Law Commons^™

Alimony's Job Lock, Margaret Ryznar

Akron Law Review

In family law, courts often prevent people who owe alimony from changing jobs. If a job change is accompanied by a salary decrease, the court will not necessarily readjust the alimony obligation and instead impute the higher income to the obligor. This Article introduces the term “job lock” to describe this situation, borrowing the term from the health care context, wherein job immobility due to health insurance concerns has received significant scrutiny. This Article draws similar attention to the alimony context, proposing a balancing test to assist courts interested in alleviating job lock under certain circumstances.

Two Ways To End A Marriage: Divorce Or Death, Laura A. Rosenbury

Laura A. Rosenbury

Default rules governing property distribution at divorce and death are often identified as one of the primary benefits of marriage. This Article examines these default rules in all fifty states, exposing the ways property distribution differs depending on whether the marriage ends by divorce or death. The result is often counter-intuitive: in most states, a spouse is likely to receive more property if her marriage ends by divorce than if the marriage lasts until "death do us part." This difference can be explained in part by the choices of feminist activists over the past thirty-five years: feminists played a large …

Abolish Fault-Oriented Divorce In Ohio - As A Service To Society And To Restore Dignity To The Domestic Relations Court, John D. Cannell

Akron Law Review

A PROMINENT COMMON PLEAS JUDGE, who for 10 years has been presiding in the Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas of one of Ohio's more populated counties, was recently heard to say: "Ohio's divorce law is hypocritical, lousy and archaic." About Ohio's divorce laws it has also been said: "Perhaps there is no statute in Ohio more abused than the statute concerning 'divorce and alimony.' Perhaps there is no statute under which greater imposition is practiced upon the court and more injustice done to individuals." These were the words of Judge Hitchcock of the Ohio Supreme Court' …

Abolish Fault-Oriented Divorce In Ohio - As A Service To Society And To Restore Dignity To The Domestic Relations Court, John D. Cannell

Akron Law Review

A PROMINENT COMMON PLEAS JUDGE, who for 10 years has been presiding in the Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas of one of Ohio's more populated counties, was recently heard to say: "Ohio's divorce law is hypocritical, lousy and archaic." About Ohio's divorce laws it has also been said: "Perhaps there is no statute in Ohio more abused than the statute concerning 'divorce and alimony.' Perhaps there is no statute under which greater imposition is practiced upon the court and more injustice done to individuals." These were the words of Judge Hitchcock of the Ohio Supreme Court …

Child Custody Contests - Rights Of The Father; Mcdanial V. Mcdanial, Howard Walton

Akron Law Review

In an Ohio divorce action when there is a contest for the custody of a minor child, the proper standard to be employed by the court is: what arrangement will be in the best interest of the child?' In an action for modification of a custody award the same standard is applicable. A statute provides that one parent is not preferred over the other; however, all other considerations being equal, custody will normally be given to the mother, provided that she is fit.

An Examination Of The Condonation Doctrine, Marvin M. Moore

Akron Law Review

Under American and English Law a spouse who has once condoned a marital transgression by his mate is thereafter barred from using that transgression as grounds for divorce. All of the common grounds for divorce, including adultery, cruelty, habitual drunkenness, and desertion, are subject to the condonation principle. The doctrine had its origin in the canon law of the Roman Catholic Church, where it was applied by the ecclesiastical courts in adjudicating petitions for divorce (amensa et thoro) grounded on cruelty or adultery. The principle survived the changes caused by the Reformation to subsist as part of English ecclesiastical law, …

An Examination Of Connivance, A Defense To Divorce, John W. Wheeler

Akron Law Review

"Connivance" has been defined as consent of the complainant, express or implied, to the misconduct now alleged as a ground for divorce." The element of corrupt consent is considered to be an essential ingredient. Once established, connivance represents a bar to a divorce. The courts have reasoned that a spouse whose conduct facilitated to the other's adultery has no more right to complain of his mate's sexual unfaithfulness than does a husband whose wife has been raped. The underlying principle is expressed by the latin aphorism, "Volenti non fit injuria," which means, "He who consents cannot receive an injury."

Mere …

Dissolution Of Marriage - "Fresh Air In Family Court", John R. Milligan

Akron Law Review

The state has a vital interest in marriage and divorce as a matter of public policy. Divorce is not simply a private controversy between husband and wife. The family relationship is the basis of our society, and its preservation is a matter of state concern. Publication or circulation of any article "with the intent to procure or aid in procuring divorces, either in this state or elsewhere" is made a crime punishable by a fine of $25 to $500 and/or six months' imprisonment.

The Effect Of The Change In The Age Of Majority On Prior Divorce Decrees Providing For Child Support, Stephen F. Ahern

Akron Law Review

The purpose of this article is to consider the effect of the statutory change in the age of majority on the construction and enforcement of support orders entered prior to the effective date of the new statutory age. The goal is to provide the domestic relations practitioner with a shorthand guide as to how these issues have been decided in Ohio and in other states and, finally, to provide an analysis of these decisions.

Divorce And Alimony; Separation Agreements; Jurisdiction Of Court To Modify; Impairment Of Contract; Statutory Provisions; Wolfe V. Wolfe, John J. Lavin

Akron Law Review

WITH THE decision of Wolfe v. Wolfe 1 the Ohio Supreme Court joins the majority of American jurisdictions' which hold that where a court has the general power to modify a decree for alimony or support the exercise of that power is not affected by the fact that the decree is based on an agreement entered into by the parties to the action

Divorce And Alimony; Separation Agreements; Jurisdiction Of Court To Modify; Impairment Of Contract; Statutory Provisions; Wolfe V. Wolfe, John J. Lavin

Akron Law Review

WITH THE decision of Wolfe v. Wolfe the Ohio Supreme Court joins the majority of American jurisdictions' which hold that where a court has the general power to modify a decree for alimony or support the exercise of that power is not affected by the fact that the decree is based on an agreement entered into by the parties to the action.

The Plight Of The Interstate Child In American Courts, Leona Mary Hudak

Akron Law Review

FOR EVERY THREE MARRIAGES solemnized in the United States each year, one divorce is granted. In some states the statistics approach one for every two. Yet, it is not these almost overwhelming statistics which are the most pernicious aspects of the broken American marriage, but rather the tragic aftermath revolving about custody-visitation when children are involved. Therein lies an opprobrious indictment of the American juridical-legal-legislative system.' For with the official rescission of the nuptial contract begin the devious, sometimes vengeful and often heart-rending machinations and maneuvers of "noncustodian v. custodian" hearing and rehearing,' on the courtroom stages of 52 jurisdictions-all …

Divorce Mediation: A New Solution To Old Problems, Victoria E. Solomon

Akron Law Review

The American Bar has traditionally operated as if the practice of law was a profession unto itself, totally unrelated to other disciplines. Fortunately, there is today a growing recognition that the law can be neither developed nor applied in a vacuum. In order to best serve the needs of one's clients and of the legal system as a whole it is necessary to draw upon knowledge evolved in other fields such as economics, history, sociology and psychology. Divorce, for example, is a phenomenon with not only legal but also broad sociological and psychological implications which must be considered in any …

A Survey Of State Law Authorizing Stepparent Adoptions Without The Noncustodial Parent's Consent, Larry K. Laskiewicz

Akron Law Review

The increase of divorce and remarriage in American society has radically changed the concept of family. A typical family may no longer be composed of two parents and their biological off-springs living in the same household. The trend is toward a stepfamily composed of a parent, a biological child, a spouse, and the spouse's child. This paper essentially concerns the ability of a stepparent (in most cases, a stepfather), married to a custodial natural parent, to adopt a minor child from a previous marriage without the consent of the noncustodial natural parent.

Should A Professional Degree Be Considered A Marital Asset Upon Divorce?, Marvin M. Moore

Akron Law Review

Although all four responses have their advocates, it appears that treating the degree as marital property is the most popular response among legal writers and the alimony response is the one most frequently utilized by the courts. It is the position of this writer that the fairest and most practical solution is the restitutional response: to treat the husband's professional degree as a form of marital property and to award the wife restitution for her contributions to its acquisition.

A Professional Degree Is Not Marital Property Upon Divorce: Stevens V. Stevens, Katherine Scheid

Akron Law Review

This Note first analyzes the Stevens court's opinion and concludes that it fails to give sufficient direction on how to determine the amount of the alimony award in order to sufficiently compensate the supporting spouse. Second, this Note explores the ways in which courts in other jurisdictions have attempted to compensate the supporting spouse. Finally, this Note proposes two alternative methods of valuing the supporting spouse's contribution. One method applies if the court, as in Stevens v. Stevens, holds that contribution toward a technical degree is not divisible marital property but should be considered when awarding alimony. The second …

C.R.B. V. C.C And B.C.: Protecting Children's Need For Stability In Custody Modification Disputes Between Biological Parents And Third Parties, Laura Beresh Taylor

Akron Law Review

This Note examines the collision of the “foundational policies” recognized by the Alaska Supreme Court. Part II provides an overview of the parental preference doctrine and custody modification standards. Part III presents the facts, procedural history, and the Alaska Supreme Court’s holding in C.R.B. Finally, Part IV analyzes the Alaska Supreme Court’s decision and its consequences. The Alaska Supreme Court properly rejected the use of a parental preference in custody modification disputes, and its holding produced a desirable outcome. However, this Note establishes why the court should adopt a more stringent modification standard to safeguard children’s need for stability in …

Wilson V. Wilson: The Effect Of Qdros On Appealing Divorce Decrees, Joshua A. Dean

Akron Law Review

In most divorces today, the largest asset held by the divorcing couple is a retirement fund belonging to one of the spouses. Courts invery state must decide how to divide a married couple’s property in order to provide each spouse his or her proper share. But when there are no assets large enough to offset the value of the retirement pension, divorce courts must find a way to “equitably distribute” the proceeds of the plan. Dealing with this large asset presented problems in the past as Congress sought to limit the ability to assign proceeds of retirement plans to anyone …

Shari'ah Law As National Security Threat?, Cyra Akila Choudhury

Akron Law Review

The Article proceeds in three parts: in Part II, the Article describes three anti-shari’ah measures. It describes Oklahoma’s Save Our State amendment to show how these laws target Islam. It also reviews the recent decision by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals affirming the grant of a preliminary injunction against the certification of Oklahoma’s constitutional amendment. It then describes Arizona’s law that targets shari’ah as well as other legal traditions. It also examines the original version of the Tennessee bill to illustrate the motivations behind the revised, watered down version that was eventually passed by the legislature. Part II concludes …

Substantive Parenting Arrangements In The Usa: Unpacking The Policy Choices, Margaret Brinig

Journal Articles

Policy makers in the US currently debate whether to keep discretionary child custody standards, that is, “best interests of the child” clarified by some factors, or to move to a more rule-based system, such as a presumptive shared parenting regime. This article briefly sets out the problem, theoretical and evidence-based ways of approaching it, and some new results from a study of court documents from one US state indicating that a strong presumption of shared custody is associated with an increase in post-decree domestic violence. While presumptions or de facto rules should facilitate bargaining, these results may tip the balance …

Stop Making Court A First Stop For Many Low Income Parents, Jane C. Murphy

All Faculty Scholarship

In the wake of the unrest over police misconduct in cities across the country, calls for reform have focused on the criminal justice system — making police, prosecutors, and criminal courts more accountable and just. While much work needs to be done in that arena, too little attention has focused on the ways in which low income families are hurt in civil courts. Many more men, women and children from low income communities of color pass through the doors of our family courts every day than those who interact with the criminal justice system. Some come to court as a …

When An Ex Can Take It All: The Effect—And Non-Effect—Of Revocation On A Will Post-Divorce, Molly Brimmer

Maryland Law Review

No abstract provided.

Should Divorce Be More Taxing?: Structuring Tax Reduction To Reduce Inequality, Stephanie H. Mcmahon

Indiana Journal of Law and Social Equality

Current law makes divorce a time for minimizing some couples’ taxes. The group who benefit from the reduction are unlikely to be those in greatest financial need following divorce. Existing divorce-related taxation focuses on shifting the tax burden between spouses, the implicit and explicit elections that enable this shifting, and the classification of who should be entitled to this tax reduction. This article argues that Congress should focus tax reduction on those with minimal resources following divorce to ensure an equitable distribution of the nation’s tax burden. This article proposes an alternative tax regime more consistent with mitigating inequality. Instead …

“Alimony For Your Eggs”: Fertility Compensation In Divorce Proceedings, Katelin Eastman

Pepperdine Law Review

This Comment explores the history and reasoning behind divorce in the United States, examines contemporary alimony jurisprudence, and assesses the viability of fertility compensation in divorce proceedings, arguing that there is, in fact, a legal basis for awarding such reparation upon divorce. Part II surveys divorce at common law and details the impact of the Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act (UMDA) and its introduction of no-fault divorce. Part III discusses alimony under New Jersey state law, with particular emphasis on reimbursement alimony after the Reiss trilogy, the Crews marital standard of living, and the impact of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) …

Digging Beneath The Equality Language: The Influence Of The Fathers’ Rights Movement On Intimate Partner Violence Public Policy Debates And Family Law Reform, Kelly Alison Behre

William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice

In 2004, a fathers’ rights group formed in West Virginia to promote “Truth, Justice, and Equality in Family Law.” They created a media campaign including billboards and radio spots warning about the dangers of false allegations of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse, even offering a $10,000 award to anyone who could prove false allegations of abuse were used against a parent in a custody case. In 2007, they released a study concluding that seventy-six percent of protection order cases were unnecessary or based on false allegations, and warned that protection orders were often filed to gain leverage in …

Eliminating Financiers From The Equation: A Call For Court-Mandated Fee Shifting In Divorces, Bibeane Metsch-Garcia

Michigan Law Review

Divorce can be prohibitively costly. Many struggle or simply cannot afford to pay divorce attorneys’ fees, and the economic effects of divorce on women are particularly acute. In the past few years, financing firms have emerged to fund nonmonied spouses, mostly women, who cannot afford to litigate divorces from their wealthy spouses. The services provided come with a hefty price tag: firms take large fees, and their involvement may lead to unethical and potentially damaging practices. This Note explains what third-party divorce finance firms are and why the use of firms is problematic, and offers an alternative, more equitable method …

Divorcing Into Debt: How Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention And Consumer Protection Act Created A New Class Member In America's Debtors' Prisons, Bobby A. Lean Jr.

Bobby A Lean Jr.

This paper takes a look into BAPCPA and how 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(15) of the bankruptcy code creates a debtors' prison. It then compares the Florida courts and the Ohio courts and how creditors can use this section to potentially jail their debtors. Using policy analysis the paper turns to possible solutions and the cost there of.

Stress, Burnout, Vicarious Trauma, And Other Emotional Realities In The Lawyer/Client Relationship, Marjorie A. Silver, Sanford Portnoy, Jean Koh Peters

Touro Law Review

No abstract provided.

Possible Bias In Asset Valuations: An Application Of The Fraud Risk Triangle To Divorce Cases, Jennifer Tomasetti

Honors Projects in Accounting

No abstract provided.

Is There A Way Forward In The 'War Over The Family'?, Linda C. Mcclain

Faculty Scholarship

When Judge Posner, in Baskin v. Bogan, expressed incredulity -- given actual demographic trends in family formation -- that state marriage laws excluding same-sex couples furthered interests in “channeling” procreative sex and addressing accidental pregnancy, he brought together two conversations about marriage, family law, and family life that too often proceed independently. In the first, same-sex couples challenging marriage laws and the courts who rule in their favor emphasize the high stakes of exclusion by characterizing marriage as an incomparable institution and a signal that one’s intimate commitment is worthy of equal respect and dignity. To be left out of …