Family Law

Pryor Cashman Partner Judy Poller, who co-chairs the firm’s Family Law Group, spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the ways that updates to domestic violence laws are changing divorce proceedings.

In “How a Change in Domestic Violence Law Is Impacting Hollywood Divorces,” Judy addresses how New York State law:

In 2020, the state specifically added domestic violence as a factor for the courts to consider in determining the distribution of marital property.

“The hard thing with all of this is there are really good reasons to have these factors,” says Poller. “It’s a balancing act of what’s real and what’s self-serving. The issue of domestic violence is often used as leverage, or extortion, because the consequences of the information getting out can be really devastating in an employment situation.”

Poller says she currently has a case where her client’s soon-to-be ex-wife has made unfounded claims about bad behavior, knowing that it would impact his ability to find work as studios and networks remain highly sensitive to public allegations. “The anxiety it puts in the person is awful,” she says. “People will agree to numbers and custody arrangements because of the fear.”

Threatening an ex-spouse’s professional reputation can backfire with regard to spousal support, however. “Not only are you taking this nuclear and you’re never going to have a good co-parenting relationship with your spouse, but if you hurt their career, how are you going to get support?” asks Royce.

Adds Poller, “Why would anybody take the risk of cutting off their income stream? You’re killing the goose that’s laying the golden eggs.”

Read the full article using the link below.