Another Same-Sex Parenting Rights Issue Upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court

Alert Key Legal Update

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Arizona Supreme Court Same-Sex Custody Case Decision

The U.S. Supreme Court declined on February 22, 2018, to hear an appeal of a case where the Arizona Supreme Court found that a lesbian woman should be recognized as the legal parent of the child she and her former wife conceived through artificial insemination during their marriage.

The case, stems from a custody dispute between Kimberly McLaughlin and Suzan McLaughlin.  The couple was legally married in California in 2008, and chose to have a child via artificial insemination and an anonymous sperm donor.  In 2011, Kimberly gave birth to the couple’s son.  Two years later, she left with the child and cut off all communication between Suzan and their son.  Upon filing for divorce, Suzan sought parenting time based upon an Arizona law regarding the presumption of parentage.  Specifically, the law states that a child born to a woman within 10 months of her marriage is presumed to be biologically related to the father.… View Full Article → “Another Same-Sex Parenting Rights Issue Upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court”

Blast From The Past: Tips on How to Select a Divorce Lawyer!

Blast from the past 13 years Ohio Family Law Blog

PUBLISHER’S UPDATE: This is a blast FROM WAY BACK in time! It is a merger and update from a two part series on selecting a divorce lawyer, which we posted on December 20, 2007 and January 2, 2008! The information rings as true now as it did then. We have a ton of interesting articles in our archives of the Ohio Family Law Blog. Use our Search tool and enjoy a few oldie but goodies!

Key Considerations When Selecting The Right Divorce Or Family Law Lawyer

Selecting the right attorney for a divorce is an extremely important and personal decision. Take the time to properly pick your attorney. The outcome of your family law case will impact your future dramatically!

The following are some key considerations in selecting the “right” divorce lawyer:

Experience

Most attorneys these days have narrowed their practice to one or a few areas of the law.… View Full Article → “Blast From The Past: Tips on How to Select a Divorce Lawyer!”

Divorce: New Sesame Street Videos Help Kids Deal with Trauma

toddler kissing Sesame Street Elmo

For decades, Sesame Street has played on TV’s across the country, teaching children their ABC’s and 123’s, while also broadening their vocabulary, and increasing other academic skills. But now, Sesame Street is focused on another issue: helping children cope with traumatic experiences.

Children and Traumatic Experiences

A study conducted in 2016 found that nearly half of the children in the United States have experienced at least one traumatic or stressful event, including the death of a loved one, abuse, and divorce. The study also found that 1 in 5 of these children has experienced these events on more than one occasion. Click here to read the study.

How Can Sesame Street Help Children With Traumatic Experiences?

Children who experience traumatic experiences are more likely to develop posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and even substance abuse. Early exposure to traumatic events affects the neurodevelopment of a child, which changes the way that they respond to stress and other experiences.… View Full Article → “Divorce: New Sesame Street Videos Help Kids Deal with Trauma”

Blast From The Past: Divorce: 6 Reasons Hiring A Therapist May Help Your Case!

Blast from the past 13 years Ohio Family Law Blog

PUBLISHER’S UPDATE: Here is one of my favorite divorce posts from back on December 19th, 2015! The advice rings as true now as it did then…We have a ton of interesting articles in our archives of the Ohio Family Law Blog. Use our Search tool and enjoy a few oldie but goodies!

Obviously going through an unexpected or difficult divorce can be one of the most stressful experiences in an individual’s life.  While many clients can navigate the process unassisted without professional help, others really cannot.  Some people think that they can talk with family members or friends to help pull them through.  Typically, however, those who are deeply distressed really need professional help by a therapist to guide them through the entire process and transition to their life post-divorce.  Many people view having a therapist or counselor as a sign of weakness.  It certainly is not.  My experience as a divorce attorney for over 35 years is that when the attorney and therapist work together, it can often eliminate years of paralysis for a client.… View Full Article → “Blast From The Past: Divorce: 6 Reasons Hiring A Therapist May Help Your Case!”

New Year, New Divorce? Things to Consider First!

Scrabble letters spelling divorce

Experts say that January is the most popular month of the year for couples to file for divorce in Ohio. With the hustle and bustle of the holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas), it is common for couples to put off their divorce plans until after the first of the year. Even though many couples are struggling with their marriage before the holiday season, they tend to push back getting a divorce in order to make the holidays more enjoyable and memorable for their kids.

According to Cathy Meyer, who founded DivorcedWomenOnline.com and is a certified divorce consultant stated, “Dissatisfied husbands and wives begin searching for information on divorce immediately after the holidays”. She has experienced a huge increase in page views and searches the day after Christmas. People start looking for information before the New Year starts, but they cannot do much until the attorneys are back in the office, making January 12-16 the magic week for filings.… View Full Article → “New Year, New Divorce? Things to Consider First!”

New Insurance Product to Guarantee Child and Spousal Support Payments During Unemployment

man with empty pockets

Often times when a couple divorces, a court will order one party to pay spousal support in Ohio and/or child support if there are minor children involved.  And while it can seem that every, last detail from property division, to health insurance and retirement benefits is hammered out in the final decree, there may be an area that is too often overlooked.

What happens if the party obligated to pay child or spousal support suddenly becomes unemployed?  Then what?

The Great American Insurance Group now offers Marital Settlement Agreement Insurance (“MSAI”), to insure divorce obligations during periods of unemployment.  The program, which has been 40 years in the making, was developed by Richard S. Zizian, J.D., of the Zizian Agency in San Diego, California.  It is now available in all states except Hawaii and Alaska.

Insurance Group Offers Spousal Support And Child Support Payments During Times Of Unemployment

In order to qualify, a person must be a full-time, W-2 wage earner.… View Full Article → “New Insurance Product to Guarantee Child and Spousal Support Payments During Unemployment”

Divorce: Study Finds That Women are Twice as Likely as Their Husbands to File for Divorce

couples talking to counselor

The Early Years of Marriage Project is an ongoing marriage and divorce study that began in 1986. As part of this project, researchers from the University of Michigan conducted a study in which they interviewed 355 married couples throughout the course of sixteen years.

Divorce study says tension and stress have a negative impact on marriage

Results from this study concluded that women are twice as likely as men to file for a divorce. Women typically entered their marriage with higher levels of tension caused by fights and disagreements, whereas men started off with a lower level of tension that increased over the course of their marriage. Researcher Kira Birditt of the University of Michigan, states that, “the association with divorce was greater if men reported low levels of tension when women reported a higher accumulation of tension” (Macdonald, 2017).

Are men to blame?

Kira Birditt believes that women may be more likely to divorce because of “a lack of investment towards the relationship on the husband’s part” (Macdonald, 2017).… View Full Article → “Divorce: Study Finds That Women are Twice as Likely as Their Husbands to File for Divorce”

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