Wisselman Harounian Family Law

06/06/2026

June is Men’s Mental Health Month. At age 20, there is a high risk of psychological and psychiatric issues in young men, which is exacerbated by ma*****na use.

We were hoping that the outcome of this case was different and that this young man would be found alive. Prayers to his family.

https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15879595/alabama-student-James-Higginbotham-vanished-Japan-dead-mother.html



James 'Weston' Higginbotham, 20, was found dead after vanishing in Japan, his heartbroken. mother announced.

06/06/2026

Interesting conversations going on in response to our posts on TikTok. Join us!

ny_divorce_lawyer

06/06/2026

We can all learn from the cautionary tales of the rich and famous.

Halle Berry is one of the most famous actresses in the world. She married three times and had several other high profile relationships. She is currently engaged to be married.

One of her relationships was with a model who was 10 years younger than her, Gabriel Aubry. Their breakup led to a lengthy custody battle in 2010. For years, she tried unsuccessfully to relocate to France so that she could pursue her relationship with her third husband, Olivier Martinez.

Now their child Nahla is 18 years old and graduating high school. By all accounts, her parents have not communicated or been amicable to one another since their split. We can all hope that their daughter can move ahead with her adult life without too many scars.

For the past 16 years, Halle has been paying child support ranging from $8000 per month to $16,000 per month to the child’s father.

She is also required to pay 4% of her net income that is over $2 million per year.

Halle has been very vocal over the years about her frustration about paying so much child support. But the fact is that the orders are based on the income disparity with the father. In all likelihood, he has also had a very significant role in raising the child up to this point.

Turnabout is fair play. The laws are gender neutral. It is what it is.

Jacqueline Harounian

06/05/2026

One of the most interesting terms I have heard lately is “Heteropessimism”.

It is fueled by influencers and cultural commentators describing a growing disappointment with traditional dating, romance, marriage, and gender dynamics.

Here is what it sounds like:

"Marriage only benefits men."
“Women only see men as a wallet“
"All husbands eventually stop trying."
"Women end up carrying the emotional load."
"No one is happily married; some people just tolerate it better."

⚡️⚡️

Jacqueline Harounian: I hear my fair share of this in my office as a family law attorney.

But here’s the thing. There has never been a time as good as now to be optimistic about traditional relationships and marriage. Especially for couples that both work outside the home.

For the first time in history, we have truly egalitarian relationships, men and women as partners, raising children together as active coparents, gender neutral support laws, and the rise of prenups!

The more cynical among you will say that I am encouraging long term relationships and marriage because it’s good for the divorce business. That might be true, assuming lawyers will not be replaced with avatars and robots within the next 10 years.

But seriously, being traditional myself, I believe that healthy relationships and marriage between two people that respect each other as humans, parents, and earners is very good for society as a whole.

Do you agree?

Wisselman Harounian Family Law

06/04/2026

Orders of protection are available to help victims and their children feel safe. In many cases, harassment and intimidation can escalate to very harmful levels, including fatal assault. There are several different types of orders, and some court cases involve attorneys for children, child protective services, and other types of victim services.

Love should not hurt and victims should not suffer in silence.

06/04/2026

Orders of protection are available to help victims and their children feel safe. In many cases, harassment and intimidation can escalate to very harmful levels, including fatal assault. There are several different types of orders, and some court cases involve attorneys for children, child protective services, and other types of victim services. 

Love should not hurt and victims should not suffer in silence.



06/03/2026

💙

05/30/2026

05/30/2026

Most people are not that great at negotiation.

And all of the ChatGPT help in the world won’t change that. But it’s essential to work on improving your negotiation skills, which will lead to success at work and with relationships, including with your spouse.

Jacqueline Harounian: I negotiate for a living. I have opportunities to improve my skills all day long. What I have learned is that the key is to build trust with the other side. To emphasize common goals and win-win outcomes. For most people going through divorce, that means bringing an end to a potentially costly litigation. A financial, legal and emotional closure where both sides (and their children) benefit.

According to the authors of the new book, Never Settle, the aim is to create “reciprocity“. Reciprocity creates an unconscious but powerful reaction in the brain that improves the outcomes of negotiation. It is an act of kindness that can eventually change the reaction in the other person.

⚡️Here are some examples of reciprocity from my own experience: ⚡️

Give a compliment.
Be cooperative.
Say their name.
Be sensitive to the other party’s feelings.
Be non-reactive to rejection.
Maintain civility and courtesy with your opponent.
Be willing to go first when it comes to making an offer.
Give options and generate proposals. Put them in writing and request feedback.
Smile.

And finally…

Be courteous, even when you are saying no. Don’t burn the bridge.

🔹

In divorce matters, dealing with delays, rejection, and stonewalling are all part of the process. These are part of the path to eventual success in most cases, actually 95% of cases that settle before trial.

Clients can become very upset and angry over the setbacks, but as lawyers, we become adept in shaking off rejection and trying again. Resilience and a calm demeanor in negotiations can be built up with practice.

Negotiation is complex and messy because people are complex and messy. Especially in family law situations. But reciprocity works.

05/25/2026

A new study finds college-educated fathers are working significantly shorter hours than before the pandemic, and are spending more time with their families. This is the latest headline in the The Wall Street Journal.

Fathers with degrees and young children slashed their time on the job by six hours a week and increased their time spent on housework and child care by more than four hours a week.

Meanwhile, women are gaining ground in their careers and are relying on their spouses more than ever to keep the fort at home.

All signs point to the American labor market looking increasingly sour for men. Over the past year, nearly all net job growth has come from healthcare and social assistance, a traditionally female-dominated sector. Sectors with heavily male workforces have been losing jobs.

Despite the employment numbers, it seems that personal choices are the big factor driving fathers to spend more time at home.

And we are seeing this play out in our family law practice. Fathers are very interested in 50-50 custody or primary custody of their children. Women and mothers, especially breadwinners, take note.

Jacqueline Harounian