Category Archives: Child Custody
What is Parental Alienation?
When you’re divorcing with children, parental alienation may be a concern. Ideally, parents should put their children’s needs first for the sake of co-parenting—especially if you’re pursuing divorce and custody mediation. However, some people are simply unable to mask their hatred for their child’s other parent. Left unchecked, this can devolve into parental alienation. Parental… Read More »
Modifying Child Support and Custody Issues Through Mediation
Once you go through divorce and custody mediation, you might assume that your parenting agreement will remain in place until the children are grown. This is not the case: child support and custody agreements can be modified until the children reach adulthood. Here are some situations when you might need to modify your parenting agreement:… Read More »
Can You Mediate Child Custody if You Were Never Married?
When a relationship involving children ends, it’s always a good idea to get a formalized custody agreement in place. Some people have the misconception that they can’t mediate child custody if they were never married. Fortunately, that is not true. Many legal situations can be resolved through mediation: it’s one method of reaching an agreement, which… Read More »
What to Include in a Parenting Plan
Parenting plans outline your expectations on how you and your co-parent will raise the children. Your divorce mediator will guide you through creating a parenting plan, but it never hurts to prepare potential topics ahead of time. Here’s what to include in your parenting plan: Healthcare decisions: Make sure that you and your ex come… Read More »
How to Successfully Negotiate Custody During Mediation
Divorce can be tough on children, just as it is on the divorcing parents. How can you successfully negotiate custody during mediation? Put the children first Most courts decide custody issues with the best interests of the child in mind. That’s a good tip for mediation, too. Ideally, both parents should put their children first…. Read More »
Is Bird’s Nest Custody Right for You?
If you’ve heard about “birdnesting” or “bird’s nest custody,” you might be wondering if this is the right choice for your post-divorce family. Bird’s nest custody keeps the children in one home, while their parents move in and out during their visitation times. What is bird’s nest custody and what does it involve? When you… Read More »
Solving Complex Divorce Issues Through Mediation
So many divorces include complex financial, custody and support issues. If you plan to engage a mediator during your divorce, it’s important to have a plan to solve these problems. Here are some tips to make the process easier. Know the issues You will probably have an idea of which issues are most likely to… Read More »
Coparenting and Screentime Rules
Coparenting can provide a child with a stable, cooperative environment, even after their parents split up. However, it’s difficult for parents to agree on everything 100 percent of the time. Screentime is a hot button issue that can cause conflicts. When one parent has strict screentime rules (often in the interest of their child’s health… Read More »
Are Mothers Favored in Custody Agreements?
Divorcing is already a mental, emotional and financial strain. When parents contemplate the possibility of being separated from their children, it can be extremely distressing. Clients often wonder whether mothers are favored in custody agreements. In the past, mothers were favored because they were also considered primary caregivers. Here’s the good news: New York takes… Read More »
Dealing With a High Conflict Parent During and After Mediation
If you’re divorcing your partner, mediation can be an attractive option: it’s often faster, less expensive and easier than litigation. Not all couples are suited for mediation, however, particularly when one parent is considered high conflict. Many mediators recommend people in high conflict marriages pursue other divorce options, since it’s unlikely either or both parents… Read More »