Finding a Custody Lawyer You Can Trust

July 5, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Hiring an attorney to handle any type of legal battle is a big decision. However, there is more to it than that. When it comes to child custody cases, there are numerous considerations. You need this attorney to be able to help you to win your case.

What to Look for

When hiring an attorney who is going to represent you in a court of law as you try to gain custody of your child, know what to look for in that professional. There are many attorneys that claim to offer family legal services such as bail bonds services. However, you need more. You need the right professional that offers bail bonds Bridgeport CT. 

  • Experience is key. Turn to a legal professional who specializes in custody law. You want someone that has the ability to help you to win your custody here, not someone who is just learning.
  • Choose someone familiar with the laws and judges in your jurisdiction. That way, they have a working relationship with these professionals and can better understand what is expected of them. A local attorney is always better.
  • Consider an attorney that offers custody support and aid. Sometimes, these professionals are able to offer you far more than just the legal process. Some offer support groups, care for children and protection from violent spouses.

As you fight for the custody of your child, know you do have options. The right attorney can help you to determine what your actions and options are. Then, you can make better decisions about your future. Specialization is the key. 

 

Filed Under: Family Law Tagged With: , ,

Protecting Your Children in a Divorce

June 26, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment
Child 1 

 

Image by Tony Trần via Flickr

A divorce can be hard on every member of a family. It is a well-known statistic that 50% of marriages in America end in divorce. If you are going through the unfortunate experience, the first thing you need to do is make sure your children are protected from the experience.

Your approach to the subject will depend on the age and maturity of your children. If you believe your children are mature enough to handle the situation, then you should sit down with them and tell them exactly what is happening. It is never a good idea to lie to your child. If your child is too young or unstable to deal with the situation, you should be delicate with them, but you still should not lie to them about it.

You should also consider having your child or children see a Councelor. Counseling may not seem necessary at the time, but it is very important that your child has someone to talk to that is not involved in the situation. If your child is really not in need of much counseling, you should still research good Councelors in your area so your child will have the option of talking to someone if they need to in the future.

You certainly love your children, so it is very important to help them through this situation. It is easy for a divorce to harm children, especially if they think it is their fault. Protecting your children needs to be one of your first concerns in a divorce.

Filed Under: Divorce, Family Law, Legal Tagged With: , ,

Dividing Assets in a Divorce

June 8, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Ending your marriage is one of the most difficult decisions you can make. It’s a painful process that often takes years from which to heal. Of course, the legal process itself and the division of assets can be as difficult as the emotional pain. Many couples turn what should be a civil process into a bitter fight, and it can have lingering effects on them and their loved ones. Here are a couple of tips for having a clean division of assets.

First, be willing to give a little. There are things in the marriage that you know you want to take with you. You can encounter problems when you see taking possession of assets as a way to get back at your spouse. This will only cause you grief in the long run. If you don’t want it or don’t honestly feel entitled to it, then let it go. Doing this can create good will and ease the tension that’s usually inherent in this process.

Something else to consider is selling property. If you own a home, you can have an HOA management company come in and get the place ready while you sell the property and split the money. The bottom line is that at some point all your assets come down to a dollar amount and you have to be ready to split that dollar amount with your spouse.

Keeping a level head through the proceedings will help you achieve your goals. Remember this is not about a vendetta, but rather it’s about finding fairness in an unfair situation.

Filed Under: Divorce, Expert Advice, Family Law Tagged With: , ,

Keeping Your Teen Safe on the Road

June 6, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment
A diagram of the forces on the brain in a coup... 

 

Image via Wikipedia

Your baby is about to operate a deadly weapon, or restated, your teenager is starting to drive an automobile. The maturity level, based on how well your offspring slams a door during a good conversation, may have you a little concerned.

Many dangers exist on the road. According to the CDC, while falls (mainly children between the ages of 0 to 4) is the number one leading cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI), automobile accidents are the leading cause to TBI deaths in America. “The force involved in some TBIs is such that after the initial impact, the brain slams into the skull directly opposite from the site of impact, causing another injury. This is known as a coup-contrecoup injury and can occur even when there are no external signs of trauma like contusions, lacerations, etc.,” according to a Los Angeles brain injury attorney.

A study suggests that the three most common mistakes that lead teens to car accidents are being distracted, miscalculating the risks, and not paying attention to the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), driver distraction is the leading cause of automobile accidents including cell phone use and reaching for objects. Research also suggests the distracting feature of cell phone use is the conversation, and often drivers conversing with other passengers have an uncontrollable tendency to look away from the road and look at the person they are speaking to.

Now that you are armed with some empirical evidence, talk to your teen about safe driving, even if it results in slamming doors.

Filed Under: Family Law, General, Legal

Understanding Child Custody Laws

June 5, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment
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You’ve in the realms of getting a divorce. What should you know about custody laws?

  • Custody laws differ from state to state, so make sure you know and understand them as they relate to where you live. Questions? Ask a lawyer.
  • Custody laws are put in place to protect children. If one parent is mentally unstable, for example, full custody may go to the other parent with supervised visitations being held weekly for the other parent.
  • The desire of the child’s parents is also considered when deciding on child custody. One or the other parent may be better suited to take care of issues of schooling and medical care. One parent may even volunteer to be the custodial parent, while the other may say he/she feels incompetent for the task.
  • Joint custody may be offered—equal rights for both parents in the raising of their child, when both parents are equal in their ability to care and make decisions for the child.
  • Child custody laws are best understood through the assistance of a lawyer who can help you with the process.
  • Sometimes, visitation rights to one parent are denied because of potential injury to the child. Because the physical and mental health of the child is so important, if abuse has taken place, visitation rights may be denied to the non-custodial parent.
  • Visitation rights are not usually denied to those incarcerated or who have a prison record.

Understanding child custody laws is only your first step. The next is to get an attorney who can work with you and help you with the important task at hand.

Filed Under: Adoptions, Family Law Tagged With: , ,

Finding the Best Divorce Lawyer

May 15, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

While divorce is certainly a family issue, above all else it is a legal issue. Going through a divorce is a difficult process both physically and mentally, but because the stakes are so high it’s important to be well represented. Therefore, you need a very good lawyer to protect your assets and fight for access to your children. Unless you currently have a personal lawyer, you’ll have to find the best one for your case.

The law is a big business, so many firms can be found right in the business pages of a phone book. However, the information you find there can be limited. Instead, use online resources that can provide greater information such as reviews and a record of courts cases won by a specific lawyer. In addition, it’s easier to refine your search to lawyers that are in your area and specialize in divorce proceedings. If you’re in Canada, for examples, use the online search engine of Canada 411 to locate law firms both nationally and locally.

Those around you – family, friends and co-workers – can also be a great resource for finding the best divorce lawyer. Hiring someone from your family who is a lawyer may make the situation less awkward since they are already familiar with the situation. It’s a possibility your friends have been through divorces themselves and can provide valuable insight and referrals. Also, it is likely your company has hired the services of a reputable lawyer or law firm that can pass along recommendations or just may be willing to represent you.

Filed Under: Divorce, Family Law Tagged With: , ,

Coping with Divorce for Couples with Pets

May 11, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment
Day 150: And that's that. 

 

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No one wants to think about divorce and what might happen if you have to go down that road but what most people may not consider is – what happens to the pets? Whether you have a dog, cat, bird, fish or some other type of pet, if you get a divorce you may have to think about what happens to that pet. Do you share joint custody? Does one person get the pet, leaving the other person without?

Unfortunately for pet owners, pets are still considered property which means that there won’t typically be a shared custody situation except in certain cases where both people agree. What this means to those that own pets is that one person may get the pet and the other may simply get a monetary value assigned. This can be especially true in cases where the couple that is divorcing does not get along or has a volatile relationship. Since an animal cannot be split up like property, one person is sure to be disappointed in the outcome. It can be almost as devastating to some as losing custody of a child and they may find themselves seeking answers.

The best way to protect yourself is to be sure that you have a good understanding with your partner and can work with them accordingly. If that is not possible try to prove that you should get ownership with receipts for purchase, vet bills and care for your pet. If you both love the pet equally it can be beneficial to try to work on a solution without the court having to step in.

Filed Under: Divorce, Legal Tagged With: , ,

4 Best Places to Throw a Party

May 4, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment
At Evan's second birthday party (Gymboree)

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Having a party can be a ton of work, especially for a single mom dealing with a divorce, which can make things a little hard to handle. It’s a lot of work, but it’ll be worth it when everyone is enjoying the party.

There’s a lot that goes into planning a party. You need to figure out where to have the party, how many people to invite and what you’re going to do for food, drinks and entertainment.

The easiest place to have a party is your home. By having it there you’ll have full control over everything. If you’re having a large party, you can always hire staff to help with the cooking, serving and cleaning.

Another place is a fun restaurant. Many restaurants will have a party package, which is something to consider. You won’t have to worry about cooking or cleaning. If a lot of people will be showing up then it will be best to reserve the place or a special room - be sure to do that at least one month in advance.

The park is also a perfect spot for a children’s party. The only thing to worry about is the weather. There’s so much space and play areas that no child will be bored during the festivities. The best part is, they can dress in fun costumes for a themed party.

Your last option would be having a party at entertainment places like the movie theatre, bowling alley or an amusement park. These types of places always cater to larger parties and often have a special deal for your child’s birthday party.

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Why You Need a Parenting Plan?

April 21, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Children need love and guidance from both parents. When their parents no longer live in the same household a parenting plan helps to create a predictable environment for children to spend time with each of their biological parents.  A parenting plan is a legal document that addresses common parenting concerns, such as:

  • Dates and times of visitation
  • Holiday schedules. (For instance a child may spend Christmas Eve with mother and Christmas day with father.  Or the child may spend both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with the mother in even numbered years and with the father in odd numbered years.)
  • How medical decisions will be made.
  • School and social functions. (For instance, how will the noncustodial parent be notified of parent/teacher conferences, school programs, and the child’s athletic events?)

The best parenting plans anticipate areas of potential conflict between the parents and provide balanced solutions.  In addition, good parenting plans will provide a method for the parents to work out conflicts that they can’t resolve themselves by requiring mediation or arbitration.  Initially parenting plans may seem rigid and unnatural, but over time they provide both the parents and the children a predictable rhythm to their lives.

Parenting plans are living documents—which means that they need to modified as the children grow and their needs change.  While many courts have court facilitators that will help you write your parenting plan, it may be necessary to a hire a mediator to help work out conflicts.  Most areas of the country have Dispute Resolution Centers that offer mediation on a sliding fee scale.

Filed Under: Family Law Tagged With: , ,

Saving More Than Money

April 5, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

During these troubling economic times, everyone is looking for ways to tighten their belts. This may be especially true for those facing legal issues such as custody, divorce or adoption. Taking a look at your complete budget, you will note that one of your biggest expenses is your monthly auto payment. For this reason, taking the time to understand how car refinance loans can change your monthly payment can help you adjust your budget.

More Than Cost Savings

The process of adjusting your auto loan almost always saves the loan holder money. It can offer additional benefits as well. For example, a refinanced car loan will change the term of your loan and adjust your interest rate. Obviously these two factors play a huge role in lowering your monthly auto payment. Those who have other large monthly expenses such as legal bills for an open divorce or a custody case will appreciate the extra money. A car refinance loan can make it financially beneficial long-term, and easier to pay all of your expenses.

When You Apply Matters

Obviously it is important to apply for refinancing before you have paid the majority of your loan off. This not only make sense financially, but the longer you wait, the less likely you are to get approved. Discuss your options with your agent as soon as possible in order to ensure you can use one of their car refinance loans to adjust your payment.

If you struggle each month to make all of your payments, or you’re facing legal actions, ask if your lender offers car refinance loans – it can certainly lighten your load.

Filed Under: Financial Tagged With: , ,
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