Child Custody And Visitation In Virginia

Posted on May 21, 2013 by About The Children LLC — Leave a comment ↓

How can I make use of the laws of Virginia to assist in developing my parenting plan?

By utilizing the law as a guide, you might be greater equipped to make a parenting plan which will not simply meet the requirements of one’s child, but also become accepted by the court.

The Commonwealth of Virginia established precise laws concerning child custody and visitation which are identified inside the Code of Virginia, Title 20, Domestic Relations.

The law offers definitions on terms utilized by the court and the unique varieties of custody. In addition, it defines the powers of your court in regard to discussing a ruling in child custody situations along with the criteria the court considers when addressing a ruling.

 

What would be the distinctive forms of custody inside the Commonwealth of Virginia?

Inside the Commonwealth of Virginia, you will discover two forms of custody, and also the court may well award custody in any mixture deemed acceptable for the predicament, in the event the court finds it to become inside the finest interest with the child (Va. Code § 20-124.1).

Sole custody implies that only a single parent is accountable for the care and handle of the child and has the authority to dictate choices regarding the child’s welfare and legal concerns. Even when a single parent has sole custody, the other parent is generally entitled to be with and spend specific time with the child.

Joint custody implies that each parent shares legal custody with the child, and are accountable for the care and management of your child, and shall make joint choices regarding the child’s welfare and also other vital concerns. Parents may possibly share joint legal custody even though the child mostly resides with only one particular parent. Joint physical custody signifies each parent shares a handle and custody of the child, however the period of time the child spends with each and every parent doesn’t need to be equal.

Which types of custody do Virginia courts favor to award?

The state of Virginia has no preference toward joint or sole custody. Nonetheless, Chapter 20-124.2 encourages parents to share within the responsibilities of rearing the children and states that the child ought to have frequent and continuing interaction with each parent.

The state also has no preference in favor of either parent getting custody of your children.

The Commonwealth of Virginia does choose that you just need to cooperate with the other parent and develop a custody agreement that you each support, anytime doable.

In Virginia, what variables does the court base custody choices on?

The main concern of Virginia courts in child custody situations may be the greatest interest of your child. The court will examine all components which are relevant for the overall health, welfare, and well-being from the child, and can rule based on what will be very best for the child (Va. Code § 20-124.2).

The court considers all relevant aspects when figuring out the child’s greatest interest, which includes:

  • The physical and mental overall health of each parent along with the child
  • The ages of the parents and of your child
  • The previous and present care of your child
  • Which parent has acted as the child’s major caregiver
  • The relationships and bonds the parents have with the child
  • Which parent is superior in a position to supply the child with having a protected, loving, residence atmosphere
  • Which parent is possesses improved criteria to meet all the child’s fundamental requirements
  • The child’s adjustment to their residence, college, and neighborhood
  • If any siblings, relatives, or other men and women are within the child’s life
  • How people of significance have within the child’s life and how they are around the child
  • Whether or not disrupting the existing scenario could be damaging or effective towards the child
  • Whether or not every parent is capable of obtaining a powerful connection with their child
  • Whether or not they may be prepared to assist a loving partnership amongst the child as well as the other parent
  • The court may contemplate and expressed wishes of the child, provided that the child is of adequate age to voice a mature and educated opinion
  • Any other variables that may perhaps have an effect on the child, including a history of abuse, neglect, or substance abuse.

How will agreeing or disagreeing on a parenting arrangement influence my custodial rights?

The distinction involving agreeing and disagreeing on a parenting plan could possess a substantial effect in your custody arrangement for the reason that when you cannot attain an agreement.

If you are in a position to operate collectively using the other parent (either by yourself or by attending mediation) to make a parenting plan, your submitted strategy will likely be reviewed by the court to make sure it serves the ideal interests of one’s child.

When the court finds your proposed parenting plan acceptable, it can be approved and processed as a court order which you each need to abide by till it can be modified or your child reaches adulthood.

If all efforts have already been used and you’re nevertheless, unable to attain an agreement or compromise, the court will draft one for you personally. The court will make a selection along with a ruling determined by what the court feels is within the ideal interest of the child.

This outcome will likely be within a typical visitation schedule and also the identical common custodial arrangements which can be generally assigned to individuals who are able to function collectively and amicably together.

Drafting your own personal parenting plan will be the only approach to make certain that the precise desires of one’s child are correctly addressed and met.

What should I incorporate into my Virginia parenting plan / custody agreement?

Given that your agreement will serve as a guide to raising your child, it really is essential to make the plan with close attention and consideration. An extensive parenting plan really should:

  • State the custody arrangements and designate a key residence for the child
  • Describe a child visitation schedule which specifies when your child will invest time with every single parent regularly, holidays and unique occasions, and for vacations
  • Define parental responsibilities and define the authority to either or each parents
  • Include a technique for modifying the strategy to meet the demands of the child for potential modification in the future
  • Include a strategy for dispute resolution
  • Include any stipulations or provisions the parents really feel are relevant and agree upon

Establishing an efficiently defined parenting plan which establishes guidelines and addresses your differences in question presently can help you avoid future conflict.

You can learn more at – www.AboutTheChildren.org

800 787 4981

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Tips On How To Be An Informed Parent

Posted on May 20, 2013 by About The Children LLC — Leave a comment ↓

Being Involved With The Decision Making Process Of Your Child

            While having a shared custody plan is one of the best desired outcomes for a custody dispute, it still takes time away from you that you could be spending with your children. In the fast moving world of American life, it’s important for parents in these kinds of situations to be well informed and up to date with their children’s lives; this means knowing what decisions the other parent is making that can affect your child. Nobody likes to be the one who doesn’t know what’s going on. Staying informed of what’s going on when your children are with your ex takes some time and effort in the form of maintaining a working relationship and communicating with each other. Some parents can find this a difficult task to undertake depending on how many negative feelings are still in effect. Here are some tips if you feel like you don’t have enough information to make the best educated decision you can.

  • Maintaining Lines Of Communication. It’s very beneficial for you if you are able to talk to your ex husband or wife without yelling or calling each other names. Not being able to talk to your ex increases the probability of decisions being made on your child’s behalf without you knowing about them. These decisions can be about what doctor they see, what church they go to, what school district they go to etc. If you can’t get along with the mother or father of the child, it’s going to make things much more difficult. The best advice to overcome this is to get over your guys’ anger towards each other. Whether your relationship ended because one or both of you was unfaithful or you simply got together too quickly and realized you weren’t right for each other, the fact remains that this is still a team effort and you need to do what it takes to raise your children right. This might mean getting back to basics and trying to be friends with your ex.
  • Be Proactive. Worst case scenario, you communicating with your ex just isn’t going to work. If you’re in this kind of situation, you’re going to need really be involved in your child’s life to know what’s going on. If you are sharing joint legal custody of your children, you do have the right to have your opinion considered in the decision making process; this can be much more difficult if you just have visitation and your ex has full legal custody. If they have primary control over what doctor your child sees or what school they attend, having a good relationship with the other parent is that much more important. Don’t just be a bystander in your child’s life. If you don’t know the doctor they see, make a call to their office and talk to them. If you don’t know anything about their teachers, pay them a visit or set up some kind of conference. The idea is to not be the one waiting for the information. Unfortunately there are people out there that hold information over their ex’s head. Being proactive about what you need to know about your child’s life prevents anybody using a lack of knowledge against you.

The bottom line is this: don’t get taken advantage of because you don’t know enough; It’s entirely possible to educate yourself on everything you need to know. The old saying about not squatting with your spurs on comes to mind here. Shooting yourself in the foot is, unfortunately, easy to do. Building and maintaining relationships, especially with an ex wife or ex husband, can be a delicate matter. Being clear headed and rational instead of emotionally compromised should be your mantra through this. There are always services that help facilitate the process of communication between two people that have trouble talking to each other. Mediation can be a great way to get everyone’s concerns out in the open and addressed by both parties; going to court should be a last resort.

Read more at –> www.AboutTheChildren.org

800 787 4981

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Texas Child Custody Laws and Guidelines

Posted on May 17, 2013 by About The Children LLC — Leave a comment ↓

Texas Child Custody Guidelines

What’s conservatorship (custody)? What kinds are there?

In Texas, custody is known as “conservatorship.” Conservatorship is utilized to describe the legal rights and responsibilities of a parent. A judge could give conservatorship to 1 or each parents.

You’ll find two kinds of conservatorship in Texas:

  • sole managing conservatorship
  • joint managing conservatorship.

Usually, conservatorship (custody) contains the right to:

  • Obtain info from the other parent for the child regarding the wellness, education, and welfare in the child;
  • Have access to healthcare, dental, psychological, and educational records for the child;
  • Talk to a doctor, dentist, or psychologist regarding the child;
  • Talk to college officials regarding the child’s welfare and educational status, which includes college activities; and
  • Consent to health-related, dental, and surgical remedy in the course of an emergency involving maintaining the wellness and security in the child when in imminent danger.

What exactly is sole managing conservatorship (SMC)?

Sole managing conservatorship (SMC) indicates you might be the only parent or party with all the legal rights to create particular choices regarding your child. If you’re granted SMC, you possess the basic rights provided to a conservator, and also you would be the only care taker and parent who has rights including:

  • decide the main (principal) residence for the child;
  • consent to health-related, dental, and surgical remedy involving invasive procedures;
  • consent to psychiatric and psychological therapy;
  • receive child support; and
  • make choices regarding the child’s education.

There are numerous causes why a judge may grant 1 parent sole managing conservatorship:

  • The other parent possesses a history of violence, or neglect.
  • The other parent possesses a history of drugs, alcohol abuse or other criminal activity.
  • The other parent has been absent in the child’s life.
  • There is really a history of intense conflict between the parents more than educational, healthcare and religious values.
  • One parent doesn’t want joint managing conservatorship.

What’s joint managing conservatorship (JMC)?

Joint managing conservatorship (JMC) is when the rights and duties of a parent are shared by each other. Nevertheless, exclusive rights to produce particular choices (like exactly where the child resides) could be awarded to 1 parent or party.

JMC could be established either by an agreement as the parents or perhaps a court order. In the event the parents can come to an agreement or compromise about sharing managing conservatorship, it has to be authorized by a judge.

When creating a choice about JMC, the judge will contemplate what’s within the greatest interest from the child, which consists of:

  • whether the physical, psychological, or emotional requirements and improvement from the child will advantage from joint managing conservators;
  • the capacity from the parents to offer very first priority towards the welfare from the child and attain shared choices within the child’s very best interest;
  • whether every parent can encourage and accept a good partnership in between the child as well as the other parent;
  • whether each parents participated in child upbringing just before the filing from the suit;
  • the geographical closeness of the parents’ residences;
  • if the child is 12 years of age or older, the child’s preference, if any, concerning the particular person to possess the exclusive proper to determine exactly where the child will reside; and
  • any other relevant aspect.

If each parent are established conservators, the judge will specify the responsibilities each and every parent has separately and jointly.

Even when the judge or court authority grants joint managing conservatorship, s/he might nevertheless make a single parent the major joint managing conservator, additionally referred to as the “custodial parent”. A custodial parent possesses the right to figure out the main (principal) residence for the child. All other choices are produced by both parents collectively.

Note: When a judge tends to make each parent joint managing conservators it doesn’t imply that every parent will necessarily get equal or practically equal possession of and access for the child.

What’s arbitration?

In the course of a custody suit, the parties might have the ability to visit arbitration to assist in coming to an agreement regarding conservatorship and possession. Arbitration implies a neutral third party, known as an arbitrator, will probably be present in the custody proceeding rather of a judge. The two parties can determine regardless of whether the arbitration is binding (legally enforceable) or not. In binding arbitration, when an agreement is finalized it really is official unless the judge believes it isn’t within the greatest interest from the child.

What exactly is mediation?

Mediation is actually a method exactly where parents can come to an agreement or compromise about conservatorship and possession of their child without having going in front of a judge. A third party, referred to as a mediator, meets with all the parents to assist them get to a mutual agreement. Parents might agree to mediation or perhaps a court might order mediation.

As soon as an agreement is reached, it’ll be binding on all parties in the event the agreement:

  • It is stated in boldfaced text, has capital letters or is underlined, that it isn’t “subject to revocation” (which means it is unable to be reversed or undone);
  • Is signed by the parties;
  • Is signed by the parties’ attorneys if present when the parties sign the agreement.

Nevertheless, a court won’t accept an agreement created via mediation if among the parties is actually a victim of violence and has impaired his/her capability to make choices as well as the agreement just isn’t within the child’s very best interest.

If you’re a victim of violence, you are able to ask the judge to not refer the case to mediation. Generally, the judge will grant the request, unless the other parent disagrees and asks for any hearing to decide regardless of whether or not mediation is suitable. Following the hearing, in the event the judge refers the case to mediation anyway, measures will likely be taken to safeguard the parent who didn’t want mediation. For instance, the judge could order separate rooms and no face-to-face get in touch with in the course of mediation.

What exactly is a parenting plan?

A parenting plan includes the rights and responsibilities in the legal parent/s of a child, such as a schedule for possession and access for the child and child support info. Parents could make a plan and submit it for the court. If a judge finds that it really is inside the very best interest from the child, s/he will order the usage of that parenting program. Otherwise, the judge can order a parenting program s/he believes is proper. A parenting strategy is needed when a final order about conservatorship and possession of and access for the child is determined.

What’s a parenting coordinator?

A parenting coordinator is really a third party that assists the two parties with coming to an agreement about their parenting concerns. A judge could assign a person to a case in the event the parents or persons acting within the capacity of parents can not come to an agreement about parenting concerns. You usually do not have to wait for the judge to assign a parenting coordinator; you’ll be able to request 1 in the event you believe it would assist.

Typically, a judicial authority will order a parenting coordinator only when the two parties have repeatedly filed legal action against the other and have problems communicating with each other.

In the event you don’t want a parenting coordinator to acquire involved since there has been a history of loved ones violence against you or your child, you are able to make a written objection for the judge. A hearing will likely be held when the other parent nonetheless desires to possess a parenting coordinator involved. Following the hearing, when the judge decides to appoint a parenting coordinator, the judge should take precautions to shield you from emotional and/or physical harm. As an example, you may be placed within a separate space in the abuser whenever you meet using a parenting coordinator.

There’s a charge to meet using the parenting coordinator. The payment is shared by each parties. When the two parties can’t spend the charge, the judge could be capable of discover a volunteer to act as a parenting coordinator.

What exactly is a parent education and family members stabilization course?

A parent education and loved ones stabilization course is created to assist parents and children coping with divorce. Inside a proceeding to figure out conservatorship or possession of or access to a child, the judge could order the parents to attend the course if s/he determines that it’s inside the very best interest from the child.

There’s a charge of no greater than $100. In the event the two parties can’t afford the charge, there might be capable of locate courses which can be free of charge or supplied on a sliding charge scale. A parent can total the course by individual instruction, videotape instruction, or via electronic communication. Courses might also be accessible in Spanish. For info on course places, get in touch with the county clerk. See TX Courthouse Areas for get in touch with details for the county clerk close to you.

If a judge orders the parties to attend a course and they usually do not, they are able to be held in contempt of court.

Note: For those who have been a victim of family members violence, you are able to ask the judge to spot you inside a separate class than the other parent.

If you or your children live in the state of Texas and require more help with your situation, please visit www.AboutTheChildren.org

800 787 4981

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What To Do After A Divorce And Custody Battle

Posted on May 17, 2013 by About The Children LLC — 2 Comments ↓

Behind The Scenes Of Family Law

            A lot of people will tell you to move on with your life and get back to normal after your divorce is finalized and the last court date has been attended. The thing about advice is this, everyone has some for you; the question is should you heed it or not. Getting things back to the way they were isn’t really an option in a divorce and custody battle. Splitting up the family and rearranging things is something that affects everyone and changes the way they live their lives and the people they associate with; it’s not uncommon for people to lose a few friends after their divorce. Regardless of your situation, there are things you do to help yourself get everything back on track.

  • Time To Think. You might have a lot of anger about your divorce, but anger often times comes from sadness. It’s important to get to the root of what you’re feeling so you can manage your thoughts and begin to heal yourself. A lot of fathers out there get taken unawares by their former spouses and feel really down about the whole thing. After all, this was the person you had a child with and were trying to build and maintain a family with. What’s done is done though. You’re separated, you have some kind of shared custody schedule and now you have to make do with what you have. This can be a wake up all for a lot of parents out there to do something different with their lives; this might mean a change of career, change of venue or just a shift in their own conscious perspective of the world.
  • Don’t Rush Back Into Things. A lot of people that get divorced feel it’s necessary to get back into the dating scene so as not to have too much downtime and get back to normal life and start dating again. Jumping back into this too quickly can have negative consequences however. Lots of time people want to find a new romantic partner to fill the gap in their lives. This can really affect your children if everything is still fresh. Younger children have the tendency to think that they’re mother or father is being replaced and older children might rebel against this new person in their life. The bottom line is they want things to go back to the way they were, and that’s just not going to happen. Communicating with them about this kind of stuff works better than leaving it alone and hoping they will forget about it and move on. Avoiding the subject is the opposite of what you should do with them.

There are a lot of changes happening within the family. Rather than focusing on the way things used to be, try focusing on starting a new chapter in your lives. Going from a family oriented household to being a single parent is like being thrown into quick sand; the more you thrash around the deeper you get pulled down. This could be an excellent time to spend some much needed alone time with yourself and your children; speaking from experience, there is a silver lining to a big life event like this. An important reminder to keep in your head is to not jump into things because you feel like you should. This is a dangerous way of living and can amount to you being engaged in things that you don’t really want to do with the end result of you being unhappy. Take your time and have patience.

 

Get started at –> www.AboutTheChildren.org

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Illinois Child Custody Guidelines And Laws

Posted on May 15, 2013 by About The Children LLC — 1 Comment ↓

Child Custody laws in the state of Illinois

Physical Custody

Physical custody implies that a parent has the right to possess a child to reside with him or her. Some states will grant joint physical custody to each parent in the event the child spends considerable time with both parents. Joint physical custody functions finest if parents reside fairly close to one another, because it lessens the anxiety on children and enables them to sustain a somewhat standard routine.

Exactly where the child lives mainly with one particular parent and has visitation using the other, typically the parent which the child mostly lives may have sole physical custody, and visitation towards the other parent.

Legal Custody

Legal custody of a child indicates obtaining the correct as well as, the requirement to produce choices about a child’s upbringing. Parents with legal custody could make choices about schooling, religion, and health-related care, one example is. In numerous states, courts routinely award joint legal custody, which implies that the selection generating is shared by each parent.

When joint legal custody is shared with the other party and also he or she is excluded in any decision-making course of action, your ex can retaliate by taking you back to court and request enforcement the custody agreement or current court order. You will not get fined or visit jail, however it will in all probability be detrimental, and lead to a lot more friction involving the two of you – which may possibly harm the children.

For those who feel you may have situations that make it impossible to share joint legal custody (the other party or parent will not communicate with you about significant matters or is abusive), it is possible to visit court and ask for sole legal custody. However, in numerous states, joint legal custody is conventionally preferable, so a strategy would be to convince a family court authority that it’s not inside the ideal interests of the child.

Sole Custody

1 parent can have either sole legal custody or sole physical custody of their child. Courts typically will not hesitate to award sole physical custody to 1 parent when the other parent is deemed unfit – one example is, due to alcohol or drug dependency, a brand new companion who’s unfit, or any charges of child abuse and/or neglect.

Joint Custody

Parents who do not reside in the same household can receive joint custody. Parents share any decision-making responsibilities for, and/or physical manage and custody of, their children. Joint custody can remain in the event the two parents are divorced, separated, or no longer cohabiting with each other, or perhaps if they in no way lived collectively. Joint custody implies that the parents will decide on joint choices around the situation from the children’s overall health, education and religious upbringing.

When you reside in Illinois and are engaged within a custody battle for your child, you have to know the fundamental guidelines of Illinois custody.

Is Illinois the correct Jurisdiction?

Prior to an Illinois court can determine custody, it need to have jurisdiction-the legal ideal to determine your case. Illinois follows a law referred to as the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA).

Below the UCCJEA, you could get started an Illinois child custody case if Illinois is the household state of the child once you file a custody case.

You might also commence an Illinois custody case even though your child is just not presently in Illinois supplied you reside within the state as well as your child’s residence was in Illinois inside six months on the filing.

Illinois also might have jurisdiction in other situations. An Illinois divorce and custody lawyer will help you ascertain in the event the state can hear your case.

After you ask an Illinois court to take your case, you can supply details that show jurisdiction. It’s essential to list your child’s existing address too because the areas she or he has lived, plus the persons she or he has lived with for the final 5 years. You should also inform the court for those who know of any other custody situations involving your child or of any other folks who think they’ve a correct to custody.

Who Can Ask for Custody of a Child in Illinois?

With an Illinois divorce or custody case, either parent could request for custody, or each parents might agree to joint custody.

You could also request the court to identify custody in different conditions, such as:

  • If you might not be married towards the other parent but really need to ascertain custody of a child
  • If you need to become the legal guardian of a child
  • If you must decide who the parent of the child is

In case your Illinois divorce continues to be in progress, you could possibly ask the court to get a short-term custody order. The order can resolve custody even though the divorce proceeds.

How is Illinois Custody Determined?

In Illinois, custody is decided depending on what’s inside the finest interest in your child. A court can contemplate a lot of products when producing a custody selection, which includes:

  • A parent’s opinion along with the child’s opinion
  • The partnership amongst the child and each and every parent, members of the family, and persons close towards the family members
  • If each and every parent will function to make a close connection involving the child and each parents
  • If the parents can cooperate in raising the child
  • The child’s dwelling, college, and neighborhood adjustment
  • The mental and physical wellness of all men and women involved inside the child’s life, like the child
  • If your child is in or could be in danger of any physical harm or abuse if placed with a particular parent
  • If either parent has been convicted as a sex offender
  • Any other factors that might be essential towards the child’s most effective interest

In Illinois, joint custody, sole custody and split custody are permitted. In circumstances of divorce, the law interprets that it truly is finest to get a child to possess each parents involved in their lives. This will not imply that joint custody is awarded in all situations; it merely implies that the court may perhaps grant joint custody if it believes it’ll advantage the child.

When the court finds that one particular parent is superior in a position to care for the child, it might award sole custody to that parent.

Can an Illinois custody order be modified?

In Illinois, custody may well be modified, or changed, only in precise situations. The law performs to create the child’s life as steady as you can, and so it demands a powerful explanation to modify the custody arrangements.

Illinois custody law permits modification in two instances. Custody might be changed if a parent is judged by a court to become unfit to raise the child. Custody may also be modified if an adjustment with one or more custodians impacts the child’s well-being. The occasion has to be so significant that modification is essential to safeguard the child’s greatest interest.

The law says that the court might not modify custody till two years following the very first selection. You will find only two exceptions: If every person with custody agrees, or if there’s an emergency.

You can read more about how to get help at www.AboutTheChildren.org

800 787 4981

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Tips For Step Parents In Family Law

Posted on May 15, 2013 by About The Children LLC — 2 Comments ↓

Step Families

            The conventional family, it seems, is becoming less common in America. More often than not you find families that are made up of other families because someone got divorced, remarried, had more children or adopted their new spouse’s children etc. This is an element in family issues that is commonly overlooked by parents that are busy filing for a divorce, serving their ex or are in the middle of a custody battle with their ex husband or ex wife. It can be difficult to become close to other people’s kids and it’s even more difficult from the child’s point of view to get used to having another parental figure romantically involved with their mother or father. Here are a couple things to think about if you’re in a similar situation and you’re not sure how to talk to your kids or the other people involved.

  • Broken Lines Of Communication. The reality here is that after your divorce or separation you’re not going to stay single forever. For a lot of people, expressing how they feel about a given situation can be difficult. If you’re a parent who is divorce and are now involved with a man or a woman with or without kids of their own, getting used to the new situation takes some time. It’s important to remember that your child needs to be feeling comfortable with the new situation. If they are uncomfortable around the new person in your life, you need to talk to them and find out the source of their feelings. You don’t want them to be around someone that is not a good influence or is potentially abusive, this goes without saying however. A lot of can begin to act out in situations like this. Talking to your children about their feelings about the whole thing is going to make it easier for everyone to come together or provide some insight into what needs to happen to make things run smoothly.
  • Raising Someone Else’s Kids. Getting involved with someone new that has kids of their own to introduce to the situation can have its share of bumps. A lot of times people want to help be the children’s parent or be some type of authority figure in the child’s life. Children a lot of the times don’t respond well to this change in their life. They might get angry if you’re trying to play the role of the mother or father in their life and act out behaviorally; they don’t see you as their mother or father and view your actions in a threatening light. You’re going to have to take it slow with them so they can get used to you. Speaking from experience, it doesn’t go over well when someone who isn’t your mom or dad telling you to clean your room or do your homework. Building and maintaining relationships takes time and effort and trust doesn’t come easily in these kinds of situations. Let your actions speak for you and let them know you want to be a positive thing in their lives so this trust can form.

Stepping into another family can be like walking into the middle of a movie and having no context as to what the characters are doing and what their motives are. Approach the situation with a white flag waving high and clear. It might be easier to assimilate into a new family if the children are younger. Children approaching their teens are going to rebel a little more against this due to the nature of what’s happening to them minds and bodies and they begin to become adults. There are a lot of online resources for parents trying to integrate themselves into new families and tips for parents helping their own children cope with the changes going on in their lives. Talking to friends and family members can also be a huge help to your situation.

 

Get started at –> www.AboutTheChildren.org

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How To Go To Court If You’re Representing Yourself.

Posted on May 14, 2013 by About The Children LLC — 2 Comments ↓

Tips For Parents In Family Law

There’s a lot of advice out there for parents having to go through a divorce and custody battle; choosing the right sources to listen to is paramount. Most mothers and fathers out there start out talking to friends and family before they start talking to attorneys in an effort to figure out what to do or where to start. Knowing what your rights are is incredibly important if you’re just beginning a case for custody, visitation or divorce. Historically, mothers have an easier time getting custody of the children. Without launching into a nature vs. nurture debate, it is a fact that having a positive father figure as well as a mother figure in a child’s life is beneficial to their upbringing. Here are some things to remember if you’re asking yourself these kinds of questions.

  • What Can You Do? Knowing your rights as a parent can give you a lot of insight into your next steps in your family legal matter. Like building a bridge, there are certain steps to follow in order to get the desired outcome. Finding out what you can or cannot do is a common question from parents. The concern is that they don’t want to do anything illegal or that could affect the outcome of the case. For example. A lot of parents ask whether they can leave the state with the child without getting into trouble; the concern is warranted. Before you take drastic actions, make sure you talk to someone who can explain your rights to you.
  • Be Able To Prove It. One of the biggest mistakes parents make in family legal matters is telling the judge their ex did or did not do something and not having the appropriate evidence to present to the court to back up their claims. That being said, it’s a great idea to have an accurate record of what happened and when. This means having information about who picked up the children last week to take them to soccer or band practice or having records of e-mails, text messages or voice mails are all great things to have if you need to back up any claims you make or have to defend yourself against false allegations. The judge is going to make a decision based on the facts that are presented to them. They can only see hard evidence. They don’t know you on a personal level and they don’t know what’s going on inside your head. The law is impartial and objective, switching your line of thinking to this view will help you approach your case in the best manner possible.

Having a “big picture” perspective on all this stuff can be helpful if you feel like the task ahead of you is impossible or that you’ll lose your case based on what your ex is doing (hiring attorneys etc). If you break it up into smaller pieces, it’s easier to tackle the situation one bit at a time rather than trying to eat an elephant in one bite. A lawyer can help you make a game plan to best handle your family legal issue; this can be an expensive route to take. It is possible to get the issue resolved by representing yourself. This scares a lot of people because they think they need an attorney to go to court with them. What you really need is a good strategy and the right documents to file in court. If you’re uncertain about how to do this, seek help from an advocacy group or paralegal that can help you with this.

Get started at –> www.AboutTheChildren.org

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