This past summer, New York's legislature passed some major changes to its existing alimony laws. These changes however, have not yet been approved by the Governor. Anyone who has been through, or is considering, divorce should be aware of this overhaul as existing issues within the system are being addressed by these changes. The office of Thomas A. Corletta, Attorney at Law, is a civil and criminal practice located in Rochester, NY. Attorney Thomas Corletta provides legal advice and representation in several areas, including matrimonial and family law. Here he sheds some light on the changes to the state's alimony system:

• The Old Law: The amount of alimony paid between the commencement of the divorce proceedings and the final judgement is known as temporary maintenance. Under the old law, maintenance was set according to a specific formula developed to protect spouses with lower incomes. However, that law also made things much more complicated and costly for higher-income spouses. Some of these clients were asked to pay child support, alimony, and other monies that far outweighed their monthly incomes. The old law also did not provide a formula to determine post-divorce alimony amounts, which caused uncertainty for many spouses.

• The Important Changes: The bill, passed in June, has three major changes. First, it upholds the present maintenance guidelines and extends them to post-divorce alimony; however the formula only applies to those with $175,000 or less in yearly income. Previously, the formula applied to couples with $543,000 or less in income. Second, judges are given suggested timelines for the length of maintenance payments; the formula changes if child support is a part of the case. Lastly, the new law overruless a previous court decision which awarded a certain percentage of payment for the lifetime value of a license or professional degree that was earned during the marriage.  Attorney Thomas Corletta is dedicated to making these changes work for you and the success of your case.

• What This Means: The changes are meant to better serve and protect all residents, regardless of their income. Attorney Thomas Corletta understands the laws that are unique to New York divorce law, and he will ensure that the parameters of your case meet all necessary state guidelines.

For more than three decades, Attorney Thomas Corletta has been one of the area's leading sources for quality matrimonial, bankruptcy, and criminal defense representation. Call Thomas A. Corletta, Attorney at Law, at (585) 546-5072 or visit his website to schedule a consultation.