No Gavel
There are several misconceptions about the Family Court. The one that is most bothersome is the belief that once the case is over the conflict is over. The (former) couple gets all dressed up, all worried, all stressed, and all…
I Want All of the Custody!
Fairly often now I am told by a parent of a newborn or infant that they want sole custody. And often this request comes innocently enough by a parent who probably doesn’t know exactly what they are asking for and hasn't…
Don’t Make This Common Child Custody Mistake!
There are countless mistakes that are made by both parties in any typical, run-of-the-mill child custody proceeding. Maybe the father fails a drug screen. Or the mother violates a current Order by refusing father a scheduled visit. Both parents discuss…
“We’re Living Separate Apart…”
I can't understand why, but divorce has a stigma. A connotation. For a long while those who were morally or religiously adverse to divorce filed for a thing called separation (this option still exists though it is rarely used, and…
Mental Illness and Child Custody in the R.I. Family Court
What is the Family Court to do with a mentally ill parent? Not one with a 10mg prescription for generalized anxiety (who isn’t anxious now-a-days, after all) but the kind who has recently had an involuntary stint in a hospital.…
What Just Happened?! Surviving Family Court Episode 10
Episode 10 of my series: What Just Happened?! Surviving Family Court
Co-Parenting During and After Divorce
Many parents choose to co-parent when they share joint custody of their child or children. This method of parenting makes children feel secure and can add consistency and structure back into a child’s life after a divorce. However, even the…
Traveling (with shared custody)
Traveling is a great way to educate children about different cultures, places, and way of life. However, parents who share custody typically need to take a few extra steps to prepare for their trip, especially if they plan to take…
Staying Married for the Children
So many couples put off divorce until their children are older, truly believing that once their children are adults themselves, the parents will then have the freedom to get a divorce without ruining their children’s perfect, married-parent childhood. However, this…
The muted horrors of parental alienation
All too often two parents enter a Family Court but only one leaves. By that I mean that after a divorce the parent that holds primary physical custody over the child (the parent with whom the child lives most of…