Queens Annulments Lawyers
Understanding the Differences Between Divorce and Annulment
In many instances, the terms divorce and annulment are used synonymously. While the actions associated with these words share some similarities, an annulment holds certain notable differences.
Divorce Versus Annulment
Both terms reference actions designed to terminate established marriages. However, unlike divorces, an official annulment effectively erases a marriage from record.
When married individuals get divorced, said parties are still recognized to have been previously married. When persons are granted an annulment, their marriage is eliminated from public document. In more direct terms, the law views said union truly as never having existed.
Types Of Annulments
There are two primary categories of annulments, civil and religious.
Excellent 10 out of 10, Helped resolve my case. Jeremy explained everything and made everything easy to understand.
If you are looking for a lawyer that listens, is aggressive where needed, and holds his word above all else, Todd is the best pick. I had hired multiple attorneys prior to hiring the Spodek Group for a white collar case. The first thing that stood out to me was the cost, as anyone going through the process and dealing with the system, money was tight at that time - especially after hiring and firing multiple lawyers. The cost was not as high as others which was definitely a plus. Todd's intake process was also unlike other attorneys. He took the time to actually listen. He cared. He was trying to put himself in my shoes while I was explaining the situation to him and he really took the time to understand the whole situation. Other lawyers will give you 15 mins and send you a retainer agreement. Not Todd, I think he spent almost two hours with me as I was explaining everything.Not only was he great during the onboarding process, he was supportive and very informative through the entire plea process and eventually sentencing. After hiring him, I asked if I should hire a prison consultant, he told me to save my money as he would do everything they would. He was right and held up to his word. Later on I would hear from others that went with the prison consultants that they were a waste of money - I am glad I listened to Todd!When it came time for sentencing, two days prior to sentencing, the prosecutor tried increasing my proposed prison time by almost double - apparently a normal move. Todd and his team worked with me non-stop through the weekend prior to sentencing to ensure that I was not given additional prison time. Again, he took the time to listen and came up with a strategy to explain the case with great detail.Unfortunately, I did plead guilty as that was my best option. Todd and his whole team wrote up nearly 300 pages of a summary of what happened and why I should not be given prison time. If I breakdown the amount I spent with Todd versus the amount of work that I saw being done, I am shocked I was not charged four times as much. The other benefit was, a lot of criminal defense lawyers were just a single attorney with a paralegal or two. Todd had a team of people that I dealt with (5-7 people that I interacted with), but he was ALWAYS accessible. It would never take him more than an hour to reply unless he was in court.I was sentenced to prison and I was emotionally distraught. Todd and his team did whatever they could even after sentencing to make sure I was alright. He personally stayed in touch with my family to ensure I was doing alright and offered support to them. Most lawyers would consider the job complete at sentencing, not Todd.After prison, Todd still spent time with me to make sure I was on the right track and avoiding any potential risks in the future. He has also been giving advice on how to navigate probation etc and has not been looking at the clock for billing.Although I wish I had never been arrested in the first place, I am glad I had Todd and his team in my corner. Without them I likely would have had to spend a lot more time in prison than I did.Thank you, Todd, and the entire Spodek Law team, for helping turn what was a nightmare into a manageable situation!
I am immensely grateful to the entire team at Spodek Law Group for their unwavering dedication and exceptional expertise throughout my case. From our initial consultation to the final resolution, their professionalism and tireless advocacy made all the difference. Their strategic approach and attention to detail instilled confidence in me every step of the way.Thanks to their hard work and commitment, we achieved a truly favorable outcome that exceeded my expectations. Not only did they navigate the complexities of my case with precision, but they also provided invaluable support and guidance during what was undoubtedly a challenging time. I cannot recommend Spodek Law Group highly enough, especially attorneys Todd Spodek and Claire Banks; they are beacons of excellence in the legal profession.YSP.
Todd, Ralph and Alex are amazing. Helped my husband get from a double digit number with multiple charges to a single digit, by the time I blink he will be out. They very professional and help with all your needs. They dealt with my anxiety and worry very well and they understand that your family member needs to get home as soon as possible.
Believe every single review here about Alex Z!! From our initial consultation, it was evident that Alex possessed a profound understanding of criminal law and a fierce dedication to his clients rights. Throughout the entirety of my case, Alex exhibited unparalleled professionalism and unwavering commitment. What sets Alex apart is not only his legal expertise but also his genuine compassion for his clients. He took the time to thoroughly explain my case, alleviating any concerns I had along the way. His exact words were “I’m not worried about it”. His unwavering support and guidance were invaluable throughout the entire process. I am immensely grateful for Alex's exceptional legal representation and wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Alex Z is not just a lawyer; he is a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of the legal system. If you find yourself in need of a dedicated and competent legal advocate, look no further than Alex Z.
I don’t know where to start, I can write a novel about this firm, but one thing I will say is that having my best interest was their main priority since the beginning of my case which was back in Winter 2019. Miss Claire Banks, one of the best Attorneys in the firm represented me very well and was very professional, respectful, and truthful. Not once did she leave me in the dark, in fact she presented all options and routes that could possibly be considered for my case and she reinsured me that no matter what I decided to do, her and the team will have my back and that’s exactly what happened. Not only will I be liberated from this case, also, I will enjoy my freedom and continue to be a mother to my first born son and will have no restrictions with accomplishing my goals in life. Now that’s what I call victory!! I thank the Lord, My mother, Claire, and the Spodek team for standing by me and fighting with me. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with this team. I’m very satisfied, very pleased with their performance, their hard work, and their diligence.Thank you team!
I recently had Spodek Law Group represent me for a legal matter in NYC and I am thoroughly impressed with their services.Alex Zhik secured the best possible outcome for my case.It was a seamless journey from the initial consultation to the resolution of my legal matter. From the moment I spoke to Todd about my case, his enthusiasm to help was evident, setting a positive tone for the entire experience. The efficiency and professionalism displayed by the team is commendable.A particularly noteworthy aspect of their service is their user-friendly portal to upload your documents/evidence. This not only simplified the process, but showcases their commitment to streamline the client experience.Lastly, in an industry where legal fees can often be a concern, I found their pricing to be very reasonable, making needing legal assistance feel accessible and stress-free.I am grateful for their support and wouldn't hesitate to turn to them again in the future.
Civil Annulments
Civil annulments are typically granted on the basis of significant legal grounds. The individual or couple appealing for an annulment must demonstrate that they should not be married and provide solid evidence suggesting the reasons the joining should technically be expunged from official record.
In an appreciable number of cases, those requesting annulment must clearly show one or more acceptable grounds including:
- The Lack Of Consent: This occurs when one spouse is coerced or forced into getting married to the other partner.
- Concealment: Annulment might be awarded to one spouse if said subject proves that the other hid pertinent information from them. For example, hiding a major criminal record or a past marriage and children from their current spouse could be considered concealment.
- Fraud: If one spouse perpetrates a lie or misrepresents themselves, courts may satisfy an appealing party’s request for an annulment. Cases in point include spouses lying about their ages or having entered their current union while still technically being married to another individual.
- Impotency: Incurable impotency is a grounds for annulment. That said, the appealing entity had to have not known this fact prior to becoming wedded.
- Incest: If the parties determine they share some type of appreciable familial relationship, courts are likely to satisfy annulment requests.
Religious Annulments
Religious institutions like the Catholic Church also grant annulments. However, instead of a legal body like a court, the decision to allow said action is rendered by a tribunal.
This entity will determine oi the marriage lacked important elements to begin with and should therefore be terminated from a spiritual standpoint.
Those appealing to the Church for annulment must also demonstrate satisfactory grounds. However, said issues can differ from those debated by courts and, include emotional instability, immaturity, or dishonest behavior. If the Church grants the annulment, said parties are free to remarry in the Catholic faith.
Similarities To Divorce
In many cases, grounds for annulment appear early on in the marriage in question. Therefore, specific legal and financial issues typically requiring resolution might not enter into play.
However, annulments of longer lasting unions do share certain commonalities with divorce. The major likeness is the fact that the parties in question will still likely be required to satisfy various legal and financial concerns such as:
- Property Distribution: Civil law mandates that divorcing couples divide their marital assets. These holdings are materials each party earned during their married life. Specific mandates are usually dictated by state law. Some states require marital property to be split evenly where both parties receive 50 percent of said assets. However, an appreciable percentage of states follow the equitable distribution principle. This means assets are differentiated as fairly as possible in accordance with which spouse’s efforts most led to their accumulation.
- Spousal Maintenance: Spousal maintenance, also referred to as alimony is a remittance one spouse might be required to pay the other. Occasionally, one partner might earn appreciably more than the other. This income gap could result in financial difficulties for the lesser earning party. Alimony is designed to prevent such economic hardship.
- Child-Related Matters: Though annulled marriages are no longer recognized, any children produced prior to the action being granted are still the responsibility of the spouses who produced said offspring. Therefore, said entities will be encouraged to create parenting plans dictating which parent will have physical custody, visitation schedules for other parent, travel arrangements to and from each parent’s residence, in addition to information regarding who will make important decisions on the child’s behalf and finance needed materials and protections. Should the annulling parties be unable to reach these conclusions amicably, a court of law might be forced to step in and render such decisions on their behalf.