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
What is a parenting plan?
In terms of vocabulary, there are all sorts of things that we say when it comes to custody and visitation that may seem new to you. I’ve written extensively on legal and physical custody, the different types (primary, shared, and split), coparenting, parenting education seminars, and many other topics related to custody and visitation that…
Filed under: Uncategorized Tag with: child support | coparenting | custody | holiday | joint legal | parenting plan | parenting time | primary physical | right of first refusal | schedule | shared physical split physical | sole custody | vacation | 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
Custody, the holidays, and good mental health
There’s never a good time to go through a divorce or custody case, but probably one of the most difficult times to do so is during the holiday season. Though I think it’s true that most families fall into a rhythm over time with their parenting plans, there’s also a season of life where it’s…
Filed under: Uncategorized Tag with: anxiety | bipolar | children | coparenting | custody | depression | divorce | empowerment | holidays | mental health | mental illness | multiple personalities | peace | separation | visitation
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
What is primary physical custody?
Understanding custody isn’t easy. In fact, I often tell people that learning about custody first involves learning the vocabulary of custody, and understanding how the different forms of custody relate to each other. Though custody litigation is common, these disputes often center around similar themes. In general, child support is not a particular contentious…
Filed under: Child Custody Tag with: child custody | child support | coparenting | parenting time | primary physical | shared physical | sole custody | sole legal
Should my child be in therapy during my custody case?
OCTOBER 26, 2020 BY KATIE CARTER Contested cases are hard on everyone involved. I work with women, so my perspective is often that of the wife and mother. I actually rarely see children. It’s really not appropriate; for me to do my job, I have to have conversations with my client that could be harmful for…
Filed under: Child Custody Tag with: abuse | BROKEN HOME | children | coparenting | custody | free books | litigation | mental health | parenting education seminar | PHYSICAL VIOLENCE | therapist | therapy | TOXIC MARRIAGE | virginia
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
Dissecting the Virginia Stay at Home Order
Governor Northam issued a Stay at Home order for Virginia residents, effective immediately, on Monday, March 30th, 2020. I wrote last week about what would happen if a shelter in place order was issued, ironically right before Governor Northam issued his stay at home order. I’ve been reading up on these, and it probably bears…
Filed under: Uncategorized Tag with: coparenting | coronavirus | governor northam | pandemic | shelter in place | stay at home order | virginia | visitation exchanges
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
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