Some observers believe that a rise in the divorce rate can be partly attributed to the “starter spouse” trend that has been noticed among Americans in their 20s and 30s. Celebrities such as Katy Perry and Kim Kardashian are examples of younger adults who married someone, waited to have children and went their separate ways after a relatively short period…
Divorce is hard on children in normal circumstances, but situations where one parent tries to turn their child against their former spouse are exceptionally dangerous. Without prompt, effective action, a parent might find that their relationship with their son or daughter is damaged beyond repair. This type of manipulation is serious enough that forensic psychiatrist Richard Gardner referred to it…
Changes in American society over the past 50 years have upended the old standard used in child custody determinations, which favored the mother. Polls show that an overwhelming majority of parents feel that joint parenting works best following a divorce or a breakup between parents who were never married. Numerous states have enacted laws that promote joint parenting and make…
If you start making financial plans for your post-divorce life on the day papers are served, you might not be able to achieve the resolution you seek. Obtaining key documents might be much harder once the legal proceeding has commenced and you and your spouse are living in separate residences. Going into the marriage dissolution process prepared and with the…
Many divorce and custody proceedings are marked by serious allegations. Some are so serious that a parent might lose their ability to take part in the upbringing of their son or daughter. In these cases, the evidence or additional context provided by an accused parent might have a significant effect on the judge’s decision. However, that can only occur if…
Hollywood divorces are not exactly uncommon. It can seem there is a never-ending parade of celebrity breakups. The divorce of Sylvester Stallone and his wife Jennifer Flavin after 25 years is slightly different though. Along with her claim that the marriage is irretrievably broken, Flavin is requesting a higher share of the marital estate because she alleges that her husband…
The divorce process can be highly stressful, sometimes causing one of the most serious emotional traumas a person can experience. Moreover, it’s wrong to assume that everyone recovers fully in the weeks and months after the ink dries on the marriage dissolution order. For some people, the physical and mental consequences can last for years. Fortunately, there are ways you…
For more than two and a half years, COVID-19 has wrought havoc on individuals and families in countless ways. Many divorced parents have experienced serious challenges due to the effect of school closures, remote work and quarantines on custody arrangements. During the “two weeks to stop the spread” period, most parents were willing to make short-term schedule changes to adjust…
Like each child, each custody situation is different. An arrangement that might seem appropriate in most cases could cause serious danger if a parent has violent tendencies. Tragically, some judges do not listen when a parent warns the court about what might happen if their co-parent is left alone with the son or daughter they share. A Long Island mother…
Deciding whether to get a divorce is an extremely personal choice every individual must make for themself. Some people choose to stay in a bad marriage because they were raised to “grin and bear it.” Others realize quickly that marriage is not always a bed of roses and seek to improve their lives by making a change. While everyone has…