I’ve talked to many children whose parents are going through divorce. I often serve as a guardian ad litem for children – a cross between an attorney for the children and an arm of the court charged with the task of investigating a divorce matter in order to make recommendations to the judge regarding custody...
There are whole books on testifying in court. There are numerous articles about what to say, what to wear, and how to behave. But there are also things that should NOT be said during testimony – especially in Family Court. Following are my top five things not to say in Family Court. 1. “To tell...
Thanks for stopping by to help me celebrate my first anniversary! It’s been quite a year. My husband and I lost precious loved ones, dealt with (and beat) cancer, dealt with other health issues and life challenges during this past year – as so many of you are doing. And through it all we continued to...
In the olden days, couples got divorced and the man paid alimony – it was a given. Flash forward a few decades. Now there are criteria the judge explores before awarding alimony – if alimony is even going to be awarded. And yet, many still think that spousal support (another name for alimony) is going...
Thursday’s list of what not to take to Family Court may have left thinking you should show up to the big event empty-handed. Not so! There are a few things you can take with you to court that will make you more comfortable – or at least less uncomfortable. Following are five suggestions. 1. Communication...
Appearing in Family Court can be a nerve-wracking experience. Our focus is on what we want to tell the judge, what others might say, and how things will turn out. It’s easy to forget details that can matter – like showing up with things that won’t help your case. Following is a list of 8...
I spend a lot of time debunking myths about divorce from callers who have gotten bad information from a myriad of sources. Sometimes it’s a poorly written article or folklore. Often it’s from a well-meaning friend/relative/acquaintance who had a bad experience or dealt with a different fact pattern in their own divorce. Here are...
Your family law attorney has given you plenty of tips about how to behave in court – keep your cool, let him do the talking unless you are asked a question, dress conservatively. Really? How is that mundane behavior going to get the judge to notice you? And if she doesn’t notice you, however will...
Unless you have been married about five minutes, have no children, assets, or debts together, you first need to know how not to find a divorce attorney. You should not call: The attorney who has a sign staked to the side of the road which screams “Cheap Divorce” followed by a number. “Cheap” should...
