Parental kidnapping can involve snatching a child and fleeing the country with the intention never to return, deliberately failing to return a child on time to a custodial parent, and everything in between. Parental kidnapping is the deliberate violation of a custody order. It need not involve violence, threats or even removal of the child to a different location. Simply…
In deciding all divorce issues affecting your children, the family court applies a single, all-important standard: “the best interests of the child.” But how does the court know what is in your child’s best interest? In tough custody battles, parents often have conflicting notions of what’s best for their child. They present the court with very different impressions of who…
If your ex is a foreign national who now has joint custody or visitation with your child, you may have serious concerns that he or she could flee the country with your child. Once that happens, recovering your child is a complex and expensive process. You get little help from the U.S. State Department, and the Hague Abduction Convention is…
Supreme Court as well as the Family Court in the State of New York gives great deference and weight to the opinion of children. As the children age, their opinion is given more weight. Most often any child over the age of 5 is given an attorney by the Court (Attorney for the Child “AFC”). That person will be telling…
Fifty – fifty custody. Why doesn’t it make dollars and cents? The trends towards joint shared parenting are spiking. Since 1994 we have seen over 25 years worth of increased fathers right’s and a push towards joint-shared parenting. In fact, Westchester, Yonkers, and some of Manhattan now pre-suppose that there will be joint shared parenting as a starting point. Nassau…
Unmarried parents who end a relationship may be faced with certain challenges that do not apply to married couples. If you are an unmarried father, it is important to know the rules surrounding child support and custody so that you can effectively protect your rights. When a child is born to unmarried parents, the state typically grants full custody to…
In certain situations, parents may try to regain control of child custody situations by suddenly moving with their children across state lines. These parents are typically hoping that the new state will rule in their favor — although federal law makes it a crime to relocate children without the knowledge of all parents and guardians. When a parent illegally relocates…
When a former spouse or partner wants to relocate with your children, it can have a significant effect on your entire family. No matter the reason for the move, divorced parents must follow certain guidelines set forth by the state and through the couple’s divorce agreement. Providing notice Custodial parents cannot relocate with children without first providing written notice to…
If you and your spouse have children and are going through a divorce, it is important to know about the “best interests” standard and how it will impact your proceedings. When parents cannot agree on child custody terms, a court may have to use the best interest standard to determine which parent receives primary custody. If a child custody decision…
When a couple going through a divorce has children, a family law court may need to get involved in decisions regarding child custody and child visitation rights. In a divorce, these two issues are typically determined at the same time. In some divorce proceedings, it is determined that it is in the child’s best interest for one parent to have…