and worked while he completed college and went on to get his Master’s Degree. Thank you.

My daughter is currently in the process of separating from her husband. She has an 18-month-old child. The divorce is her idea. Must she remain in her house with her husband until a separation document is filed, or can she move in with me with her child before filing the documents? The current way they are living is very difficult.

I have asked my husband to leave for a while until we can figure out what we both want. We have been married for three years. I don’t want my children to see how miserable we are together. We built a house while we were married, and everything is in my husband’s name because I stayed home for three years taking care of our children. I didn’t have an income to get credit. So everything is in his name. I wanted to know if I am entitled to our home and any savings that we have. I don’t want to move my children again. He won’t leave; he said he has too much invested in this marriage, but he will not go to counseling with me to try to work things out. I am from NY, and I just want to know what I am entitled to even though my name isn’t on anything. I am only working part-time now, and I cannot afford everything on my own. Please help me understand!

NYC residents: my wife and I got married eight months ago. I had substantial assets before our marriage, and I make about four times her salary. Before our marriage, we entered into a contract to purchase a home for which I paid the down payment. After we got married, I paid the remainder on the house with the assets I had before our marriage. Can my wife claim that she wants half the house’s value, even though it is me who paid for it?