Chances are, in planning your custody agreement, the holidays garnered significant attention. You have them all perfectly mapped out in excruciating detail. You feel totally prepared and though possibly a little heartsick, ready. But as the year enters the fourth quarter, with the holidays looming, something catches you off guard.
Read MoreEvery state has laws providing the circumstances under which a person’s parental rights to their child may be terminated by a court of law. Termination of parental rights legally ends the parent-child relationship. Once termination has occurred, a child is legally free to be placed for adoption with the goal of identifying a healthier permanent family solution.
Read MoreFrequently, custody arrangements must be adjusted during the summer months to allow for a variety of things for kids. For some, summer may mean being involved in various activities, sports, camps, and even summer school. Because of the deviations in a child’s schedule during the summer months, divorced parents will likely have to adjust their custody agreements as well.
Read MoreToday, individuals of all ages are connected through media sites. While this helps keep you connected to old friends and family members that live in different cities, states, and even counties, these media platforms are not always beneficial. For those in a custody arrangement, the details and usage of social media could negatively impact the outcomes for one or both parents.
Read MoreParents, along with their legal representatives, and a judge determine custody agreements. Sometimes the parents can figure out an arrangement together and other times the court has to develop the agreement for them. In either scenario, the custody agreement should always be made in the best interests of the child(ren).
Read MoreCo-parenting is known to be a complicated journey. There are some parents who truly cannot co-exist as parents and other measures must be taken. Poor co-parenting can look different for every family depending on the circumstances and personalities involved. Here are some reasons that may, or may not, lead to loss of custody due to poor co-parenting.
Read MoreCustody agreements are not always the easiest scenario to navigate through. The reality is that you might wish to spend more time with your children, but you are unable to because of your custody order. And in other situations, perhaps your work schedule changes, and you are no longer able to continue the same order of custody you have enjoyed.
Read MoreHaving consistent, regular access to your children is one of the hardest parts of a divorce. What used to be called “visitation” for the non-custodial parent is now called “parenting time.” Typically, in a divorce decree there is a “parenting plan” that sets the schedule for custody. This parenting plan will cover regular schedules as well as holidays.
Read MoreWhen a child is placed into the foster care system, the goal is to protect the child and to allow them to grow up in a healthy, stable, safe environment. While for many the objective is for reunification with the birth family, it is important to remember that that is not always the best option for the child. When a child has been successfully reunified with their parents, Social Services has deemed the home safe for the child’s return. A reunification marks the closure of their case and the child is no longer part of the foster care system.
Read More“Reasonable efforts” is a legal term that refers to the activities of a state’s social services agencies that are focused on providing assistance and services needed to preserve or reunify a family. Federal mandates require States to make reasonable efforts to reunify families prior to the placement of a child in foster care. The goal is to prevent, or eliminate, the need for removal of the child from their home. And above all, to make it possible for a child to remain, or return, safely to their home.
Read MoreOften when families are considering moving, they will plan to do so in the summer months, as to not disturb the school year for their children. Child custody relocation is not uncommon following a divorce, or a separation. But there are rules in place and guidelines to ensure that the best interest of the children is protected. Even in tough economic times, it is important to weigh some considerations before you relocate your kids.
Read MoreSummer break can allow for great opportunities for parents who are divorced to spend quality time with their children that is less interrupted with school schedules and normal activities. Summertime is especially important for those who do not have equal or substantial parenting time with their children during the school year. Below are a few tips to take full advantage of summer breaks.
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