Posts Tagged ‘Children’
Speaking Engagement at MAGAL Conference
Thanks to the Massachusetts Association of Guardians Ad Litem (MAGAL) for inviting me to speak at their annual conference on November 7 on high-conflict cases in litigation and mediation. The keynote speaker, Bill Eddy, was terrific. The title, too, was excellent– “I’m OK, You’re a X$!#@&%!!!: High-Conflict Behavior in Family Law Cases.”
Read MoreThe Behavioral Impact of Divorce on Children of High-Income Families
A recent study out of Georgetown University and the University of Chicago looked at the impact of parental separation and divorce on the behavior of children in families of different income brackets. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, a survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics starting in 1979, the study…
Read MoreHeading Back to School after a Divorce
With fall quickly approaching, it is that time again, at once bittersweet and anticipated by parents everywhere – back-to-school. But, if you are recently separated or in the midst of a divorce, this first back-to-school season will be another in a series of adjustments. Summer certainly had its own challenges and negotiating vacations when children…
Read MoreTo Litigate, or Not to Litigate, That is the Question
If you are going through a divorce, there are many things to consider. It is a difficult time, emotions are high, and you are confronted with a number of decisions that you may not be in the best state of mind to make. Now, no two divorces will be identical, so while having a support system…
Read MoreWith Communication and Planning, Sunny Days are Ahead
If you have recently gone through a divorce or are currently going through one, the summer may seem like a daunting proposition. A season typically filled with leisure, relaxation and fun in the sun may now bring up feelings of anxiety and uncertainty. This is especially true if there are children involved. As parents, you…
Read MoreAppeals Court Overturns Joint Legal Custody Award
It’s not often that the Appeals Court overturns a Probate Court judgment of joint legal custody, which is why this case caught my attention. The Probate judge acknowledged that there was great conflict between the parties but found they “were not totally incapable of maintaining a cooperative relationship.” The conflict, according to the judge, was…
Read MoreFleshing Out Best Interest Standard
A recent SJC opinion made headlines by finding that a California registered domestic partnership was equivalent to a marriage, and that the biological mother and her “partner” were both parents to the child born during their partnership through in vitro fertilization. The case, too, contains an excellent review of the standards of primary physical custody…
Read MoreVery Happy Spouses Usually Don't Divorce
A recent column in The New York Times Magazine affirms the age-old notion that generosity is a positive character attribute, especially in marriage. So for those of us who have not achieved the ratio of “at least five positive things for each negative interaction” with our partners, it’s worthwhile to note the difference between being…
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