When a court believes it is in his or her best interests, your child may be appointed a legal representative. Understanding the different personnel who deal with your child in a legal setting is confusing but critical for you to know. While family law matters concerning child welfare give rise to appointment of legal representation, these appointments also occur during…
Amid the he said, she said drama of hard-fought child custody and visitation cases, we can sometimes forget another small but important voice — that of the child. To ensure that custody proceedings focus on the unique interests of the child, family law judges may appoint an attorney for the child (formerly known as a law guardian) to represent the…
Custody battles are heart-wrenching because they involve innocent victims — the children. As a family law attorney, I see bitter parents trying to use custody and visitations as weapons. Ultimately, these tactics can backfire. Here are some key mistakes: Interfering with visitation. Whether you repeatedly show up late for visitation exchanges or miss them completely, relocate without authorization, or just…
You always serve your interests best in a divorce by arriving at a mutually agreeable settlement for important issues like child custody. But, as the leading family law firm in Nassau, Queens and Suffolk Counties, we know that mutually agreeable may be a foreign concept to some contentious couples and that the case could end up in court. New York…
Kramer vs. Kramer was far ahead of its time. In the 1979 film, Dustin Hoffman’s character, Ted, made a case for custody of his son, asking: “What law is it that says a woman is a better parent simply by virtue of her sex? What is it that makes somebody a good parent? …it has to do with consistency; it…
So you’ve decided to get a divorce and think you know what to do. But time and time again, people make the same mistakes and suffer because of them. Keeping in mind some of the following tips throughout your divorce can benefit you both emotionally and financially. Here are some of the most common mistakes made during a divorce: Revenge.…
If you are a parent wishing to file for child custody in the state of New York, you should familiarize yourself with the state’s child custody laws first. In a child custody case, the court’s job is to decide what is in the best interest of the child. Although there is no clear-cut way to know what the court will…
A divorce can be a traumatic experience for everyone involved, but especially for kids. If you have children and are in the process of going through a divorce, you should consider the following tips. Listed below are some tips to help you protect your kids from your divorce and ensure your children’s well-being during divorce: Talk to them. It is…
Points to consider about joint physical custody We talked earlier about joint physical custody. As I indicated, joint physical custody is a good opportunity for both parents to stay actively involved with their children. More than ever, courts are guided by the best interests of the child when parents decide to divorce, and the best arrangements are often those where…
Getting a phone call from an agent of Child Protective Services (CPS) or Administration for Children’s Services is frightening. An indictment can result in the loss of your child or the implementation of a service plan that interferes with your relationship. Even unfounded cases can have traumatic effects on your record and your closeness with your family. The child abuse…