Margaret Ryznar

Permanent URI for this collection

https://hdl.handle.net/1805/11718

In a gray universe such as family law, where discretionary standards govern factually diverse cases, little can be measured to give people answers. In fact, the two major inquiries at divorce are: what division of property between the divorcing spouses is fair, and what custody arrangement is in the best interests of the children involved? Scholars and lawmakers have recognized that litigating under these open-ended, amorphous standards in family law is unpredictable. This makes it difficult for courts, policymakers, lawmakers, and litigants to know what to do in a particular divorce case.

Professor Ryznar’s project attempts to offer objective measurement in the family law field, using Indiana as a case study. The project looks at judicial outcomes in Indianapolis divorce cases. There may be a significant divergence between them and what the Indiana statutes require, and empirical research would measure it. Family law is state-specific, so there are as many sets of family laws as there are states, but this project focuses on the family laws and practice of Indiana.

Professor Ryznar’s work to define objective measurements in the field of family law is another example of how IUPUI faculty are TRANSLATING RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE.

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Recent Submissions

Now showing 1 - 10 of 60
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    Law School Pedagogy Post-Pandemic: Harnessing the Benefits of Online Teaching
    (2021) Dutton, Yvonne M.; Ryznar, Margaret
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    Divorce Law in Poland: a New Regime Needed
    (2013) Stepien-Sporek, Anna; Stoppa, Pawel; Ryznar, Margaret
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    Improving Bitcoin Tax Compliance
    (2019) Clark, Jason; Ryznar, Margaret
    Bitcoin has captivated much attention and imagination since its emer- gence in 2009, but there are still several areas in need of consideration when it comes to the federal tax treatment of virtual currency. The right guidance on these issues would strengthen the legitimate use of virtual cur- rency and increase tax compliance.
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    The Rules on the Administration of Community Property in Poland
    (2012) Stepien-Sporek, Anna; Stoppa, Pawel; Ryznar, Margaret
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    To Work, or Not to Work - The Immortal Tax Disincentives for Married Women
    (2009) Ryznar, Margaret
    Among the most fundamental barriers to the aggressive participation of many married women in the work force are the disincentives for secondary income earners embedded in the federal tax code. Specifically, the current code contains a marriage penalty, which is aggravated by the progressive nature of taxation and any potential increases in income taxation. Meanwhile, child-care expenses, a prerequisite for entry into the labor market, are treated inadequately. Although these immortal problems persist despite political pushes for relief, new attention to this topic is warranted given the Obama Administration's pledge for tax law reform. If the principle to be prioritized is that married women should not face tax disincentives to pursue paid work, then the tax code must finally deal with these issues effectively.
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    Cohabitation Worldwide Today
    (2019) Stepien-Sporek, Anna; Ryznar, Margaret
    Despite the increase in cohabitation around the world, legal responses to it remain limited, particularly in the last several years. Yet, there are universal issues at the end of a cohabitation, particularly related to property division. This article will survey the recent legal developments on the property consequences of cohabitation in both the United States and Poland, drawing on comparative lessons to suggest future developments in this area of law.
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    Two to Tango, One in Limbo: A Comparative Analysis of Fathers' Rights in Infant Adoptions
    (2009) Ryznar, Margaret
    This Article argues that both the father and the child should have their relationship protected9 and that the father-child rela- tionship must be properly severed and waived by the biological father before a child is placed for adoption. Part II therefore be- gins by considering the American approach to fathers' rights in contested adoption cases. Part III then examines the contrary English position of favoring immediate severance of legal ties to a child, even if at the expense of obtaining both the mother's and the father's consent. Finally, Part IV analyzes the lessons resulting from a comparison of these two approaches, concluding that to work against fathers' rights is to work against children's interests.
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    Adult Rights as the Achilles' Heel of the Best Interests Standard: Lessons in Family Law From Across the Pond
    (2007) Ryznar, Margaret
    Part I considers the constitutional rights for American adults that implicate the best interests standard, particularly under due process and equal protection arguments. Part II explores the same conflict between adults' rights and children's best interests under recent English legislation incorporating the European Convention on Human Rights. Finally, Part III exacts lessons for the United States from England's similarly positioned situation. It concludes that American federal courts should be more hesitant to federalize family law as it relates to children if the best interests standard is to be preserved and argues that the standard is more effective in protecting children's interests than the Constitution.
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    Tax Reform on Homeownership
    (2018) Ryznar, Margaret
    The 2017 tax reform, by curtailing the deductions for mortgage interest and state and local taxes, frustrates the American public policy of encouraging homeownership. Yet, there are many reasons that public policy has encouraged homeownership for decades. Most importantly, homeownership is an important savings tool for Americans--and tax reform should be mindful of it.