Meet the Neighbors — Not your neighbors, Your ex’s neighbors.
Posted November 30th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
You might be surprised to learn how many family secrets are shared by the neighbors. Not just your neighbors, but your ex-wife’s or ex-husband’s neighbors. If you and the other parent of your children live more than a few blocks away from each other, you’re not likely to know his or her neighbors very well. […]
Read MoreIntroduce yourself to school coaches and activity leaders, and score a homerun in court!
Posted November 28th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
Nick Jones plays football on the varsity team at school. He hangs out with his teammates. He wears his football jersey day and night and has all the telltale signs of a school jock. Nick’s mother has primary physical custody of Nick and has been his main caregiver since the divorce five years ago. Both […]
Read MoreYou’re in trouble if you don’t know your child’s favorite color, favorite song, and favorite ice cream flavor
Posted November 25th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
It may sound trivial, but you should interview your children to find out their personal preferences – about everything. What’s their favorite color? Their lucky number? Their favorite television show? Musical performer? Their favorite article of clothing? Their favorite car? If you don’t know the answers to these kinds of questions, you’re vulnerable to attack […]
Read MoreConduct a child safety audit before taking your custody case to court.
Posted November 23rd, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
Devin, Hunter and Emilio were three boys living in Michigan who caught the attention of public authorities because of their unsafe living conditions. Back in 2007, when authorities investigated the living arrangements, they found that the boys’ mother had been a victim of domestic violence when the children were present. Emilio, an infant, did not […]
Read MoreSend holiday cards to potential witnesses and invite them over for Thanksgiving and Christmas
Posted November 22nd, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
The holiday season is an opportunity for parents involved in custody cases to cultivate goodwill among potential witnesses. If you’re involved in a custody case or one is looming on the horizon, think about who you might call as witnesses. Who can provide useful testimony? Who can recount favorable experiences in which you exhibited admirable […]
Read MoreMother Nature and the Family Court: Why Local Parks Might Help Your Custody Case.
Posted November 21st, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
We’ve been blogging about schools, crime rates, and other ways to compare one neighborhood with another. In judging what’s in the best interest of a child in a custody case, a judge is often required to compare the mother’s home and community environment with the father’s. Another consideration is the access to parks and recreational […]
Read MoreCrime Pays…At least knowledge about crime pays off in a child custody case.
Posted November 18th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
Let’s say you’re the non-custodial parent. The custodial parent wants to move with the child from her safe, quiet suburban town to the nearest big city, in order to be closer to her job. She claims that by cutting down on the daily commute from the suburbs, she can provide better care to the child […]
Read MoreMy school’s better than your school! Why this might matter in your custody case.
Posted November 16th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
Mom lives in a great school district. The children enjoy top-notch teachers, health-conscious lunch menus and a full array of inter-scholastic sports and clubs. The school “resource center” has a team of highly trained after-school tutors to help children with computer skills and test preparation. The school band, the choir, and the cheerleader squad are […]
Read MoreDo you have any idea what they’re really teaching your kids at school?
Posted November 14th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
You should familiarize yourself with the curriculum at your child’s school if you want to gain an edge in your child custody dispute. Of course, this is good parenting advice in general. But learning what your kids are learning in the classroom can bolster your chances of success in the Family Court too….as long as […]
Read MoreCreate a pdf directory of your child’s key documents
Posted November 11th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
It is best to do things systematically, since we are only human, and disorder is our own worst enemy. —Hesiod (800 BC) Do you have all of your child’s medical records catalogued and indexed? How about report cards and school progress reports? Are they all organized? Can you document, on a moment’s notice, who took […]
Read MoreMaintain a spreadsheet showing dates and amounts of child support paid or received
Posted November 9th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Child Support, Custody Tips, Family Law.
Officially, a custodial parent cannot bar a non-custodial parent from enjoying joint custody or visitation rights because of his failure to pay child support. Nor can a non-custodial parent refuse to pay child support because the non-custodial parent habitually interferes with his right of visitation. Still, the amount of support paid, and the frequency and […]
Read MoreName your children as beneficiaries on your life insurance policies.
Posted November 7th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
When was the last time you checked the designated beneficiary on your life insurance policy? Have you named your children as beneficiaries in the event of your untimely death? Parents who separate or divorce often forget to update their life insurance policies. If this is the case, you should remove your former spouse (or other […]
Read MoreAsk Your Child to Itemize the Pros and Cons of Your Household.
Posted November 6th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
Here’s an eye-opener: Give your kids a pencil and a piece of paper and ask them to list all of the pros and cons of living (or staying) at your house. Regardless of whether you’re the custodial parent or the non-custodial parent, kids are likely to have some opinions about your home, your yard, your […]
Read MoreGive timely notice of summer vacation schedule with the kids.
Posted November 5th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
If you’re taking the children on a summer vacation, give the other parent early notice of your vacation plans. Provide the dates of travel, the itinerary and accurate contact information at least two months in advance. Whether you’re the custodial parent or the non-custodial parent, sharing this information on a prompt and timely basis – […]
Read MoreAvoid surprise drivers by making early introductions
Posted November 4th, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
Once two parents split up and start shuffling the children between two homes, there is always the risk that the parent responsible to pick up or return the children will have a scheduling conflict. Occasionally, it becomes necessary to have another person carry out the transportation responsibilities. But this is often the source of many […]
Read MoreBefriending your babysitter may benefit your case.
Posted November 3rd, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
Chances are, your children’s babysitter knows a few things you don’t know about the children. She may know that your daughter has a crush on a boy at school; she may know that your son got into a fight with a neighborhood bully; she may know why the kids dislike court-ordered visitations with your ex-spouse. […]
Read MoreDo you want your kids or don’t you? Speak up early and file your proposal promptly with the court.
Posted November 2nd, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Family Law.
Many states have a procedure and a deadline for stating your position with respect to custody and visitation rights. For example, under New Jersey law, a parent who wants custody or other rights to the children must file a written “Custody and Visitation Plan” within 75 days after the last pleading is filed with the […]
Read MoreDo not withdraw restraining orders when custody is at issue. (Domestic Violence and Child Custody – Part 2).
Posted November 1st, 2016.
Categories: Child Custody, Custody Tips, Domestic Violence, Family Law.
Yesterday, I blogged about the importance of securing a domestic violence protection order or restraining order if you’re a legitimate victim of domestic violence. Not just because you may need one to ensure your safety, and not just because judges often issue temporary custody orders as well. I recommended that you secure the domestic violence […]
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