Ranch House Designs, Inc. recently announced that it is taking recommendations for its innagural Best of the Barns Competition. Each day it will be asking for recommendations for one of its many categories via its Facebook page. You can also email recommendations to kc@ranchhousedesigns.com. Last year, I was the lucky winner of the Best Agriculture Lawyer. Huge thanks goes to …
Would Love Your Recommendation for the ABA Blawg 100
To my beloved readers… It’s that time of year again when the American Bar Association (“ABA”) is searching for the best 100 law blogs (“blawgs”). Last year, I made the coveted list and would love to do again.. but can only do so with your help. If you are a fan of this Food, Farm & Family Law Blog please …
How is Durational Spousal Maintenance Calculated in New York?
Pursuant to a divorce, spousal maintenance may be awarded for life, not at all, or for a fixed period of time. In New York, lifetime maintenance is awarded in extremely rare circumstances. Durational maintenance is awarded to the lesser-monied spouse of a divorce for a defined, fixed term. The purpose of durational maintenance is to enable the lesser-moneyed spouse to …
Estate Planning Isn’t Just For the Elderly
Let’s face it. Estate planning is easy to push off. What’s another week… another month… another year… another five years… After all, I’m healthy. My spouse is healthy. We don’t have kids. We don’t have a lot of assets. I don’t care if what-little-I-do-have follows the rules of intestacy (i.e., the “default rules” if you die without a Last Will …
Sibling Visitation Rights in New York
There is a presumption that a parent knows what is best for his or her child and can decide who the child sees and when. When parents divorce, siblings or half-siblings might be split and their relationships might suffer. In New York, siblings (full-blood and half-blood) have a statutory right to visitation with each other. This is outlined in New …
Appointed as the Chair of the ABA GP Solo Agriculture Law Committee for 2012-2013
For the second year in a row, I have been appointed as the Chair of the American Bar Association’s (“ABA”) General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division’s Agriculture Law Committee for the 2012-2013 year. It has been an exciting first year getting the Committee up and going again with two fantastic Continuing Legal Education (“CLE”) webinars on crop/livestock insurance and …
Three Years and the Fun Keeps Coming…
Happy Third Year Anniversary to this blog! Seems like just yesterday I was writing this second year anniversary post. Time flies when you are having fun! It’s been an exciting third year of this blog. Here are a few highlights: 1. This law blog (“blawg”) made the American Bar Association’s (“ABA”) Top 100 Blawg list. Nominations for 2012 are right …
Relocating from New York with Marital Children After A Divorce
I love New York and I certainly don’t want to move elsewhere but I understand why someone else might. After a divorce, one parent may wish to relocate either to pursue a new relationship or to be closer to family. If there is no visitation granted to the other parent, the custodial parent can move freely. However, in most cases …
Debrief From Skype Conversation About Being An Agriculture Attorney
I hope that my readers had a wonderful Fourth of July vacation and were able to spend some time in the sun. I had a nice time running again and spending time on a few beaches on Long Island including Shelter Island and Robert Moses Beach. Some R & R is always a good thing. Last Friday, I enjoyed a …
My Presentation on Drafting Farm Partnership Agreements
Last fall I spoke at the American Agriculture Law Association (“AALA”) 32nd Agriculture Law Symposium on partnership agreements for farms and ranches. Although there is likely a better choice of entity, general partnerships are common among the agriculture community and easily overlooked when there is a good relationship among the partners (or family members). Even so, I highly recommend memorializing …
How to Legally Change Your Name in New York
It’s a new day….and time for a new last name. There are various reasons people want to change their names. This post will primarily focus on the process for changing your name incident to a divorce. Most Judgments of Divorce grant the ex-wife permission to resume using her maiden name (or surname). If this is the case, there is no …
I’m German. We Like Extra Letters. It’s RinckerLaw not RinkerLaw
Poor Julie Rinker in Texas has been receiving emails to sent to cari@rinkerlaw.com – she has thankfully forwarded them my way. Please remember that I have a “C” before the “K”. And remember that I spell my name Cari – not Carrie. Email me at cari@rinckerlaw.com. Thanks! And have a great weekend. I’ll be at the Yankees v. Mets game …