Mace H. Greenfield, Attorney at Law: March 2015

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Keep it Civil, Not Stupid.

Going through a divorce can be extremely difficult, especially if there are children involved and issues of custody and visitation. However, the key is to always put the children first and keep their best interests in mind. Spouses should discuss and agree on how to make it easier for their children during the process and […]

Do Not Play Tit For Tat, Always Have Clean Hands

Too many litigants want to play tit for tat in their divorce case, do NOT play that game, here’s why: In the discovery phase of pre trial litigation of a divorce or support matter, too often a client’s says: “I refuse to produce financial documents until the other side does. Well, if the other side […]

Advice for Courtroom Success

The symbols of the American court system are the scales of justice. As such, people mistakenly believe that truth and justice are the pillars of this hallowed structure. However, I am here to tell you that truth and justice, as you understand them, only exist in superhero comic books. It does not exist in real […]

Divorces are for parents, not children

When it comes to dealing with couples in the midst of divorcing, undoubtedly the most difficult issue to contend with involves children. No matter how difficult dissolving a marriage is for adults, this transition that much harder for the kids, even under the most non-contentious circumstances. Yet, throughout the divorce process – and after – […]

16 Things I’ve Learned in 16 Years of Practice

Anniversaries take on new meanings when you are a divorce lawyer. To me, one of the proudest accomplishments in my career was going back to school to obtain my bachelors degree and then my law degree while raising my daughter as a sole custodial parent and earning a living all at the same time. I […]

Bankruptcy and Divorce

Although the economy is showing signs of recovery, chances are you’ve experienced some degree of hardship in the last few years – especially if you have gone through or are going through – a divorce. Very few come through the divorce process economically unscathed, so rest assured that you’re in good company. But if the […]

A New Year and a Fresh Start

There is a popular adage that January has the highest rate of divorce filings. There is likely some truth to this, though I’m not confident the statistics necessarily demonstrate this reality. Anecdotally, there have been years in my practice where this certainly appears to be the case. I’m not confident that this is particular to […]

Spousal Abuse: Domestic Violence in New York State

Witnessing the effects of spousal abuse is one of the worst aspects of my practice. Abuse takes many shapes and can be attributed to both men and women in a relationship; this parity is something not often spoke about in the media and many men are afraid to admit that they too have been victims […]

Child Support and Unemployment or Loss of Income

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is at an all-time high as of this writing. Even if you’re reading this blog post months from when it was originally published, the market is likely far above where it was when the financial markets collapsed in 2008. Yet for all of Wall Street’s flowing champagne and expensive caviar, […]

Fathers’ Rights in New York

Understanding fathers’ rights is the foundation of my practice because I have lived the process having been a dad who went through a custody battle before I became an attorney. I have also seen the topic evolve over the past 20 years or so in both the legal arena and in people’s minds. Many of […]

Dividing Assets in a New York Divorce

When dividing assets in a New York divorce, it is important to remember that “Equitable” distribution doesn’t necessarily mean “equal” distribution. One of the principal fears my clients have at the start of a divorce is losing half of his or her assets. Because financial issues can be a driver of marital stress it seems almost […]

Post-Divorce Enforcement

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Life continues even after your marriage ends. Jobs and financial situations change, children grow up and new relationships form. Any one of these and more can have a significant impact on your divorce settlement and require alterations to your divorce decree. Many of my clients over the years come to me for such matters even […]

Financial Stress, Divorce and Leaving Long Island

Here’s one I hear a lot from my clients or their soon-to-be ex-spouses: “It’s too expensive to live on Long Island so I need full custody in order to move.” First off, tell me something I don’t already know. In fact, there’s a good chance that money issues were responsible for the couple sitting across […]

Should I Hire a Long Island or New York City Attorney?

One of the things you will frequently hear people on Long Island discuss when they’re contemplating divorce is whether or not they should hire that “big city attorney.” Even among Long Islanders, there’s a perception that Long Island is a series of Mayberry towns and that when something life changing occurs, like a health issue […]

Exercise Your Rights

Many times I have told my clients to view their situations in the following light: the law supersedes logic. With that said, let us examine an uncomfortable situation that brings a very hot topic into one’s household. Guns. As a staunch defender of the Second Amendment, I believe that everyone has the right to possess […]

The Best Divorce Attorney on Long Island

Everyone wants to hire the best lawyer possible, particularly in a divorce case. If you’re thinking about getting a divorce and have sought the counsel of friends and family, I’m sure you’ve heard all sorts of recommendations for “the best divorce lawyer” on Long Island. The truth is that there is no such thing. Not […]

Gender Bias Kills Child?

GENDER BIAS KILLS CHILD? By: Mace H. Greenfield In or about September 2003, I read about a Long Island Father, Brian Ramirez, suing the Nassau County Child Protective Services (CPS) for failing to protect his daughter. One year after his ex-wife ran off with their daughter, Mr. Ramirez reported to CPS the whereabouts of his […]

Fatherhood

Fatherhood by Steven Cuadrado In the Middle East, we witness a region in turmoil as nations fight over an inheritance promised to them by their father Abraham. The Bible translates the meaning of the name Abraham as “the father of many nations.” Throughout ancient times, fathers were exalted, as their images were perceived to be […]

Gender Bias Continues

GENDER BIAS CONTINUES by: Mace H. Greenfield I am truly sick of the continued gender bias in the Courts of this State. When I was awarded sole custody of my daughter over 11 years ago (she was 3 years old then) in the State of Virginia, the Judge said to me: “Hey, Mr. New Yorker, […]

Paternity Fraud

PATERNITY FRAUD August 24, 2004 In the summer of 2004, in a California Court case, a man filed in court to set aside the order of paternity and order of child support which were both on default against him five years earlier. The appellate court did set aside those orders, once paternity testing proved him […]

Why Gay Marriage?

WHY GAY MARRIAGE? by: Mace H. Greenfield Years ago, the big reason for gay marriage was health insurance, but today, you can obtain insurance for a live in partner through your employer. Today, many people wonder why heterosexuals want to get married. What reasons exist now for this new surge for gay marriage? Inheritance rights? […]

Grandparents Still Have Rights In New York State

GRANDPARENTS STILL HAVE RIGHTS IN NEW YORK STATE by: Mace H. Greenfield, Esq. The U.S. Supreme Court decision from 2000 does not have any impact on the grandparent visitation law of New York State. That case, Troxel v. Granville, involved a broad Washington State statute which permitted: ‘[a]ny person may petition the court for visitation […]

Disillusioned from Judicial Politics, December 2002

Disillusioned from Judicial Politics, December 2002 by: Mace H. Greenfield I grew up very idealistic about lawyers, judges, the courts and government, but then quickly became very disillusioned as an adult. I have been a litigant for more years than I have been a lawyer. My own dissatisfied experiences in the Courts of New York […]

Gender Bias Persists In Courts

GENDER BIAS PERSISTS IN COURTS by: Mace H. Greenfield The August 2002 article in Newsday, “Gender Bias Found to Persist in Courts,” by Robin Topping, was interesting, but misleading. Gender bias does persist in the Courts, but not against women, against men. The studies are based on interviews of women and women advocates, who have […]

Child Support Nightmare

CHILD SUPPORT NIGHTMARE by: Mace H. Greenfield The June 2002 article in Newsday, “Child Support Case Painful, Complex,” is indicative of the blunders regularly found in child support cases in Family Court. Based on the information in that article only, it is important to know the following: At the time of the parties’ divorce, the […]

A Closed Minded Bench, Is A Biased Bench

A closed minded bench, is a biased bench Too often, when a couple settles a custody matter, deciding on joint legal custody, regardless of residential custody, the judge says: “Unless you provide for who has final say if the parties do not agree, I will not approve it.” When asked why, the response is: “Because […]

Mace in your Face

Mace in your Face by Mace H. Greenfield (written in 1994) Okay people, you think with a title like this, I’m going to be brash, abrasive and bat everyone in the head. Just what kind of outrageous, loony stuff will be found here, right? Wait a minute, this is only a website. He is just […]

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