Let's Talk Child Custody
What is a Parenting Coordinator and Why Do We Need One?
Can my ex-spouse see our children if he/she does not pay the court ordered child support?
The United Arab Emirates has emerged as a multicultural global city with people from various countries, religions and belief systems. The country continuously works towards building a land where these communities can grow and...more
Highly contested child custody cases are hard on everyone. The children's routines change. The parents lose the ability to see their children 24/7. None of it is pleasant. But can parents make it worse? Absolutely!...more
In 2021, I wrote on this blog about a case where a court delayed reunification therapy because a 12 year old child didn’t want to do it. To this day, this continues to be one of the most read posts on our blog, more than...more
On April 15, 2024, Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 55, “Kayden’s Law,” making changes to the Pennsylvania child custody factors set forth in Title 23 in an effort to provide further protection to children’s safety....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
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
We have done a lot of complaining lately about some pretty bizarre cases. Then, along comes Schultz v. Schultz and Passetti; an important case that merits being published because it makes important law and is a credit to the...more
Grandparents can play an important role in the lives of their grandchildren. Undoubtedly, many children have deep and inseparable bonds with their grandparents. When parents are married, or together, many grandparents can get...more
One of the least pleasant tasks to lawyers who do custody work is advising the client that a planned relocation to support a new intimate relationship may not get off the proverbial runway. Yesterday’s decision in Leytrick v....more
One of my favorite holiday movies is Four Christmases (in addition to Home Alone, Elf, Christmas Vacation, Planes Trains + Automobiles… okay, call me basic). In the movie, a non-married couple played by Reese Witherspoon and...more
The holiday season is often a joyous time for family, friends, loved ones, traditions, vacations, and New Year’s resolutions. It can also be hectic and nerve-wracking....more
The concept of child custody has evolved over the years. In the past, having sole legal custody was relatively common, but as family dynamics have shifted, with both stay-at-home and working parents playing essential roles in...more
In the United States, we enjoy certain fundamental rights, including the right to interstate travel and live wherever we want. If, however, you are divorced or separated from your spouse, and you have a child together, you...more
Divorce is an emotionally charged journey that can take a toll on all parties involved, particularly when children are caught in the crossfire. Within the Jewish community, divorce comes with its own set of considerations,...more
It can feel overwhelming going through a divorce when you have children. There are so many things to consider that it can be tough to know where to start. If you have children under age 18 and are getting divorced in...more
It’s a common scenario: You don’t want a court to determine your family’s affairs, but you do want a structure in place to ensure you (and your children) get a fair outcome....more
Pennsylvania codified its custody laws in 1985 and at that time it drew a statutory distinction between decision making power (legal custody) and actual possession of the child (physical custody). In the 1980s there was a...more
Parental alienation cases are hard. They are hard for the alienated parent. They are hard on the Judge, who may not have the tools or the time to effectively deal with the problem and/or otherwise, initially dismiss the...more
People in just about every form of business find a time of year when life becomes difficult. For accountants it’s tax season. Firefighters have August when forest fires rage. For family lawyers it’s Christmas or just about...more
Holidays are a magical time, full of whimsy, togetherness, and memory-making pastimes. Thanksgiving is my personal favorite. I love the food, the company, and the uninterrupted time I get with my family....more
As the holidays approach, it can be a wonderful time for families and traditions. However, when you are going through a divorce or custody proceedings, it can also be a stressful time. There are a lot of unknowns during the...more
Despite any last-minute Hail Mary attempts, Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen officially ended their 13-year marriage. It appears to have been an amicable split and the couple has miraculously finalized their case in record time....more
It’s November 1st… “All I want for Christmas” was on every radio station at 12 a.m., Target stores have rapidly replaced all Halloween aisles with winter holiday decor, the rush to shopping begins, and we start to think about...more
I previously blogged on parenting time restrictions due to vaccination issues “No Vaccination, No Parenting Time“. The issue hasn’t gone away and it won’t for some time. The reality is that while the COVID-19 pandemic seems...more
As I anticipated in a prior blog about general vaccinations, the hot topic is now how a COVID-19 vaccination status impacts parental rights. I recently gave a lecture about family law topics and COVID-19, during which I...more