Sarah Kin Law Trusted Family Law Advocacy You Can Count On

Sarah Kin Law

Trusted Family Law Advocacy You Can Count On

Latest Articles

Divorce After 50: Why the Rules Are Different and What You Must Do to Protect Yourself
Divorce Law

Divorce After 50: Why the Rules Are Different and What You Must Do to Protect Yourself

Divorce among Americans over 50 has doubled in recent decades, yet most legal strategies are designed for younger couples with minor children and decades of earning power ahead. For older divorcing spouses, the financial, medical, and family dynamics demand a fundamentally different approach — one that accounts for retirement security, adult children's interests, and decisions that younger clients rarely face.
My Child Wants to Live With the Other Parent: How Courts Evaluate a Child's Preference in Custody Modifications
Co-Parenting & Custody

My Child Wants to Live With the Other Parent: How Courts Evaluate a Child's Preference in Custody Modifications

When a child—particularly a teenager—expresses a strong desire to change which parent they primarily live with, the legal and emotional stakes for everyone involved can be significant. Courts do not simply grant a child's wish, but they do take it seriously. Understanding how judges weigh a child's preference, and how parents should respond, can make a meaningful difference in the outcome.
When Child Support Becomes a Black Box: Legal Options for Parents Whose Co-Parent Misuses Designated Funds
Co-Parenting & Custody

When Child Support Becomes a Black Box: Legal Options for Parents Whose Co-Parent Misuses Designated Funds

Child support and court-designated funds exist for one purpose: the well-being of your children. When a co-parent diverts those resources for personal use, the law provides real remedies — but only if you know where to look and how to act.
Living Together, Legally Exposed: What Unmarried Parents Don't Know About Their Rights
Co-Parenting & Custody

Living Together, Legally Exposed: What Unmarried Parents Don't Know About Their Rights

Millions of American couples raise children together without ever marrying, often assuming that years of shared life translate into legal protections they simply do not have. When a relationship ends or a medical crisis strikes, those assumptions can unravel quickly and painfully. Understanding the specific legal vulnerabilities that cohabiting parents face is the first step toward closing the gaps before they become emergencies.
When a Will Falls Short: Closing the Guardianship Gap to Truly Protect Your Children
Co-Parenting & Custody

When a Will Falls Short: Closing the Guardianship Gap to Truly Protect Your Children

Many parents believe that naming a guardian in their will is sufficient to secure their children's future — but family law tells a more complicated story. Critical procedural gaps, contested appointments, and state intervention can derail even the most carefully written estate documents. Understanding the difference between a will's guardianship nomination and a legally enforceable guardianship agreement is essential for every parent with minor children.
Dividing Retirement Accounts in Divorce: What You Must Know Before You Sign
Divorce Law

Dividing Retirement Accounts in Divorce: What You Must Know Before You Sign

Retirement accounts are among the most valuable assets a couple accumulates during marriage — and among the most mishandled in divorce. Understanding how courts divide 401(k)s, IRAs, and pensions, and the legal instruments required to do so correctly, can mean the difference between a secure retirement and a costly financial setback.
When a Parent Becomes the Enemy: Identifying Parental Alienation and Reclaiming Your Bond With Your Child
Co-Parenting & Custody

When a Parent Becomes the Enemy: Identifying Parental Alienation and Reclaiming Your Bond With Your Child

Parental alienation is one of the most damaging—and legally complex—dynamics that can emerge after a divorce or separation. When one parent systematically undermines a child's relationship with the other, the consequences extend far beyond hurt feelings, affecting custody arrangements, a child's long-term wellbeing, and the integrity of court proceedings. Understanding the warning signs and knowing how to respond strategically can make all the difference.
The Ex Who Inherited Everything: Why Divorced Americans Must Revisit Their Estate Plans Immediately
Divorce Law

The Ex Who Inherited Everything: Why Divorced Americans Must Revisit Their Estate Plans Immediately

Divorce legally ends a marriage, but it does not automatically erase an ex-spouse from your financial and estate planning documents. From retirement accounts to life insurance policies, outdated beneficiary designations can redirect your assets away from your children and intended heirs—sometimes irreversibly. This guide examines the critical documents every divorced person must review and update without delay.
Moving With Your Children After Divorce: What the Law Requires Before You Pack
Co-Parenting & Custody

Moving With Your Children After Divorce: What the Law Requires Before You Pack

Relocating to a new city or state after divorce is rarely as simple as submitting a change of address. When children are involved and a custody order is in place, a proposed move can trigger complex legal proceedings that span state lines and involve competing jurisdictional claims. This article examines what parents must understand about relocation law, court approval requirements, and the interstate framework that governs these disputes.
Support Payments and the IRS: Tax Consequences Divorcing Families Often Miss
Divorce Law

Support Payments and the IRS: Tax Consequences Divorcing Families Often Miss

The financial terms of a divorce settlement do not end when the paperwork is signed — they carry real tax consequences that can surface months later during filing season. Understanding how the IRS treats alimony and child support under current law is essential for both paying and receiving spouses. This article examines the rules, the recent legislative changes, and the planning strategies that can protect your financial standing.
Why Delaying Custody Changes Costs More Than You Think — Financially and Emotionally
Co-Parenting & Custody

Why Delaying Custody Changes Costs More Than You Think — Financially and Emotionally

When life circumstances shift, many parents hesitate to revisit their custody arrangements — often out of fear of legal expenses or renewed conflict. But postponing necessary modifications rarely saves money or stress; it typically multiplies both, while placing children's stability at risk.
Divorce in the Digital Age: Protecting Your Children's Online Presence, Accounts, and Digital Future
Divorce Law

Divorce in the Digital Age: Protecting Your Children's Online Presence, Accounts, and Digital Future

Modern divorce involves far more than dividing physical property — it also requires addressing shared passwords, cloud accounts, social media access, and the digital assets your children may one day inherit. Without deliberate planning, these overlooked details can generate serious disputes and leave children vulnerable long after the divorce is finalized.
Stepparents, New Spouses, and Shared Households: Understanding Your Legal Standing in a Blended Family
Co-Parenting & Custody

Stepparents, New Spouses, and Shared Households: Understanding Your Legal Standing in a Blended Family

Remarriage introduces a new set of legal relationships that families are often unprepared to navigate, from stepparent rights and adoption considerations to the modification of existing custody and support arrangements. Blended families face a distinct category of legal questions that standard divorce guidance rarely addresses. This guide offers a clear overview of the rights and responsibilities that come with building a family across multiple households.
Proceeding Without Counsel: The Long-Term Price Families Pay for DIY Divorce
Divorce Law

Proceeding Without Counsel: The Long-Term Price Families Pay for DIY Divorce

Attempting to navigate divorce without an attorney may appear to save money upfront, but the financial and legal consequences that follow can far outweigh any initial savings. From flawed asset division agreements to unenforceable custody arrangements, the gaps left by self-represented filings often surface years after the ink has dried. Understanding what is truly at stake before filing alone could be the most important decision a family makes.
When Saving Money on Divorce Ends Up Costing You Everything
Divorce Law

When Saving Money on Divorce Ends Up Costing You Everything

Thousands of Americans attempt to navigate divorce proceedings without an attorney, drawn by the promise of lower upfront costs. What many discover too late is that self-representation in family court carries financial, legal, and emotional consequences that far exceed the fees they hoped to avoid. Understanding the true cost of going it alone is the first step toward making an informed decision.
7 Communication Strategies That Help Divorced Parents Actually Work Together
Co-Parenting & Custody

7 Communication Strategies That Help Divorced Parents Actually Work Together

Maintaining a functional co-parenting relationship after divorce is one of the most demanding ongoing challenges separated parents face. While no approach eliminates conflict entirely, research-backed communication strategies can dramatically reduce friction and create a more stable environment for children. This guide outlines seven practical frameworks that divorced parents can begin implementing immediately.