{S} ex-Parte?!
As I waited in line at the Family Court clerk's office to file an ex-parte case with the patience of a Nichiren Buddhist monk, the gentleman and scholar directly in front of me was having himself a moment. Causing quite…
Can I Change My Child Support Amount?
In R.I., once a child support amount is calculated and set in an Order, it can only be changed in the future if there is a, "significant change of circumstances." To reduce that to simple math, this means the child…
Parents Brawl at Bowling Alley
To get divorced (when children are involved) be sure to specifically illustrate exactly how you two former love birds wish to divide time with the kids for each major holiday and special occasion. Unless I am told otherwise from the…
Blame the Forest Fire
A forest fire in a desiccated landscape ravages everything in its path and has no compassion or consideration for collateral damage. The trees, having spent centuries taking root and competing with the foliage around them in a race to the…
The Irresistibly Sexy World of Dividing Marital Retirement Assets in Divorce
When parties divorce, their retirement assets that began or increased during the marriage must be divided properly. Like other marital assets, if the parties do not equitably divide their retirement accounts they will not be granted a divorce. Problem is,…
The Race to the Bottom (of Hell)
I have entered into a child custody case. Or at least, it is a child custody case at heart. Unfortunately for the parties, the judge, and most importantly me, it has begun as a restraining order. The custody merits will…
Passenger Side Punching Bag
Family law attorneys are professional bad guys (and gals). What with the black cowboy hat and patchy sideburns we gum a broken cigar between our lips and let our three-day-stubble do the talking. If you meet your family law attorney…
The Parent Signal
Today's parents already wear many hats: nurse, teacher, spiritual guide, saucier, confidante, cheerleader, janitor, exorcist, on and on. Modern parents navigating a bitter divorce find themselves in an impossible situation. Bestselling books and Ph.D. theses have been written about the…
Communicate!
Months into a contested custody case I have (I represent the mother), opposing party (father) racked up his second DUI by wrapping his car around a utility pole. Mercifully, the child was not in the car at the time. But…