Resolving child custody and visitation issues is often a complicated process fraught with emotion, and perhaps never more so when a baby is involved. While the “best interests of the child” is the standard typically applied by judges in awarding custody, it may be less clear with infants who can and should be caring for… Read More »
Divorce is not easy for anyone involved, but it can present particular hardships for the children of a failed marriage. A clear sense of how children react to a divorce may help parents better help their children through the process and secure better long-term outcomes. Parents should be aware of these issues, and try to… Read More »
For many years, fathers have argued for more parity in custody arrangements. But instead of making their case to a judge, they are now helping promote bills that would alter state laws pertaining to custody arrangements. As recently reported by the Wall Street Journal, 20 states are currently considering legislation regarding shared parenting. The proposals… Read More »
A child’s preference for living with a parent can affect custody decisions in many states, including New York. However, while most judges will consider a stated preference, they are still obligated to rule in a way that protects a child’s best interest. Judges have a great deal of leeway when they make custody decisions. Among… Read More »
Negotiating child custody arrangements between parents can be one of the most contentious areas after a divorce. Likewise, unmarried parents often have to confront the same set of complicated issues about the care and welfare of their children when they separate, including determining living arrangements, obtaining child support and setting up a visitation schedule. Special… Read More »
It’s not uncommon for child custody disputes to grow bitter and lead to long, drawn-out court battles. Both parent understandably wants as much time with their children as possible, and they do not want to have to compromise on child support arrangements. However, there are certain actions that parents can take during custody hearings and… Read More »
In the mid-nineties there were many cases involving “chronic fatigue syndrome” and Lyme disease. Lately, it seems that one in 5 divorces involve a child who is suffering from A.D.D. and/or A.D.H.D. or another “not otherwise specified” (N.O.S.) cognitive problem. Attention Deficit Disorder (“A.D.D.”) and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (“A.D.H.D.”) are being aggressively diagnosed and… Read More »
Though child custody laws generally no longer presume that children should stay with their mother after a divorce, the fact is that mothers are still awarded custody of their children more often than fathers. So what is the reason for this? First, courts more often find that the mother meets the qualifications for being considered… Read More »
A woman in Queens has been found guilty of endangering her three children after she was found living in squalor. According to the local prosecutor’s office, Katherine Vartholomeou was living with her children in a house that was missing some exterior walls and part of the roof. The home also had no running water and… Read More »
When parents get divorced, one of the child custody considerations they will have to make is when the non-custodial parent will have visitation time and how children will get to and from those scheduled visitations. One of the best ways to strengthen these visitation plans is to include a thorough transportation plan so that everyone… Read More »