Zashin Law Zashin Law 2026-09-18T19:23:41Z https://www.zashinlaw.com/feed/atom/ WordPress /wp-content/uploads/sites/1404356/2024/05/cropped-ZashinLaw-site-icon-32x32.png by Andrew Zashin <![CDATA[Protecting your financial legacy]]> https://www.zashinlaw.com/?p=50356 2026-09-18T19:23:41Z 2026-09-18T19:23:14Z Cleveland Jewish News.]]> On Behalf of Zashin Law <![CDATA[Safeguards for parents facing international custody risks]]> https://www.zashinlaw.com/?p=50323 2026-08-28T14:37:49Z 2026-08-28T14:37:49Z Strengthening your custody decree Beyond a general reasonable visitation standard, you may also include a requirement that any international travel with your child must have advance written consent from the other parent. The decree should also require that the traveling parent provide a detailed itinerary and full contact details for the foreign destination. In Ohio, courts can also include specific language in your divorce decree or parenting plan that explicitly prohibits the removal of the child from the U.S. without a court order. In addition, ne exeat orders can prevent the removal of a child from a particular jurisdiction without the other parent's or the court's permission.

Protecting your child’s passport

As an added precaution, you can register your child in the Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP). This ensures you get a notification if anyone submits a passport application for your child. In high-risk cases, an Ohio court can order that the child’s passport be held by the court or a neutral third party to prevent unauthorized travel.

Placing practical barriers

In some cases, an Ohio court may require a parent to post a security bond before allowing travel. The bond can discourage a parent from moving without permission or taking the child while offering financial protection. If the parent does not return the child as ordered, the bond may be taken and used to help pay the other parent’s legal costs and search and recovery expenses. For parents with significant ties to a foreign country and a history of threats, the court may order supervised visitation in Ohio. This means all their interactions with the child occur under the watchful eye of a trusted adult.

When vigilance matters

Once your child is across another country’s borders, the legal landscape changes drastically. Acting promptly can help you put meaningful deterrents in place to help prevent your child’s unauthorized abduction. An experienced international family lawyer can help you audit your current custody orders for these protections.  ]]> On Behalf of Zashin Law <![CDATA[5 records that may reveal overseas assets in an Ohio divorce]]> https://www.zashinlaw.com/?p=50326 2026-08-28T14:37:38Z 2026-08-28T14:37:38Z Ohio law requires each spouse to fully disclose marital and separate property, other assets, debts, income and expenses. The state’s standardized divorce forms also include an Affidavit of Property and Debt. These five record types may help your legal and financial team identify missing information:

1. Federal tax and foreign account reports

Federal tax returns, Form 8938 and Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, or FBARs, may identify foreign accounts, investment interests or income. Differences between these reports and the financial information provided in the divorce may raise questions about missing accounts or income.

2. International wire transfer records

Wire records may reveal foreign banks, recipients and repeated payments. A transfer alone does not prove ownership, but it may point to an account, business or property that needs further investigation.

3. Corporate ownership documents

Records showing who owns company shares or partnership interests may reveal a spouse’s connection to an overseas business. They may also reveal ownership held through another entity or under a different company name.

4. Trust and foundation records

Trust documents may show whether money earned during the marriage was placed in a foreign trust or whether a spouse has a right to receive payments from it.

5. Foreign property records

Deeds, official ownership records, mortgage documents and tax bills may help show whether a spouse owns foreign real estate. Residency applications or foreign addresses may offer clues, but they do not necessarily prove ownership. During discovery, the formal exchange of information in a divorce, your legal team may request documents or issue subpoenas to obtain records. Evidence held abroad may require foreign counsel or an international process, such as a request under the Hague Evidence Convention, depending on the country.

Building a complete financial picture

No single record proves whether an overseas asset exists or qualifies as marital property. If you notice unexplained transfers, company names or foreign addresses in records you lawfully possess, preserving that information may help your legal team determine what additional documents to pursue.]]> by Andrew Zashin <![CDATA[Protect commercial real estate when marriage ends]]> https://www.zashinlaw.com/?p=50342 2026-08-25T19:53:44Z 2026-08-21T14:00:14Z Cleveland Jewish News.]]> by Andrew Zashin <![CDATA[Before the divorce is final: Insurance issues you should not overlook]]> https://www.zashinlaw.com/?p=50316 2026-07-27T15:35:12Z 2026-07-23T15:00:44Z Cleveland Jewish News.]]> by Andrew Zashin <![CDATA[Rethinking legacy after divorce]]> https://www.zashinlaw.com/?p=50289 2026-06-22T13:00:26Z 2026-06-19T15:00:48Z Cleveland Jewish News.]]> by Andrew Zashin <![CDATA[How divorce should protect child’s education]]> https://www.zashinlaw.com/?p=50136 2026-04-20T20:14:53Z 2026-04-20T20:14:01Z Cleveland Jewish News.]]> by Andrew Zashin <![CDATA[Protecting your legacy after divorce]]> https://www.zashinlaw.com/?p=50116 2026-03-31T12:01:07Z 2026-03-31T11:58:08Z Cleveland Jewish News.]]> by Andrew Zashin <![CDATA[What families should know about Trump Accounts]]> https://www.zashinlaw.com/?p=50097 2026-03-02T21:31:50Z 2026-02-23T22:00:11Z Cleveland Jewish News.]]> by Andrew Zashin <![CDATA[Digital assets and divorce: Protecting your online life during separation]]> https://www.zashinlaw.com/?p=50069 2026-02-06T12:59:44Z 2026-01-29T14:00:23Z Digital Property You Might Overlook Many households now own valuable or sentimental digital assets without realizing it. These can include cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens, online payment app balances, monetized social-media accounts, domain names, digital creative works, or even loyalty program rewards. In Ohio, all property owned by either spouse, tangible or intangible, may be considered marital property if acquired during the marriage. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3105.171, divorcing spouses must make full disclosure of all assets, and courts must divide marital property equitably. Digital holdings fall squarely within that framework, even if their value is hard to measure or easily concealed. When a spouse fails to disclose assets, Section 3105.171(E) authorizes courts to impose penalties for “financial misconduct,” including concealment or nondisclosure. This can apply just as readily to a hidden cryptocurrency wallet or unreported online revenue stream as to a traditional bank account. Sophisticated attorneys increasingly see digital concealment as a growing challenge, which is why a detailed inventory and transparent disclosure are so important from the start. Understanding Ohio’s Recognition of Digital Assets Ohio law already acknowledges that digital property has real legal value. In 2017, the state adopted the Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, which allows designated individuals to manage or transfer someone’s digital accounts much like physical property. This law defines a digital asset broadly, covering anything of value stored electronically, from investment accounts and cryptocurrency to online businesses and personal photos. While that law mainly applies in estate planning, its logic extends to divorce. Because Ohio’s domestic relations statute requires spouses to disclose and divide all property acquired during the marriage, digital assets fall under the same rules. Hidden crypto wallets, monetized social media accounts, or online income streams must be reported and valued just like bank accounts or real estate. Failing to do so can lead to serious financial penalties if a court views the omission as concealment or misconduct. In short, Ohio law treats digital property as genuine property, and divorcing spouses should too. Valuation, Privacy and Security Challenges Digital assets can be difficult to value and even harder to control. Cryptocurrency prices change rapidly, online businesses may depend on fluctuating traffic or algorithms, and creative content often carries both market and emotional worth. Lawyers sometimes collaborate with financial analysts or forensic accountants to determine an appropriate valuation. Privacy and security present additional complications. Spouses commonly share devices and passwords during marriage. Once a separation begins, that shared access can become a risk. Without clear boundaries, one spouse might lock the other out of accounts, delete shared content, or misuse private communications. Establishing clear digital access rules early in the process protects both parties and prevents unintentional misconduct. Evidence and Children’s Online Presence Digital information can also become evidence in a case. Text messages, metadata, account logs and financial app histories may be relevant to support or rebut claims of conduct, income, or asset ownership. It is important that such materials be preserved properly as deleting or altering them can have legal consequences. Divorce today also involves decisions about children’s digital lives. Parents may need to agree on who manages a child’s social media accounts, how online photos are shared and what digital boundaries exist in co-parenting arrangements. As more of family life moves online, these considerations should be part of every parenting plan. Protecting Yourself Through Proactive Planning Clients preparing for divorce should consider a digital asset review that includes: • A complete inventory of online accounts and digital property • Secure documentation of logins and access methods • Professional valuation of significant digital holdings • Updated privacy settings and device security • Clear agreements in the divorce decree about digital-asset control • Post-divorce updates to digital-estate planning documents Moving Forward Digital assets are now a routine part of everyday life. They reflect how people communicate, work and store value. As technology continues to evolve, these assets will play an even larger role in divorce cases. Ohio law already provides the foundation for treating them seriously and careful legal guidance ensures they are handled properly. This article originally appeared as a column for the Cleveland Jewish News.]]>