Attorneys and judges continue to report a flood of divorces — especially those going through accelerated process — coming through before the end of the year. This is primarily because elements of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump in December 2017, go into effect as of January 1, 2019. By getting a divorce…
Supervised visitation is an arrangement in which the visiting, noncustodial parent is only permitted to visit his or her children while being supervised by a third party, such as a social worker. The visit might occur at the parent’s home or in a designated location, such as a child care center. Judges will usually order supervised visitation if there is…
If you become disabled and are no longer able to work, it may be difficult for you to meet some of the financial obligations you have in your life — including child support. Fortunately, you have the option of seeking a modification of your child support order if your financial circumstances change. If you wish to make changes to the…
One question you might have as you go through the divorce process is whether you are able to garnish your former spouse’s Social Security payments to collect unpaid child support. The answer to this question depends primarily on the type of Social Security benefits your former spouse receives. You cannot collect unpaid child support from Supplemental Security Income (SSI). But…
If you and your former spouse or partner cannot agree on a parenting plan for your children, you will need to go to a custody hearing. There, you can argue for a plan you think is most beneficial for you and the children in question. Below are some tips to help improve your chances of success at these hearings: Have…
In 2017, New York enacted new restrictions on child marriages in the state, changing its minimum age for marriage from 14 to 18 and requiring both parental and judicial consent for marriages between 17 and 18 years old. There are other states, however, that still have a long way to go with regard to protecting children from abusive marriages. Idaho,…
It’s generally advisable to take some time to yourself after a divorce before you begin seriously dating again. But if you do meet someone you become serious about romantically, you might be wondering how best to introduce this person to your kids. This can be a very delicate situation. Below are some general rules to follow whenever introducing a new…
Many divorces are precipitated (in part) by poor communication, so it might feel unrealistic to expect good communication after a divorce is finalized. However, if the two of you have children together and will share custody, good communication is absolutely crucial to a healthy and happy life for your kids. With this in mind, here are some tips for how…
Developing a joint child custody arrangement that works for both parents is never an easy task. It takes a lot of coordination of schedules and management of each parent’s needs, combined with ensuring the children’s needs are met. When you have a joint custody arrangement finalized, there are some steps you can take to make sure it works for the…
Supervised child visitation is any time with your children that’s court-ordered and occurs under supervision of court-appointed officials, social workers or law enforcement officers. The presence of supervision during your special time with your child can feel unnatural and make the experience difficult. It can be challenging to deeply connect with your child when there’s an outsider who is carefully…