The impact of realistic estrangement on child custody matters
Life After Love Gone Wrong Podcast: Season 3, Episode 7 - Invisible Scars: The Impact of Coercive Control on Children
Life After Love Gone Wrong Podcast: Season 3, Episode 5 - Parallel Proceedings: The Intersection of Criminal Law and Family Law
Life After Love Gone Wrong Podcast: Season 3, Episode 1 - The Truth Behind Coercive Control
Jewish Divorce Talk: Episode 8 - Narcissism and Parental Alienation Talk
Let's Talk About Easy Divorces
Jewish Divorce Talk: Episode 7 - Custody Evaluation Talk
Jewish Divorce Talk: Episode 5 - Matchmaking Talk
Jewish Divorce Talk: Episode 2 - Sexual Abuse Prevention Talk
Let's Talk About Child Custody & Adoption in Light of the Dobbs Decision
Law Brief®: Rich Schoenstein and Morghan Richardson Discuss Trends in Divorce and Custody
Let's Talk What Questions You Should Ask Your Family Law Attorney
How to Put Your Children First in Co-Parenting
Let's Talk Mediation, Arbitration, and Conciliation
Let's Talk Finding a Family Law Lawyer
Let's Talk Family Law 101
Let's Talk Child Custody and Quarantines
Let's Talk Adoption
So you are ready to divorce...what is the process?
Let's Talk Child Custody
I have blogged several times before , including last week, on cases where trial courts were reversed for failing to hold plenary hearing and provide for discovery, often in FD (non-dissolution) matters. I have also discussed...more
Typically, in order to modify support or custody/parenting time provisions in an agreement or judgment/order, the party seeking a modification must show a substantial and continuing change of circumstances. Given the goal of...more
Many are familiar with parental alienation, where one parent deliberately tries to damage the other parent's relationship with their children, often through persistent efforts to belittle or discredit them. Though this...more
Many are familiar with the term parental alienation. However, many are entirely unfamiliar with the term realistic estrangement. Parental alienation is where one parent begins a campaign to demean and defame the other...more
Summer break is often a joyful time for many children but can be a common point of conflict for divorced or separated parents. With the family’s typical school routine derailed, parents may need to revisit parenting schedules...more
As the school year comes to an end, parents are planning their vacations. Now is the time to check your Custody Orders and make sure that you are following all the terms and conditions. Most Custody Agreements have provisions...more
When determining child custody, Courts must weigh all factors based on what the judge feels is in the “best interest of the minor child.” Often, it can feel ambiguous in knowing how a judge may rule under this standard, but...more
Alcohol and substance use disorders (including alcohol and controlled substances like cocaine, heroin, and opioids) are increasing in many parts of the United States, with significant impacts on those affected and their...more
Lawyers are a jaundiced lot. Law school is a three year exercise in anticipating what can go wrong whether in a trial or a transaction. The lawyer’s job is to anticipate, and course correct to protect the client. Napoleon is...more
This Father’s Day, fathers in Florida have more rights than last Father’s Day. As of July 1, 2023, new laws were enacted in the state. One law requires that a minor child have frequent and continuing contact with both...more
Iowa law clearly states that “parents with joint legal custody” means both parents jointly have legal custodial rights and responsibilities toward their child and neither parent has legal custodial rights superior to those of...more
Individuals who are engaged in protracted custody litigation in Pennsylvania may come across the concept of a parenting coordinator during the duration of their custody matter. The below covers the basics of a parenting...more
Parental alienation cases are heart breaking, both because of the damage to the children and the fact that the alienated parent is often robbed of large parts of the children’s childhood – and worse. For years I have said...more
Missouri recently followed many other states by making equal parenting time a rebuttable presumption in divorce and child custody matters. The rebuttal presumption was enacted as part of Senate Bill 35, which went into effect...more
When a divorcing parent asks this question, their attorney might respond with the common saying, “Children have a voice, not a choice.” In Washington state, the extent to which a child’s voice is heard in establishing a final...more
While the rights of parents to see their child hold a high importance in the law, when it comes to custody, the best interest of the child is the family court’s number one priority....more
Just about everyone who has tried a custody case has been called upon to present a “school choice” dispute. These are the ones where Springfield High is pitted against Bayside High or Chilton Prep in the race to see which...more
This writer has a home outside of Philadelphia that was once owned by a motion picture director of minor note named Irvin “Shorty” Yeaworth. Yeaworth became known for producing the early sci-fi hit the “Blob” in 1958 but two...more
As a child of divorce, I know there is nothing more heartwarming than when your parents can get along and co-parent well. No, you do not need to be besties with your ex. However, you owe it to your children to strive toward...more
My New Jersey colleague Eric Solotoff just published in our sister blog about a recent Appellate Division case from that state where a relocation case was remanded for lack of a record related to the views of a 10 year old...more
In many custody cases, it is common for the parties to participate in a custody evaluation. While the process will vary, the evaluator often meets with each parent individually, the child(ren), each parent and child...more
I started reading C.G. v. D.W., an unreported (non-precedential) Appellate Division case released on March 1, 2024, sucked in by the opening sentence about the court’s denial of an intra-state move. As there aren’t that many...more
Lest the reader think these issues are “just political” realize that in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania there are 40,000 cases brought each year and 40,000 processed. In those cases, judges and hearing officers are asked to...more
Alimony is generally modifiable if a substantial and continuing change of circumstances can be shown. Typically, when we think about changes of circumstances in this regard, we generally look at financial changes of...more
The Massachusetts Probate and Family Court has substantially revised Standing Order 3-23, which requires completion of a four-hour online parenting course, which has been renamed “Two Families Now.” The revised Standing...more