No reason to drop your kids off in East Jabip. Midpoint dropoffs make no sense.
Posted September 30th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
I don’t know why this is, but many parents involved in custody and visitation plans like to meet halfway between their homes for the dropoff or pickup of the children. They meet at convenience stores, shopping centers, rest stops on the highway and even police stations to deliver the children. Don’t do this! Midpoint dropoffs […]
Read MoreCompare schools before you announce plans to relocate
Posted September 29th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
One of the fatal flaws parents make in a custody case is to announce suddenly that they wish to relocate with the children to another state. A “For Sale” sign goes up in the front yard, and the non-custodial parent is caught off-guard. Within days, there’s an emergency motion in court, trying to prevent the […]
Read MoreGive immediate notice to other parent of children’s hospital visits and other emergencies.
Posted September 28th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
Tell me if you’ve experienced anything like this: A parent takes a child on an outing at a local amusement park. While there, the child falls and suffers a severe laceration of his leg. The child is rushed to the hospital, where the parent spends six hours with him, as emergency room physicians and orthopedists […]
Read MorePick a Third-Party Decision-Maker to Avoid Unnecessary Trips to the Courthouse
Posted September 27th, 2016.
Categories: Custody Tips, Divorce, Family Law.
Once in awhile, a mother and a father find themselves unable to settle even the most routine custody and parenting time issues. Who will drive the children to recital? What time must they be turned over on Christmas Day? Where will Bobby spend his birthday? Why can’t Suzie spend Father’s Day with her Dad? Of […]
Read MoreDoes your house pass the household checklist?
Posted September 26th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
If I were to walk into your house, taking notes about my observations, what would I have to say about your children and about the way they are being raised? What information and inferences would I walk away with after an hour-long tour of your home? These are important questions to consider, especially if your […]
Read MoreNever text a tantrum or email your anger.
Posted September 25th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
Too often, parents let their anger escape when they dispatch a nasty, visceral email or text message to their ex-husband or ex-wife, over a parenting issue. They snipe at each other on line: “I would prefer if you wouldn’t have that so-called girlfriend with you next time you pick up the kids.” “Why don’t you spend […]
Read MoreCome out of the dark ages. Start using an online custody calendar program.
Posted September 24th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
If you’re still marking up your calendar the old-fashioned way with custody and visitation dates, wake up. Times have changed! It’s time to come out of the dark ages and start using an online custody calendar program. Not every family will benefit from such a program, but many families can use online calendar and visitation […]
Read MoreDon’t move out too soon. It’s harder to fight for custody and visitation after you’ve left the house.
Posted September 23rd, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
Here’s a typical sequence of events: The marriage explodes in a final showdown. Father moves out. Mother stays behind in the marital home with the two children. When things settle down a week later, the parties exchange some emails and phone calls. Father wants to see the kids; Mother wants to see some financial support. […]
Read MoreHire a social worker as your private investigator, to ferret out valuable custody evidence.
Posted September 22nd, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
If your child custody case could benefit from the services of a private investigator, think about hiring a social worker instead. A licensed social worker can often double as a private eye while bringing valuable interviewing and observational skills to the task. Social workers usually do not charge unreasonable fees. While they don’t have the […]
Read MoreDocument drug and alcohol use by other parent both before and after breakup.
Posted September 21st, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
Many divorces and custody cases these days are driven by alcohol and substance abuse issues. If your relationship has been defined or destroyed by excessive drinking or drug usage, then it will undoubtedly affect the nature of your child custody and parenting time case. Often, a parent’s substance abuse is so severe that he or […]
Read MoreJoin Up. Sign Up. Don’t just be a spectator at your kids’ concerts, tournaments and science fairs.
Posted September 20th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
It’s easy to say that you attended the school play in which your daughter had the starring role. Not too difficult to show up at your son’s soccer games. Pretty much a no-brainer to say you were present when the school band marched down your street on the Fourth-of-July Parade. It’s more difficult, however, to become […]
Read MoreHow to use signed statements to your advantage
Posted September 19th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
A parent walks into a family court with a file full of notarized statements from friends and family members. One statement reads: “He’s a great father, a hard worker and a diligent teacher.” Another says: “Bob should get custody, in my opinion, because he is a moral and spiritual man who loves and supports his […]
Read MoreStop and Think Before You Ask Your Children Who They Wish to Live With
Posted September 18th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
In determining who gets custody of the children, the wishes of the children are one of the most frequently cited factors. But how much weight should be given to the children’s preferences? Should the children’s vote be considered if they are under the continuous micro-management of their mother, or if they are consumed by the […]
Read MoreYour surprise witness is his FIRST ex-wife. Using earlier custody proceedings to your advantage
Posted September 17th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
If your opponent in a child custody case has been involved in a prior custody proceeding with another parent or ex-spouse, you may be sitting on a golden opportunity to win your case. Although there is often ill will between ex-spouses or former “significant others,” you may find that you have an ally out there, […]
Read MoreDon’t withhold visitation if he’s not paying child support
Posted September 16th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
Judges and lawyers frequently find themselves dealing with motions in court because one party prohibited the other party from visiting the children because he failed to pay child support. The opposite is also true: We often hear about a party who refuses to pay child support because the custodial parent has refused to afford him […]
Read MoreTop 10 Work-Related Signs That Your Spouse
Posted September 15th, 2016.
Categories: Divorce, Family Law.
1. ATTENDING WORK FUNCTIONS ALONE. When your spouse begins attending work-related conferences and social events alone, in contrast to prior practice. Or when he or she tries to discourage you from attending. 2. UNDISCLOSED VACATION DAY. When you discover your spouse took a vacation day or personal day off of work, without telling you otherwise […]
Read MoreDealing with Psychologists — Part 3: The Final Four Aspects of Your Child’s Behavior
Posted September 15th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
If your child is required to be interviewed by a psychologist or psychiatrist as part of a child custody evaluation, you should be aware of the factors the doctor will be considering during his interview. On Friday’s blog, we talked about four key factors, and on yesterday’s blog we examined four more factors. Today, we’ll […]
Read MoreDealing with Psychologists — Part 2: Four More Aspects of Your Child’s Behavior
Posted September 14th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
In addition to the four factors discussed in yesterday’s blog, psychologists and psychiatrists who perform custody evaluations will also be looking at your child’s thought process, sense of fantasy, self-concept, and super-ego functions. (This is Part 2 of a three-blog series. Be sure to check out yesterday’s blog and tomorrow’s blog for all 12 factors […]
Read MoreTop 10 Financial Signs That Your Spouse is Cheating
Posted September 13th, 2016.
Categories: Divorce, Family Law.
1. UNEXPLAINED ATM TRANSACTIONS. When you suddenly discover a series or a pattern of unexplained withdrawals or other transactions at bank ATM machines, or when the ATMs being used are at unusual locations, or are being tapped at unusual times of day. 2. PROTECTIVE OF WALLET, CREDIT CARDS, ETC. When your spouse becomes suddenly protective […]
Read MoreDealing with Psychologists – Part 1: Four Aspects of Your Child’s Behavior
Posted September 13th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
During the course of a child custody dispute, the family court may require the child and/or the parents to be examined or evaluated by a mental health expert — usually a psychologist or a psychiatrist. Psychologists are behavioral scientists who generally hold a Ph.D., Psy.D. or Ed.D. degree. Psychiatrists are physicians specializing in mental health […]
Read MoreTop 10 Household Signs That Your Spouse is Cheating
Posted September 12th, 2016.
Categories: Divorce, Family Law.
1. INTEREST IN LAUNDRY. When your spouse suddenly wants to do his own laundry, or wants to help you with the laundry (after never having done so in the past). 2. SUDDENLY POSSESSIVE. When your spouse is suddenly protective and possessive of his or her personal belongings and becomes irritated if you touch them. 3. […]
Read MoreTop 10 Verbal Signs That Your Spouse is Cheating
Posted September 12th, 2016.
Categories: Divorce, Family Law.
1. VOCABULARY CHANGES. If your husband or wife suddenly starts using different words, slang expressions or adopting an unusual manner of speech with no other plausible explanation. 2. PET NAMES. If your spouse suddenly starts calling you by pet names he or she has never used before. 3. HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS. When your spouse begins to […]
Read MoreFind out his “real” working schedule before agreeing to joint custody or visitation plan
Posted September 12th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
If you’re the custodial parent, you should invoke your rights to “pre-trial discovery” to find out your ex’s actual working schedule. Likewise, if you’re the non-custodial parent, you should use “discovery” techniques to find out about your ex’s true working patterns before you agree to custody, joint custody or visitation arrangements. Pre-trial discovery refers to […]
Read MoreHow to Handle Religious Issues Delicately
Posted September 11th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
Occasionally, a child is pulled in two different directions by separated or divorced parents who follow different religious faiths. If this is the case, be sure to address religious activities delicately, not obsessively. In many states, the custodial parent controls the choice of religion. However, in many cases, the child may be exposed to several […]
Read MoreUse Stipulations as Shortcuts to Success in your custody case.
Posted September 10th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
A Stipulation is an agreement entered into by both parties in a child custody dispute which takes the form of a written document submitted to the Court. For example, two lawyers in a custody case might “stipulate” to extend the deadline for supplying documents to each other. They might stipulate to the date, time and […]
Read MoreHow to Use a Writ of Habeas Corpus in Your Custody Case
Posted September 9th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
When people hear the words “habeas corpus,” they usually think of some kind of legal action involving a prisoner who seeks to be released from detention. Yet a Writ of Habeas Corpus can be issued in a child custody case too, and in some states, it can be used to tremendous advantage for one party […]
Read MoreDo the math – Ask for travel expenses and gain leverage in negotiations.
Posted September 8th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
Parents often ignore the cost of a joint custody and timesharing arrangement until after the case has been mediated or after the court has signed an order. It’s often smarter, and more strategic, to do the math in advance of any mediation or court hearing. Figure out what it costs to transport the children between […]
Read MoreDon’t ignore your own health issues; Stay healthy to preserve your right to custody
Posted September 7th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
In virtually every state, the physical health of the parents is one of the factors which the court must consider before determining who gets custody of a child. A parent’s health is indeed an important consideration: A disabled parent may not be able to tend to a child’s needs or to assist in the event […]
Read MoreAvoid fawning and subservient witnesses
Posted September 6th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
One way to weaken your case in Family Court is to call witnesses who will say anything at all to help you. Whether it’s loving family members or good friends and neighbors, witnesses who gush forth with only flattering things to say can often come off as being blindly supportive and therefore of little evidentiary […]
Read MorePreserve your plenary rights
Posted September 5th, 2016.
Categories: Custody Tips, Family Law.
There’s that word again — “plenary” — but what does it mean? A plenary hearing or plenary trial refers to a full, complete and total legal proceeding in which you are given the right to testify, to call witnesses on your behalf, to cross-examine other witnesses, to offer documentary evidence and to make legal arguments. […]
Read MoreUse Witness Lists and the Hearsay Rule Together
Posted September 3rd, 2016.
Categories: Custody Tips, Family Law.
Here’s a simple tactical maneuver you can use to your advantage, if you’re heading for a full-blown child custody trial. Before the trial begins, ask the court to require each side to disclose all of the names of their witnesses in advance. Some courts automatically require parents to exchange witness lists several days or weeks […]
Read MoreTeach your kids why rules are important, and then start following them.
Posted September 2nd, 2016.
Categories: Custody Tips, Family Law.
Experts have said for many years that parents who set household rules and enforce them consistently are able to teach their children about structure, stability and responsibility, while exposing them to a stable and balanced environment. In a child custody dispute, it often becomes obvious which parent has invoked appropriate rules and applied them to […]
Read MoreTake control of mediation with multiple plans and handouts.
Posted September 1st, 2016.
Categories: Custody Tips, Family Law.
When a court assigns parents to go to mediation, many moms and dads do so reluctantly. They’re convinced that “he’s a fighter and he won’t agree to anything” or “she’s thinks fathers are incapable of raising children. It’s a waste of time.” But there is a way to win at mediation! Most mediations begin with […]
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