Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Social Security Benefits in Divorce Cases

By Paul L. Feinstein
October 02, 2015

One of the most important family law issues that vary from state to state is the question of whether Social Security benefits should be considered or offset when making property determinations. There is quite a bit of law on the subject and a thorough review of your own state's applicable law is required. A good place to start is the 2014 Oregon Supreme Court decision In re Marriage of Herald and Steadman, 355 Or. 104, 322 P.3d 546 (March 20, 2014). That case was taken to the United States Supreme Court, but certiorari was denied in January 2015. The lengthy Herald decision, which is summarized herein, analyzes the law in a number of states.

An Illinois appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment in an unpublished decision, concluding that the court did not err by refusing to offset the value of the husband's pension in lieu of Social Security benefits by the value of Social Security benefits he would have received had he participated in Social Security. In re Marriage of Mueller, 2014 IL App (4th) 130918-U. Although that opinion was not published and therefore could not be cited as precedent, the Illinois Supreme Court accepted a discretionary petition for leave to appeal, heard oral argument in March of 2015 and recently decided the matter. The court's decision is discussed below.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

The Bankruptcy Hotline Image

Recent cases of importance to your practice.

Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations Image

This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.

How AI Has Affected PR Image

When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.

The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs Image

The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.