Attorney Anthony Comparetto is back to talk about other important issues for which all webmasters should be prepared… divorce, child support, paternity suits and other inter-family battles. While such poosibilities are unpleasant to think about, planning ahead can protect your assets from an angry spouse who might use your status as an adult webmaster to your disadvantage.Attorney Anthony Comparetto is back to talk about other important issues for which all webmasters should be prepared… divorce, child support, paternity suits and other inter-family battles. While such poosibilities are unpleasant to think about, planning ahead can protect your assets from an angry spouse who might use your status as an adult webmaster to your disadvantage.
I was speaking with a divorce attorney the other day, and we were discussing a mutual client in the adult entertainment business. He said that it is always amazing how the spouse of a webmaster will enjoy all the benefits (THE MONEY) that an adult website can bring, but the moment a divorce is filed he or she knew nothing about that immoral business his or her spouse was in.
PLAYING THE MORALS GAME
He told me it is pretty common to use the “morals” issue as a bargaining chip in a divorce proceeding. Again, he stated that spouses will often use the morals issue in ways to exact more money and better terms out of the divorce. You may have noticed that I used the term spouse and not wife. Many a man finds religion in a divorce and will try and get custody of the children from the webmistress.
The stats are that 50% of all webmasters and webmistresses will probably face the issue of divorce, child support, child custody or other family law issues in their lifetime. If you look around at your friends, you will probably notice that the statistics are pretty correct.
As an adult webmaster, you of course face special problems if you have to go in front of a family law judge. As stated above, there is the big morals card that most divorce attorneys will play in the game called divorce. Also, the webmaster faces the perception that every adult webmaster is making money hand over fist. Did you know that you can sell your domain names for at least two million dollars per name!
DEVELOP A PLAN
Well, I write often that it is important for the webmaster to plan ahead to prevent and minimize life’s catastrophes. Just recently I wrote an article advising webmasters to come up with emergency plans for the possibilities of criminal prosecution, business emergencies and personal crisis. After reflecting on that article, I realized that I left out one of the biggest life-changing emergencies that can happen to a webmaster or anyone. Therefore I want to advise webmasters on the issue of pre-divorce planning.
“I do want to emphasize that people in the adult webmaster business do not have the luxury of leaving anything to chance. When you entered this business you became a “suspect class” in the eyes of most of American society.”
Yes, I know the term pre-divorce planning sounds kind of mercenary. I do want to emphasize that people in the adult webmaster business do not have the luxury of leaving anything to chance. When you entered this business you became a “suspect class” in the eyes of most of American society.
I therefore counsel and work with my clients on developing these plans to protect their assets in case of a divorce, paternity, child support or custody case. I advise my clients that it is necessary to plan to try and prevent family law problems before they start. I am also sure you have heard of all the horror stories related to divorce cases, and seen the many television shows portraying it as a nightmare. The truth of the matter is that most divorce, paternity, child support or any family law issues are just that… nightmares.
So what are some of the things you should discuss with your attorney in your family law plan?
Prenuptial and anti-nuptial agreements;
Avoiding the morals “trump card”;
Protecting assets;
Second marriages and protecting children;
Shielding your business assets;
Valuing your business assets;
Child custody issues and how to minimize such;
Crazy stripper girlfriends or psycho ex-boyfriends.
In reality, the above list could go on for quite awhile as family law issues affect a huge portion of your life. Thoughtful legal planning can help the adult webmaster to minimize many of the potential family law problems before they start. You will notice that I use the term minimize and not prevent. I have heard the phrase that divorce is like being caught in a tornado surrounded by a hurricane. You get spun round and round and then pounded into the ground. So the best you can hope for is to keep the bleeding down to a minimum (YOUR MONEY) and get out with your sanity.
Anthony Comparetto has been an attorney practicing corporate, international corporate and entertainment law for over twelve years. Visit him at www.adultsitelaw.com, where he hosts a monthly live video chat, or to ask questions email him at ajc111@attorney.com, or call him at 727.328.7\’00.
