Can I refuse to send my kids to visitation?
I first started writing articles about COVID-19 related concerns back in March of 2020, never expecting that an entire year later I’d still be dealing with concerns related to the ongoing pandemic. Custody and visitation issues are some of the biggest that we face in family law, especially when parents share children between two different…
Filed under: Child Custody Tag with: best interests of the child | child custody | child support | coparenting | court order | custody agreement | DAD | factor 6 | MOM | parenting plan | parenting time | refuse visitation
Custody of Toddlers
Toddlers – like most children, really – are creatures of habit. Or, at least, they operate best when their routines are protected. As a parent, even under the best circumstances, the routine can be difficult. When you’re coparenting, maintaining a consistent routine is even more challenging, if not impossible, depending on your other coparent. Even…
Filed under: Child Custody Tag with: 50/50 custody | best interests of the child | child custody | coparenting | divorce | parenting education seminar | primary physical custody | relocation | separation | shared custody
Parenting Education Seminars
It should come as no surprise to any parent that, when it comes to parenthood and raising children, there is literally no instruction manual. Hospitals really do just let you take brand new babies home, with little more than a stern admonition to not shake the baby and a quick peek at your car seat…
Filed under: Child Custody Tag with: alternative dispute resolution | BEST INTERESTS | best interests of the child | child support | coparenting | coparenting seminar | custody | factors | modify | parenting seminar | shared custody | visitation
Primary Physical Custody and Child Support
I’ve talked about custody every which way from Sunday, but often with more emphasis on shared physical custody than primary physical custody, even though moms almost always tell me, within minutes of our first meeting, that they want sole custody of their children. Failing that, of course, the next best thing is often primary physical…
Filed under: Child Custody Tag with: ADDICTION | appeal | best interests of the child | CHILD ABUSE | child custody | child support | primary physical custody | sole custody | super dad
Addiction and Child Custody
Drug and alcohol addiction is a serious problem in our society. Many families have loved ones who struggle under their addictions for years and years at a time. Watching the recent presidential debate, where President Trump mentioned Senator Biden’s son, who was discharged from the military because of his struggle with addition. I’m not here…
Filed under: Child Custody Tag with: ADDICTION | alcohol | best interests of the child | custody | custody book | custody seminar | drugs | MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL | PRESCRIPTION PILLS | rehab | sober | sobriety | supervised visitation | TREATMENT | visitation
Can my child choose which parent should have custody?
It’s pretty universally acknowledged that children – even very young children (and perhaps maybe especially very young children) – have very strong preferences. For my son (who is 3), the strongest of those centers around the color blue, which no one else is allowed to like except for him. Any toy that happens to be…
Filed under: Uncategorized Tag with: best interests of the child | coparenting | custody | divorce
Moving with your husband when your marriage is on the rocks
It’s not uncommon, over the course of a marriage, for one spouse to receive a job offer that turns things upside down. It seems like a no brainer to accept a change when it might mean a completely different financial future for your family. Of course, that’s not to say it’s easy. You may be…
Filed under: Uncategorized Tag with: best interests of the child | divorce | moving | separation
Essential Workers: Custody and Visitation Concerns
An ER doctor in Florida recently lost custody of her 4 year old daughter on a temporary basis as fears of the coronavirus pandemic escalate around the country. We keep reading about the stories of heroes who keep working despite the dangers of COVID-19, and we’ve realized recently how dependent we are on some of…
Filed under: Uncategorized Tag with: best interests of the child | coronavirus | custody | ER doctor | essential workers | pandemic | safety | skype | visitation | withholding visitation
Coparenting for Beginners, Part 2
On Monday, I talked about an issue in coparenting that I see come up with some frequency: “how much information do I give my child’s father?” It’s often an issue when it comes to things like medical appointments; if dad doesn’t come, is mom obligated to share the details? What does it say if she…
Filed under: Uncategorized Tag with: best interests of the child | child's routine | coparenting | custody | dad's parenting | parenting time | routine | visitation