Law Offices of Mindin & Mindin, P.C.

05/25/2026

A Kings County Supreme Court decision from Justice Jeffrey Sunshine breaks down how courts approach pendente lite support when parents share equal parenting time but have very different incomes. The decision also addresses alleged underemployment, private school tuition, trust discovery, and interim counsel fees.

For NYC professionals and parents navigating divorce, this is a must-read.

05/14/2026

NYC professionals are working differently, and parenting roles are changing with them.

More fathers are seeking joint physical custody and equal parenting time because they are already doing the daily work: school logistics, medical appointments, homework, activities, and bedtime routines.

Our latest blog breaks down what this shift means for professional parents navigating divorce and custody in New York. Read the full post on the Mindin & Mindin, P.C. blog.

A recent report discussed new research from Dr. Ariel Binder of the American Institute for Boys and Men showing a meaningful shift in how college-educated fathers are spending their time. According to the article, between the three-year period ending in 2019 and the three-year period ending in 2024,

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day from Mindin & Mindin, P.C.!

04/29/2026

Yes, New York divorce court can end up deciding who keeps the dog. No, it is not “pet custody” the way people talk about child custody, but the law now requires judges to consider the best interest of the animal when awarding possession. If your dog or cat is basically your emotional support during the divorce, you need a strategy, not a meltdown. We wrote a practical guide on how NYC judges actually handle pets, whether “visitation” is realistic, and what proof matters. Read it on the blog and tell us in the comments: team dog, team cat, or team “the turtle stays neutral.”

In a New York divorce, the fight over the dog or cat is often the most emotional dispute in the entire case (besides child custody of course). That is because most families do not view a pet as “property,” even though the legal system historically did. New York law has now moved in a more modern...

04/28/2026

If you’re in a New York custody fight, “I love my kids more” is not a legal argument. Courts decide custody on best interests, meaning stability, day-to-day parenting, and which parent is more likely to support the child’s relationship with the other parent. Our latest post breaks down a new First Department decision and what it means for NYC parents. Visit the blog to read it.

In Matter of Ola A. v Bafode D., 2026 NY Slip Op 02149 (1st Dept Apr. 9, 2026) , the Appellate Division, First Department affirmed a New York County Family Court order awarding the mother primary physical custody and granting the father a defined parenting time schedule that included alternate

04/27/2026

Zelle now says you cannot use its service for court-ordered payments, including child support or alimony, and it can suspend access if it thinks you’re doing it anyway. If you rely on Zelle to pay or receive support in New York, that convenience can turn into missed payments, arrears claims, and an avoidable trip back to court. We broke down what this means and the safer options going forward. Read the full post on our blog.

Many New Yorkers use Zelle the same way they use cash. It is fast, simple, and feels informal. That convenience becomes a problem the moment the payment is not informal, meaning it is court-ordered child support, spousal support, or maintenance . As of April 2026, Zelle’s terms now classify court-

04/09/2026

In New York custody cases, the same best-interest factors continue to determine outcomes: stability, who has actually been the primary caretaker, and which parent is most likely to foster the child’s relationship with the other parent.

Read the full breakdown on our blog and learn how this applies to NYC custody cases.

In Matter of St. Sume v Herrera, 2026 NY Slip Op 01521 (2d Dept, Mar. 18, 2026) , the Appellate Division reviewed a Kings County Family Court custody order that did two things at once. It awarded the father sole legal and physical custody based on the classic “best interests of the child” analys...

03/21/2026

A relocation order is not permanent. In a recent Second Department decision, a 15-year-old’s clearly stated preference and the parent-child relationship evidence supported changing residential custody years after a move to Florida.

If you’re dealing with relocation fallout or a teen who wants to come home, our latest post explains the legal standard and how these cases are won.

Parents in New York City often assume that once a relocation order is granted, the custody arrangement is effectively locked in until the child turns 18. That is not how New York custody law works. A relocation order can be modified, but only if the parent seeking the change proves a subsequent chan

03/18/2026

New York’s divorce financial disclosure forms have officially caught up to the digital economy. Cryptocurrency is now specifically listed on the updated Statement of Net Worth, making it far harder to “forget” about wallets, exchanges, or digital holdings when a divorce is pending. If crypto, NFTs, or digital accounts are part of your marriage, our latest blog explains what the new rules mean and why early strategy matters.

Read the post and contact Mindin & Mindin, P.C. if you need guidance.

If your financial picture includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins, or anything sitting on an exchange, New York’s divorce courts are no longer treating that as a niche issue. The New York State Unified Court System has updated the required Statement of Net Worth in contested matrimonial actions, a...

02/16/2026

If you’re in a high-conflict divorce, here’s the truth: you don’t win by arguing louder. You win by building a record the judge can rely on and by pushing for orders that are enforceable, not just “fair in theory.”

Read the blog post and see how a judge actually reasons through a full trial, step by step. Visit our website to read it now.

A detailed New York divorce trial decision that shows how judges actually think New York divorce trials are rare because most cases settle. When one does go the distance, the written decision can be a goldmine because it captures how a judge filters messy facts, evaluates credibility, deals with li