Dr. Ronald B. Standler
Legal Research Services
in U.S. Family Law
I have done extensive legal research and written essays on several topics in divorce law in the USA:
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial Contract Law in the USA,
nationwide history of the validity of these contracts.
- Legal Duty of Parent in USA to Pay for Child's College Education,
history and review of law in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts
(written in July 2003).
- Reimbursement of Educational Expenses at Divorce in the USA,
my nationwide review of this topic in July 2003.
- Some Provocative Suggestions for Drafting Prenuptial Contracts in the USA,
an essay I wrote in March 2004. Please understand that I am not advising
anyone to use the provocative ideas in this essay in their prenuptial agreement.
I address these provocative suggestions to attorneys, who specialize in family law,
to consider in appropriate situations.
- Federal Court Jurisdiction in the USA in Family Law Cases, my
April 2004 review of why federal courts do not accept cases involving divorce or alimony.
Lower Federal Court Cases 1968-82 on the Domestic Relations Exception,
contains quotations from ten cases about the history of the domestic relations exception
to federal court jurisdiction, with my annotations.
- Litigated Divorce in the USA as a Waste of Marital Assets,
discusses an interesting series of cases in Florida that hold that a party who causes
avoidable divorce litigation can be ordered to reimburse the attorney's fees of the other party.
I also cite some cases from other states.
- Problems with Division of Marital Property and Alimony in the USA
criticizes modern state statutes in the USA for:
- having a long list of factors for a judge to consider,
which gives an unpredictable result. I explain why judges avoid using
mathematical formulas for the division of martial property and amount of alimony.
- either ignoring misconduct, or making misconduct one of many factors to consider,
in a decision to award alimony.
- possibly being unconstitutional, while I admit that it is a long shot for a judge
to declare a divorce statute unconstitutional.
- continuing to award permanent alimony, which is an anachronism.
This essay has a nationwide scope and cites many cases and articles in law reviews.
Consulting Services
I offer my consulting services to family lawyers, particularly in the areas of
legal research, and preparing memoranda of law on:
- equitable reimbursement of educational expenses at divorce
- pre- or post-nuptial contracts
- invasions of privacy in marriage or during divorce litigation
(e.g., videotaping, spyware or keystroke loggers on computers, searches of garbage)
A list of my essays on privacy law is on my homepage.
- conflict of laws between states
- reproductive technologies (e.g., surrogate mothers), contraception, abortion
- constitutional issues in alimony or division of marital assets
About Dr. Standler
By way of introduction, I am a physicist (Ph.D. 1977), formerly a professor of electrical engineering
for ten years, and since 1998 I am an attorney in Massachusetts.
My practice of law specializes in computer law and academic issues in higher-education law.
I consult nationwide to litigators in scientific evidence in torts.
I also do legal research for attorneys.
I used the Lexis online legal databases during 1991-97 for legal research.
I have used Westlaw online legal databases extensively since December 1995.
I often use Westlaw more than 20 hours/month, so I am experienced with
legal research in Westlaw.
I will personally do all work on your project,
so you get the full benefit of my knowledge and experience.
My fees and terms.
Since Sep 2002, I have had a subscription to unlimited use of the Westlaw databases for judicial
opinions and statutes from all states and the federal government,
so I do not charge my clients for the cost of searching cases and statutes in the USA.
Understandably, specialists in family law are most comfortable in a face-to-face environment
with people. In contrast, I enjoy working alone for tens of hours,
searching online databases, critically reading cases, and doing legal writing.
Contacting Dr. Standler
Licensed attorneys may contact Dr. Standler via e-mail at:
Nonattorneys who live outside of Massachusetts need to respect the fact that I am licensed
to practice law only in Massachusetts, so the only way I can work on such cases
is if your local attorney hires me as a consultant.
If you are seeking an attorney in a state other than Massachusetts, please see my hints for how to
find
an attorney, as statutes regulating the practice of law
prohibit my providing legal advice to people outside of Massachusetts.
Copyright 2008 by Ronald B. Standler
this document is at http://www.rbs2.com/famlaw.htm
revised 8 Oct 2008
return to my homepage