Category: Marital Finances

Alimony & Child Support in New York: Why the Math Matters

Alimony & Child Support in New York: Why the Math Matters

Alimony? Child support? Income caps? If your eyes glaze over when divorce finances come up, this post is your no-nonsense crash course. People hate math, but they love money. And nothing proves it more than a divorce consult. The minute I start talking about support numbers, everyone suddenly becomes a “math expert.” Spreadsheets appear, calculators come out, and suddenly it’s all about the formulas.

But here’s the truth: support in New York is part math, part strategy.

In this blog, I cover the basics, run the numbers, and show you how people actually negotiate support in real life. Spousal maintenance and child support can make or break a divorce settlement. This post demystifies New York’s latest support laws, complete with updated 2025 caps, sample calculations, and smart strategies for high earners, caregivers, and everyone in between.

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How One Woman Quietly Took Back Control, and Her Freedom

How One Woman Quietly Took Back Control, and Her Freedom

I know an incredible mother of four, let’s call her Anne. She’s now in a happy, stable second marriage with her supportive husband, a fellow schoolteacher. They’re raising twin toddlers in a home complete with a white picket fence. But her life wasn’t always so peaceful.

Anne’s first husband was a controlling, verbally abusive police officer who drank heavily and cheated often. When Anne pushed back, he threatened to use his job and income to take the kids and ruin her in court. But instead of giving in to fear, Anne made a quiet plan, and started with her finances.

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You Don’t Need a Shark. You Need a Strategist. (And a Not-Average Lawyer.)

You Don’t Need a Shark. You Need a Strategist. (And a Not-Average Lawyer.)

Why “Get Me a Shark” Backfires

When people hear “divorce attorney,” they picture someone cold, combative, and eager to bill by the hour. That’s not me.

I’m Morghan Richardson, a Manhattan divorce lawyer who believes the work is as human as it is legal. I’ll protect your rights with every tool in the toolbox—but I’ll also translate strategy into plain English, keep you grounded when the room is spinning, and help you make moves you’ll be proud of five years from now.

A lot of folks start the attorney search with the same request: “I want a shark.” It feels logical when you’re scared or furious. But here’s the problem with sharks:

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The Myth of 50/50: How Divorce Courts Shortchange Stay-at-Home Parents

The Myth of 50/50: How Divorce Courts Shortchange Stay-at-Home Parents

On paper, “splitting everything 50/50” sounds fair. Equal shares, equal rights, clean break. But here’s the ugly truth: a 50/50 split often leaves stay-at-home parents at a massive disadvantage.

Why? Because money in divorce isn’t just about the snapshot of today’s bank balance. It’s about how those numbers got there, and where they’re headed.

Within the last few years, a Spanish court awarded €204,624.86 (approx. $215,664 USD) plus a €500/month annuity to a homemaker for 25 years of exclusive domestic labor, breaking new legal ground in recognizing that such unpaid labor entitles financial compensation, even under a separation-of-property marriage regime.

This discussion should be required reading for any spouse or parent thinking of “staying home” or stepping back from their career during a marriage. Here in New York, there is very little return-on-investment for that sacrifice, and a court isn’t going to compensate for the lost time and future career setbacks.

Continue reading “The Myth of 50/50: How Divorce Courts Shortchange Stay-at-Home Parents” →