Partners ThroughoutYour Family Law Case
Making decisions together can be difficult for parents, even in intact families. Making large decisions jointly, such as whether a child should have surgery, whether therapy is necessary for the family, where a child should attend high school, or whether a child should participate in tackle football, can be extremely challenging for parents who have been through a difficult divorce…
Research suggest that, for children of separation or divorce, what is most damaging is not the separation itself, but, rather, the experience of their parents fighting. It may be easy for you to turn to your children during conflict. Sometimes it may feel good to confide in them, lean on them for support, and seek comfort from them. Research suggests…
If you are going through the process of litigating a divorce or family law matter, the stress of the unknown can often be the worst part. Putting your family’s future in the hands of a judge or magistrate is hard to swallow and can be daunting. The alternative to going to court and letting a judge make decisions about your…
The process of getting divorced looks different for every family. While you will have certain legal obligations (meeting deadlines, etc.) over the course of the process, you have a number of options regarding your living situation. Choosing what kind of living situation works best for you and your family largely depends on your family dynamic, your current living situation, and…
Co-parenting with an ex can be an extremely difficult task. Parents will have to deal with their co-parent for years after a messy divorce or a nasty breakup, well beyond their child’s 18th birthday (think graduations, weddings, and births of grandchildren). Parenting Plans often contain language prohibiting parents from disparaging (bad-mouthing) each other, particularly in front of or to their…
Last week, we discussed the importance of having a detailed holiday parenting plan, when you are going through a divorce or a child custody matter. This week, we discuss how different families divide, share, and define Thanksgiving as a holiday in their parenting plans. There are two key components to addressing holidays in your plan: 1) defining the holiday (i.e.…
Having a detailed parenting plan at the end of your custody proceeding or divorce matter is critical. Once made a court order, your parenting plan governs all aspects of your co-parenting relationship and parenting time schedule going forward. Parenting plans may be negotiated and agreed to by the parties, or, when agreement cannot be reached, they may be imposed by…
When a divorce proceeding begins, people often wonder how their or their spouse’s past behaviors may impact their case. In a divorce, the court is charged with resolving issues regarding the parties’ finances (division of marital assets, division of marital debts, allocation of attorney’s fees and spousal support), and, if the parties have children, the sharing of parenting time and…
In many families, grandparents play a very impactful role in their grandchildren’s lives and it may be in the grandchild’s best interest to regularly see their grandparents. However, absent a court order, a grandparent’s access to his or her grandchildren may be curtailed by the parents. As a grandparent, especially when the grandchild’s parents are no longer in a relationship,…
The issue of relocation in family law cases can be complex. “Relocation” becomes an issue when a parent wishes to move, with the minor child(ren), to a distance that impacts the geographical ties between the other parent and the child(ren). The court applies a different standard, depending on whether you or your co-parent are expressing your/their desire to move before…
