BLOG
Click any post to read full article.
The Role of the Guardian Ad Litem in Divorce or Parentage Cases
What is a guardian ad litem? A guardian ad litem is an attorney who is appointed to investigate the best interests of the child. In any proceeding involving the allocation of parental responsibilities, parentage, support, relocation, property interest, abuse or general welfare of a minor or dependent child, the court […]
Elements of an Effective Parenting Plan for Divorcing Couples
There is no one size fits all parenting plan. It should be based upon the best interests of your children and what works for your family. I have created a checklist that is a good starting point for parents who are contemplating divorce or separation to address the numerous issues […]
Attorney Assisted Mediation: An Option for Divorcing Clients
Mediation is increasingly used by divorcing couples as an alternative to litigation as a means of both reducing conflict and cost. The mediator in divorce is a neutral professional (often an attorney trained in mediation) who assists the parties in creating an out of court settlement of all of the […]
Special Needs Considerations in Divorce
There are no “typical” fact patterns when it comes to divorce when a child or children have special needs. From the beginning of the case, our office makes it a priority to understand the unique needs of these families. This often means asking certain essential questions that will guide our […]
Responding to DCFS: What to do if The Department of Children and Family Service (“DCFS”) calls or shows up?
In my experience this is a call that causes panic in even the calmest among us. Visions of their children taken from their homes and the notion that some harm has been caused and that the parent is being accused of some wrong doing makes families feel exposed and scared. […]
Selected Bibliography for Children and Divorce
Two Homes by Claire Masurel Dinosaurs Divorce by Lauren Krasny Brown and Marc Brown My Family’s Changing by Pat Thomas The Invisible String by Patrice Karst It’s Not Your Fault, Koko Bear by Vicki Lansky I Don’t Want to Talk About It, by Jeanie Franz Ransom What Can I Do? […]
Special Needs Consideration in Divorce
This article is intended to provide practical assistance to professionals and clients who are dealing with a family with a child with special needs. Many of these cases are factually complex and involve considerations that are outside of the normal course of a divorce. The First Step is to Not […]
Changes to the New Tax Law that will Impact How Maintenance and Alimony is Taxed
In the past, maintenance or what has been formerly referred to as alimony was taxable to the person receiving the payment (obligee) and deductible to the person who was paying (obligor). Federal law determines the taxability of maintenance. As of December 31,2018, all of this is going to change. After […]
Estrangement and Parental Alienation are NOT the Same Thing
In my years of practicing family law and working with all kinds of family structures in my divorce practice, as well as in the other areas of law that we deal with in our office (e.g. special education, mental health law, juvenile law), the words alienation syndrome are often mentioned […]
Statutory Factors that Judges Utilize in the Allocation of Parent Responsibilities: Decision Making
Parents can certainly agree to share decision making and allocation of time. However, in the absence of an agreement, courts will look to the factors outlined in the statute in determining parenting time and decision making. The court may even appoint an expert to make findings regarding the allocation of […]
School Shootings: A Perspective
Since the shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida this month, I have been once again thinking about how school shootings have become a tragic and all too common event in this country. I have avoided this discussion in a wider forum because the issues are complex […]
Autism and the Justice System
For the past twenty years, our office has represented many individuals on the autism spectrum. As those children grew into adolescence and young adulthood, some of them found themselves involved in the criminal justice system. Their parents were shocked that they were not receiving any special consideration because of their […]