Cacace, Tusch & Santagata, Attorneys at LawCacace, Tusch & Santagata, Attorneys at Law2026-06-30T22:39:49Zhttps://www.lawcts.com/feed/atom/WordPressOn Behalf of Cacace, Tusch & Santagata, Attorneys at Law<![CDATA[Legal separation vs. divorce in Connecticut]]>https://www.lawcts.com/?p=478862026-06-30T22:39:49Z2026-06-30T22:39:49ZWhat is legal separation?
A legal separation allows you and your spouse to live apart while remaining legally married. Although the marriage continues, the court may issue orders resolving many of the same issues addressed in a divorce, including:
Child custody and parenting responsibilities
Child support
Alimony, when appropriate
Division of property and debts
Temporary financial arrangements
Because you remain legally married, neither spouse can remarry unless the court later converts the legal separation into a divorce.
Some couples choose legal separation for religious reasons, financial considerations, or because they hope to reconcile in the future.
However, unlike legal separation, divorce permanently terminates the marriage and the legal rights and responsibilities associated with it.
Which option may be right for you?
The best choice depends on your personal, financial, and family circumstances. Legal separation may benefit couples who want to live apart without ending the marriage, while divorce may provide a permanent resolution for spouses who have decided the relationship cannot continue.
Before deciding, consider how each option may affect health insurance coverage, taxes, retirement benefits, and future financial planning.
Why legal guidance matters
Although legal separation and divorce address many of the same issues, they have different legal consequences. Understanding those differences can help you avoid unexpected financial or legal complications.
If you are considering legal separation or divorce in Connecticut, an experienced family law attorney can explain your options, protect your rights, and help you determine which approach best supports your future.]]>On Behalf of Cacace, Tusch & Santagata, Attorneys at Law<![CDATA[4 benefits of collaborative divorce on your children’s well-being]]>https://www.lawcts.com/?p=478852026-04-16T09:59:06Z2026-04-16T09:59:06ZDivorce is one of the hardest decisions a family can face. But the method you choose matters just as much as the decision itself. As a parent, your children's well-being is your top priority. The good news is that you have choices. By choosing cooperation over confrontation, you can protect their emotional and psychological health through one of life's most challenging transitions. This is how collaborative divorce offers a path that puts your children first.
What is a collaborative divorce?
Collaborative divorce is usually a private, out-of-court process. Instead of litigating in a courtroom, you and your spouse work with a team of trained professionals. This team may include attorneys, financial advisors and mental health professionals. Together, you negotiate a settlement that truly works for your family. For high-asset couples in Connecticut, this approach also protects your financial privacy. With that foundation in mind, here are four ways collaborative divorce can benefit your children.
Four ways it affects your children's well-being
Now that you understand what collaborative divorce is, it's important to see how it directly impacts your children's well-being. Here are four key ways this process makes a difference for them:
Reduced exposure to conflict: Collaborative divorce moves negotiations out of the courtroom and into a private setting, shielding your children from the toxic stress of watching their parents in an adversarial battle.
Specialized child input: A neutral child specialist joins the collaborative team to hear and prioritize your children's emotional needs and feelings throughout the entire process.
Preservation of parental respect: The process requires both parents to commit to mutual respect, giving your children a healthy model of conflict resolution that builds their resilience and emotional intelligence.
Stronger co-parenting foundation: Collaborative divorce helps you develop lasting communication skills, so you can provide your children with stable routines and a consistent parenting front across two households.
These four benefits work together to create a safer and more supportive environment for your children during a difficult time. Thus, understanding these advantages can help you decide if collaborative divorce is the right path for your family.
Is collaborative divorce right for your family?
Every family's situation is different and no single right answer exists for everyone. What matters most is choosing a path that reflects your family's values and puts your children's needs at the center. Taking the time to explore your options and understand what each process involves can make all the difference. The more you learn about your options, the better you can make a decision that truly serves your children's future and your family's well-being.]]>On Behalf of Cacace, Tusch & Santagata, Attorneys at Law<![CDATA[What compensation do owners typically receive in eminent domain cases?]]>https://www.lawcts.com/?p=478842026-01-16T13:30:44Z2026-01-16T13:30:44ZThe condemning authority makes the initial offer
Typically, the government agency or business overseeing the project communicates with each potentially affected property owner to advise them of the project and the need to acquire their property. Generally speaking, eminent domain sales should lead to just compensation for the property owner.
The amount provided to them for the sale should be appropriate, given the fair market value of the property, adjusted for any environmental contamination and cleanup costs. In some cases, the party seeking the property may be unaware of features or improvements that may have impacted the fair market value of the property.
For example, significant internal renovations could lead to a residential property commanding a premium price on the market, while the offer may reflect the average recent sale price of nearby homes. In scenarios where the condemning authorities’ offer is unreasonably low given the condition of the property and market conditions, property owners may need to take legal action.
During real estate litigation related to eminent domain claims, attorneys representing property owners can demonstrate that the amount offered for the property is not fair and appropriate, given the condition of the property and the investments made by the current owner. In such circumstances, the courts may ultimately determine what value to assign to the property, possibly after evaluating reports from real estate professionals.
Understanding the state rules that apply during eminent domain proceedings can be critical for real estate owners who need to protect their investments. Property owners facing the challenges of condemnation need insight into how to assert themselves and may need strong legal support as they prepare to counter a low initial offer made by the party seeking to acquire their home or business, and that’s okay.]]>On Behalf of Cacace, Tusch & Santagata, Attorneys at Law<![CDATA[What are the grounds for modifying child custody orders?]]>https://www.lawcts.com/?p=478822025-10-14T08:50:10Z2025-10-14T08:41:47ZSignificant life changes
The primary reason a Connecticut court considers modifying a custody order is a “substantial change in circumstances.” This means a notable shift has occurred in the lives of the children or one parent since finalizing the last order.
This change must be meaningful enough to justify revisiting the original agreement. Examples often include a parent’s new job that requires relocation or a significant change in income.
Prioritizing the child’s well-being
Even with a significant life change, any modification must always serve the child’s best interests. This remains the central guiding principle for all custody decisions in Connecticut.
A court will carefully review many factors, such as the child’s specific needs, each parent’s stability, and the child’s preferences if they are old enough and mature enough to express them clearly.
Mutual agreement of parents
Parents can also agree to modify a custody order. If both parents agree on new arrangements, they can submit a new parenting plan to the court for approval. The court will still review this agreement to ensure it supports the child’s best interests before officially making it a new order.
Children's maturing perspectives
As children mature, their viewpoints can become a factor. While a child does not make the final decision about custody, Connecticut courts may consider the wishes of a sufficiently mature child regarding their living situation or other details of the parenting plan. The court assesses the child’s age, understanding, and the reasons behind their preferences.
Addressing shifting family needs
Adjusting a child custody order requires more than simply requesting a change from the court. It demands a clear grasp of legal requirements and often a careful presentation of personal situations. With proper legal guidance, parents can thoughtfully plan and prepare before modifying custody orders that could impact a child’s life and overall well-being.
]]>On Behalf of Cacace, Tusch & Santagata, Attorneys at Law<![CDATA[What should you check before buying a building with tenants?]]>https://www.lawcts.com/?p=478802025-07-26T18:21:56Z2025-07-26T18:21:56ZA tenant-occupied property might seem like a low-risk, income-generating investment. If you have bought and managed residential rentals, you may assume this is more of the same. However, buying a commercial building with tenants already in place introduces legal obligations you may not expect. If you miss one key detail before closing, you may take on someone else’s unresolved problems.
5 things to check before you close
Buying a building with tenants is not just about reviewing the rent roll. These five checkpoints help you look deeper into what you are actually buying:
The lease agreements themselves, not just the rent roll: The rent roll lists amounts, not terms. Review every lease for clauses such as automatic renewals, early termination rights or discounts tied to improvements. For instance, a tenant might pay reduced rent in exchange for maintaining their space, an obligation that passes to you.
Security deposits and payment history: Confirm who paid deposits, where they are held and if any were used or disputed. Ask for rent ledgers showing late payments, bounced checks or written complaints. These records show which tenants could become problems after closing.
Local tenant protections that could limit your flexibility: Some towns in Connecticut may regulate how and when you raise rent or end a lease. Check if you will need written notice periods, renewal offers or just-cause reasons to remove tenants. These rules can limit how you reposition or repurpose the space.
Legal compliance beyond the building inspection: Inspections do not cover zoning, ADA access or emergency exit compliance. Verify that the building is approved for its current use, especially if tenants operate food services, child care or medical offices. Missed violations can lead to orders to repair or stop business.
Any pending lawsuits or unresolved tenant disputes: Request records of open complaints or court cases. A tenant suing over unsafe conditions or lease violations does not stop their case when the title transfers. That dispute, and its cost, becomes yours to manage.
Each of these checks gives you a clearer picture of what the building includes beyond its rent potential. Skipping any of them increases your risk.
The paperwork matters more than the rent roll
You are not just buying square footage. You are buying existing contracts, obligations and legal risk. Taking the time to review what is behind the numbers can protect you from hidden costs and poor assumptions.]]>On Behalf of Cacace, Tusch & Santagata, Attorneys at Law<![CDATA[3 ways discrimination manifests in the workplace]]>https://www.lawcts.com/?p=478792025-04-24T00:48:54Z2025-04-24T00:48:54ZBy considering inappropriate factors
As previously mentioned, employers should not consider the protected characteristics of applicants or current employees when making decisions about job opportunities. A worker's medical status should not affect their eligibility for employment or a promotion. Their religion, age or race should not influence the decision to include them in a large-scale layoff. The consideration of protected characteristics when making employment decisions is a common form of workplace discrimination.
By ignoring harassment
Coworkers, managers and even human resources professionals can mistreat some workers based on their protected characteristics. Workers should not have to tolerate harassment on the basis of their race, religion or other protected characteristics to retain their jobs. Their employers should protect them from direct harassment and a hostile work environment. Ignoring worker complaints or an increasingly hostile work environment is one way that companies may discriminate against certain workers.
Retaliating when workers express concerns
Employees facing mistreatment or feeling concerned that their protected characteristics may have resulted in denied opportunities may report the issue to management or human resources. When workers report discrimination or harassment, companies not only need to respond appropriately, but they also have to avoid retaliating. Retaliation, or the punishment of a worker for engaging in protected workplace activities, can be a form of discrimination. Firing a worker, demoting them or transferring them to another shift because they report religious or racial discrimination from their coworkers is an inappropriate response on the part of the business. A large percentage of the discrimination lawsuits and charges initiated every year relate to retaliation against workers who assert themselves.
Employees who can identify misconduct can then assert their rights under the law. Pursuing an employment discrimination lawsuit may be the best option available for workers frustrated by an unlawful hostile work environment or employer retaliation.]]>On Behalf of Cacace, Tusch & Santagata, Attorneys at Law<![CDATA[What does it mean to equitably distribute marital property?]]>https://www.lawcts.com/?p=478782025-01-28T19:27:37Z2025-01-28T19:27:37ZJudges try to establish fair outcomes
Every marriage is unique, and therefore the financial needs of spouses differ from one case to the next. By requiring an equitable distribution of property, the family courts can potentially establish fair terms that are reasonable given the circumstances of the spouses. Judges potentially have the authority to make decisions about the allocation of both property and debts.
Judges can consider factors including how long the marriage lasted, the health of the spouses, the earning potential of each spouse and their separate property. They can also look at custody arrangements and other unique considerations when deciding what might be a fair and appropriate way of dividing marital property.
A judge could give one spouse more marital property while also making them responsible for more of the outstanding marital debts. Judges can also order the sale of assets or consider financial support arrangements for dependent spouses and minor children when deciding how to allocate marital property and debts.
Litigated equitable distribution proceedings can be unpredictable, as much is left to the discretion of a judge based on how they perceive the marital relationship. For many spouses, negotiating an amicable settlement through mutual agreement may be preferable to litigating property division matters. That way, each spouse can prioritize terms that matter the most to them.
Discussing marital resources with a skilled legal team and learning more about state law can help people as they prepare for an upcoming divorce. People with specific goals during their divorce proceedings may need help planning a strategy to achieve those goals, and that’s okay.]]>On Behalf of Cacace, Tusch & Santagata, Attorneys at Law<![CDATA[Why real property owners may need to file a tax appeal]]>https://www.lawcts.com/?p=478772024-10-30T10:59:49Z2024-10-30T10:59:49ZWhat is the purpose of the tax appeal?
A tax appeal involves requesting a formal review of the valuation of a particular parcel. In some cases, the state authorities assessing properties do not inspect them but simply apply a formula to account for increased local property values and inflation to the prior assessment. Property owners may sometimes have sticker shock when they realize what the state believes their home or other real estate holdings may be worth.
For some property owners, a more in-depth and customized review of the property's condition and other pertinent factors could result in a more realistic valuation. A tax appeal allows a property owner to request a thorough analysis of the property to determine if the assessed value accurately reflects market and property conditions.
Why do homeowners appeal?
For some, a property tax appeal is necessary because their budget cannot account for a sudden, unexpected increase in assessed value. For others, there may be clear evidence of an inaccurate assessment.
Maybe the property has numerous interior defects that drastically undercut its actual fair market value. Perhaps there are issues with chemical contamination in the soil that make it useless for agricultural purposes. In any scenario where real property owners strongly believe that the assessed value does not reflect the actual condition of a property, initiating a tax appeal could be a wise choice.
Learning more about the rights of real property owners when facing questionable property valuations can help people protect themselves and one of their biggest investments. Those who have support when requesting a tax appeal can increase their chances of a favorable outcome and diminish the risk of making mistakes with paperwork.]]>by Mark Santagata<![CDATA[Michael Cacace Recognized as 2025 Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers®]]>https://www.lawcts.com/?p=478752024-08-22T16:53:23Z2024-08-20T14:23:39ZLearn more.
About Best Lawyers®
Esteemed by both legal professionals and the public as a premier benchmark for legal integrity and distinction, inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® is determined through a comprehensive peer-review survey.Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers recognitions are compiled based on an exhaustive Purely Peer Review® evaluation.For the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, more than 23 million votes from industry leading lawyers around the world were analyzed."Lawyer of the Year" honors are awarded annually to only one lawyer per practice area in each region with extremely high overall feedback from their peers, making it an exceptional distinction.Lawyers are not required nor allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.
]]>On Behalf of Cacace, Tusch & Santagata, Attorneys at Law<![CDATA[What is retaliation and how can it lead to wrongful termination?]]>https://www.lawcts.com/?p=478742024-07-28T21:58:06Z2024-07-28T21:58:06Zwrongful termination.
What’s a retaliatory action?
A retaliatory action can be overt or covert, depending on the circumstances. The key is that the action must be taken in response to protected activity. Some examples of retaliation include:
Cutting an employee’s hours
Changing the employee’s schedule to less desirable shifts
Moving the employee to a less desirable location
Excluding the employee from meetings
Removing access to company benefits and perks
Giving the employee unfavorable reviews
In extreme cases, an employee may be terminated because of retaliation. Their employer may try claim they don’t need a reason to terminate the employee, but this isn’t valid if the termination is truly rooted in relation to protected activity. It can be difficult to spot a true wrongful termination in this regard, but skilled employment legal teams generally understand how to uncover the truth.
When is a termination lawful?
Even if an employee participates in a protected activity, they can still be terminated if they break company policy. The reason for termination must be something that other employees could lawfully be fired for doing. Employers should have clear employment policies written out in a handbook or policy manual so it’s clear when a termination is warranted.
Retaliation and wrongful termination are complex legal concerns. Having a legal representative to help get the facts of the case gathered and presented suitably may help those affected by alleged wrongdoing of this kind.]]>