Summertime and Custody

School is out, and the kids are home! What does that mean in terms of custody?

First, if you wish it, you are entitled to expand your parenting time during the summer, whether to see your child more often each week, or to request one or two weeks of vacation time to spend with your child.

You are permitted to travel either nationally or internationally with your child, and you are entitled to have access to your child’s passport. If your child does not have a passport, the child’s other parent is required to cooperate with you to ensure that your child gets a passport.

If your child is in summer camp, the other parent is not permitted to just take the child out of summer camp for a day or longer without your consent. The other parent is also required to notify you if they wish to take the child on vacation.

Let’s make this a summer to remember for your child. If you need help ensuring that happens on the legal side, I would be happy to offer you a free consultation.

Thanksgiving and the Kid(s)

Thanksgiving is one of those seminal holidays where parents aim to create lasting traditions and memories with their children. Unfortunately, particularly when the parents are no longer together, issues may crop up that can prevent one parent from seeing the child or children on Thanksgiving - sometimes for years in a row. You deserve to create lasting memories with your baby or babies. I am here to discuss family law remedies as they relate to your children if you feel something is not right. Please give me a call to schedule your free consultation.

Thanksgiving and Your Partner or Ex-Partner

While Thanksgiving is meant to be a holiday of thanks and good cheer, that cheer sometimes sours as it relates to a partner or ex-partner. If something occurs before, during, or after Thanksgiving that gives you pause and you would like to discuss your family law options as they may relate to separation, divorce, custody, visitation (particularly around holidays), a restraining order, or another family law remedy, please give me a call to schedule your free consultation.

Thanksgiving Family Get-Togethers, and the Often Invariable Fallout that Results

Family can be very stressful, particularly around annual holidays where there isn’t a whole lot else to do except talk to one another, get more and more comfortable, and say or hear someone that rubs another family member the wrong way. Depending on what is said, you may wind up with a claim for a restraining order, for instance, or some other kind of family law remedy.

So if, in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, or during Thanksgiving, or shortly afterward, a family law issue arises, I would be happy to discuss it, and possible next steps, with you free of charge.

Thanksgiving Trials and Tribulations

Thanksgiving is widely touted as the holiday of giving thanks. Sometimes, however, we may feel as though we are giving thanks to the fact that this holiday only comes around once per year, due to the stress and turbulence that the holiday brings.

Sitting around the table, perhaps one or two glasses of wine in, and a bunch of turkey and sides eaten, often serves to loosen lips. Hurt feelings, anger, and frustration are common emotions felt by a number of my clients around this time. Whether these sentiments come from a family member, partner, ex-partner, or even from the pain of not being able to see your child or children on Thanksgiving, I would be happy to speak about potential next steps in the realm of family law.

Thanksgiving Turkey, Mistletoe, and Family Law

Holidays often bring out some of the best - and worst - in family members.  This post will explore some triggers that often lead to a call to our office, and how to successfully navigate such triggers.

Unpleasant words: it’s often our families that have the unique ability to most get under our skin.  One reason for this is that family often knows us best, sometimes for our entire lives, as they likely often enjoy reminding us.  Bear in mind, however, that you have the ability to gently but firmly steer the conversation out of treacherous waters.  The moment the topic of conversation begins to tip toward a direction that you know will make at least one person unhappy, look to happily, but firmly speak up to change the subject.  Consider using this moment to raise a toast, or pass along another plate of delicious food, or ask a question or make a statement that has nothing to do with the topic that was just raised.

Asking someone to leave or being asked to leave: If the event is happening in your home, please call the police.  You should not be forced to leave your own home, particularly if you did something wrong.  If someone is behaving so badly that, in your estimation, they need to be asked to leave, please consider calling the police as well.  The quicker tension is settled, the better for everyone, and a police record may be helpful for the future, particularly if you may want to bring a family law action against one or more people based on what occurred that day.

Physical violence: If a physical altercation breaks out, please call the police as well.  Consider taking a video of the altercation if it is safe to do so.  Please take photos of the aftermath, including any evidence of bruises, visible injuries, etc. as these may be very helpful as evidence if you would want to later bring a family law action.

You are in control.  You do not and should not have to experience or put up with any of the above actions.  If something has occurred and you would like to speak, we would be happy to offer a free consultation to discuss next steps.

Wearing the Skirt - Or Yoga Pants - in Your Relationship

Women have come a long way when it comes to equality nationally, though we still have a way to go.  Behind closed doors, it is likely that one’s woman-ness and related qualities are also brought up, perhaps by a partner.  Comments about being too emotional, the need to be protected because the woman cannot protect herself, to “behave,” and “be good,” and “take it,” and rein in those emotions” are sentiments I hear my female clients tell me often.

Such comments, particularly when they get out of control, are not ok.  Enough of such comments may even give cause to bring a restraining order.  It may feel embarrassing or too personal to share what has been going on, and I completely understand.  But I would like to help, even to discuss options, if you have had enough.  And if you aren’t sure if you’ve had enough, I would like for you to think about your child or children, if you have any.  They are watching, and are forming opinions about what their relationship should look like.  Do you want their future relationship to look like yours?

If this article struck a chord with you, I would be happy to schedule a free consultation about your situation, and to discuss possible next steps.  I am here.