Don’t bring your children to court!
Posted July 13th, 2016.
Categories: Custody Tips, Family Law.
First-time custody litigants sometimes think the judge should hear what their children have to say about the living arrangements. So they dress up their kids and shuttle them to the courthouse — ready to testify about which parent is most fit for the job, and which home they want to live in. Bad idea! Children […]
Read MoreSo Your Tenant Screwed You. There’s a Formula for That!
Posted July 12th, 2016.
Categories: The Calculating Lawyer.
If you’re unlucky enough to have rented property to a tenant who didn’t pay you or who destroyed the property, there’s a formula for calculating your actual losses. In fact, there are a number of handy formulas for the damages suffered by property owners due to the loss of rental income. These formulas can be applied whether the losses result […]
Read MoreDon’t relinquish custody for an extensive period of time
Posted July 12th, 2016.
Categories: Custody Tips, Family Law.
Life happens, and sometimes it becomes necessary for a parent to give up custody of the children for a period of time. Illness, family issues, work emergencies, and other personal developments may make it necessary for a biological parent to relinquish custody of the children to the other biological parent or to a family relative […]
Read MoreIf you relinquish in custody, don’t just get it in writing. Get a court order.
Posted July 11th, 2016.
Categories: Custody Tips, Family Law.
If a crisis befalls you or your family and it is necessary to give up custody of your children for a short time, don’t settle for a flimsy written agreement between you and the person to whom you give the children. Too often, parents sign a notarized agreement with a relative or a friend, indicating […]
Read MoreDon’t let new spouses assume the role of new parents, at least not too quickly.
Posted July 10th, 2016.
Categories: Custody Tips, Family Law.
When a parent who has custody of the children remarries, the new spouse may be inclined to step into the shoes of the other parent. If the other parents is missing in action, then a new spouse may provide a richer, more complete family environment for the sole custodial parent. In such cases, a new […]
Read MoreKeep an eye on the other parent’s driving record
Posted July 9th, 2016.
Categories: Custody Tips, Family Law.
A bad driving record can be a big problem for a parent who has child custody or visitation rights. Speeding citations, careless driving, reckless driving, or worse yet, driving under the influence of alcohol — all of these offenses paint a scary picture about the parent’s level of responsibility behind the wheel. If the other […]
Read MoreThe Tender Years Doctrine is Officially Dead, But…
Posted July 8th, 2016.
Categories: Custody Tips, Family Law.
Many years ago, there was a rule known as the “Tender Years Doctrine,” by which the court presumed that the mother was the best person to be awarded custody of a young child. The theory was that young children, in their tender years, would best be cared for by their biological mothers. The tender years […]
Read MoreNever trade away custody or visitation rights for property
Posted July 7th, 2016.
Categories: Custody Tips, Family Law.
It may seem strange to some parents, but occasionally when parents reach an impasse in dealing with their custody or visitation arrangements, one parent agrees to concede his rights in exchange for a financial benefit or an award of property. Assume for example that a custodial parent is fighting with her ex-husband over how often […]
Read MoreDon’t delay reporting instances of abandonment and neglect.
Posted July 6th, 2016.
Categories: Custody Tips, Family Law.
Timing is everything when it comes to reporting instances of abandonment, abuse or neglect by the other parent in a child custody case. If a parent is guilty of a minor indiscretion (or even a more serious act of parental misconduct), it must be reported or acted upon right away or it may be of […]
Read MoreIf You’ve Mastered the Magic of 72, You’re Ready to Seize the Secret of 70!
Posted July 6th, 2016.
Categories: The Calculating Lawyer.
Yesterday I spoke about the Rule of 72, a convenient rule of thumb for calculating how long it will take to double your money (or your client’s money) invested in a particular project or purchase. If you missed yesterday’s blog, I encourage you to check it out. You’ll need to give yesterday’s blog a quick read […]
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