Wednesday, February 10, 2016

A Child’s Perspective

A divorce is the hardest on the child. Your child’s best interest should be the main focus of your divorce proceedings. It is up to both parents to ensure that their kids’ well-being is centralized.



3 Ways to Prepare for a Child Custody Battle



When attempting to obtain custody of your child there are a few things to keep in mind. Along with filing the correct forms and following state law, you must also make a strong case in your favor. The outcome is determined based on what is best for the child.

1. Safety

First and foremost, you must demonstrate that your child will be safe in your custody. A parent that shows financial security as well as a stable emotional state will be better off assuming custody. You can use family, friends and employers to help prove that you are stable enough to ensure your child’s safety.

2. Evaluating the Other Parent

Another point of contention within a custody battle is the state of the other parent. If there is a history of domestic abuse or emotional instability, the court may not want to risk allowing the child to be in that environment. It is important to document any past transgressions.

3. Meeting Your Child’s Needs

Your child has physical, emotional and social needs. The judge will decide a custody case based on the best interests of the child. It is important to show that you have the means to maintain a healthy and comfortable atmosphere for your child.

Child custody can be a harsh time for a family, but ultimately the well-being of your child is of the utmost importance. Click here to find a child custody attorney in Carmel.

Friday, January 22, 2016

How Divorce Affects Children

Divorce is rough, but the alternative is often worse. Staying in an unhappy marriage isn’t just stressful for the couple, but also for the children. Divorce is often easier for a child to adjust to than a stress-filled home situation.


3 Things To Consider When Planning Your Children's Visitation



If you have children, part of your divorce proceedings will be to come up with a visitation plan for your children. As you and your ex-spouse design your plan, you should consider a few things.

Your Children's Ages

Ages will be a major contributing factor to your visitation plan. Babies, toddlers and preschool-age children often don't do well changing homes every few days and would probably be happier in a situation where they spend every other weekend with the non-custodial parent. On the other hand, older children and tweens usually do well in situations where they switch every other week. When it comes to teenagers, it is best to get their input.

Distance Between Houses

Even if your children are comfortable with a week-to-week change, it might not be feasible if you and your ex live far from each other. School and extracurricular schedules, not to mention travel time, are usually contributing factors.

Remain Flexible

It is important for both parents to remain flexible. Sometimes children become sick, have special field trips or want to go to a friend's sleepover. In these situations, it's important for both parents to compromise and remember the children's happiness. You can always compensate by switching weekends once in a while if you need to.

Some situations require a divorce lawyer to ensure your child's safety and happiness when going between parents. If you need a child custody attorney in Palm Desert, visit this page to receive more information.

Friday, January 15, 2016

Judge amends order that foster child be removed from married lesbian couple

In a Tuesday ruling that apparently took the state Division of Child and Family Services by surprise, a Utah judge said a baby must be removed from a licensed foster home because the married couple in the home are not heterosexual....read more

Three Tips For Collecting Overdue Child Support


The aftermath of divorce can be difficult for anyone to navigate, and one of the most frustrating issues is when your spouse refuses to pay court-ordered child support. Failing to receive child support can seriously affect your ability to care for a child. If you are owed back child support, here are three tips that may help you collect the money you are owed.

1. Do Not Resort to Public Shaming

While you might be tempted to publicly shame your spouse on social media or contact his current wife or girlfriend about his lack of payment, it is best to keep the issue between the two of you. Involving other people will only cause your spouse to withdraw further from your child’s life and make future payment unlikely.

2. Go Through the Proper Channels

If your spouse refuses to communicate with you at all, trying to collect back child support on your own will only result in further frustration. Instead, visit your attorney for advice. He or she will be able to file documents that will inform your spouse of his legal responsibility to pay.

3. Know Your Rights

It is important that you understand your rights as you attempt to collect back child support. There are a number of options open to you, and once you file a formal complaint with your attorney, the court may:

• Garnishee your spouse’s wages
• Seize property
• Withhold tax refunds

Keep in mind that many Federal acts protect individuals and their children, so you are not alone in your cause. For more information on collecting back child support in Pacific Grove, visit this website.

Monday, November 23, 2015

Considerate Scheduling for Children During a Divorce

When marital bliss gives way to discord, couples often become so engrossed in argument and dispute that they forget about key people who deserve and require protection from the drama of the dissolution. One of your primary concerns should be to ensure that your children are as sheltered from the turmoil as possible. One way to guarantee that your sons and daughters will emerge healthy and happily from this uncomfortable situation is to establish and maintain as well as possible a dependable routine and schedule. Scheduling visitation between angry parents can be challenging, but when both parents are committed to providing the greatest amount of stability possible for the children it is achievable.

The idea of squeezing the noncustodial parent out of the picture completely can be tempting, but your ultimate goal is to meet the needs of the child to your fullest ability. Both parents’ work schedules should be taken into account. Especially when established schedules dictate that certain weekends will not work for one of the parents involved, adapting the other to make the two fit can go a long way toward building bridges of communication that make the entire process easier.

Once you and your soon-to-be ex are in agreement regarding the bare basics, you should also take into consideration holidays and other important events. Many of us associate special occasions and big events with family and friends, and these take front and center position among our happiest memories. Even when your family has changed and your children must make appearances in two households rather than one, there are ways to keep the peace. Your children will be ever grateful if you manage to schedule holidays in ways that make it possible for them to see both sides of their family.

Some divorcing couples find it possible to split special days in half, with one enjoying the early portion of the day and the other scheduling their family events for the latter half. When distance or work makes this impossible, it is good to be flexible. Bending the schedule for holiday happenings can help your children to have the best experience possible, but it is imperative that these alterations be made with the clear understanding of both parties and put into writing for clarity.

Regardless of the type of scheduling you adopt, it makes sense to maintain open lines of communication between both parents and their kids, so long as the relationships are relatively healthy ones. During times of matrimonial conflict and dissolution, open lines of communication will help children to feel more secure. Visit this website for more information regarding a compassionate child visitation attorney in San Diego.