Who Has Final Say Over Whether a Child Attends Preschool?

transgender children

In recent celebrity news, two of the parents featured in the MTV reality show Teen Mom have experienced a very real conflict over their child attending preschool. According to reports, Kailyn Lowry is battling her former partner and father of her child, Jo Rivera, over his demand that she stop sending their son Isaac to preschool. The 21-year old father has publicly said that he feels such education is not ‘necessary’ for their son Isaac.

Conflicts over education can be common among co-parents, even those who live life far from the spotlight. What child custody issues are at stake? Read more

Dealing With Your Child’s Divorce When You’re A Grandparent

If you just heard the news that your son or daughter is planning to divorce, it can stir up a number of emotions and concerns on your part. Will you be able to see your grandchildren as frequently with a child custody arrangement in place? What about holidays that your entire family celebrated together? Does your child getting a divorce mean you need to “divorce” your son- or daughter-in-law, even if you have always gotten along? Here are some divorce tips just for grandparents.   Read more

All Kids With Divorced Parents Want For Christmas

Wrapped gifts under the tree are always a treat, but what do kids with divorced parents really want this holiday season? It’s probably not the latest fad toy or video game, but three things only you and your children’s co-parent can give: Read more

Helpful Children’s Books About Divorce

If you are going through a divorce and have kids, the care and well-being of your children is utmost on your mind. Trying your best to make the transition to two homes a loving, secure experience for your family? These four children’s books can do a great job in helping kids see the bigger picture that everything is going to be okay. Read more

Why Creating a Holiday Plan for Child Custody Can Be A Good Idea

holiday parenting time

It’s the holiday season and spending time with family is more important than ever. But what happens when you are a single parent trying to negotiate with your ex-husband or ex-wife for an extra holiday visit with your kids? New Jersey divorce and family law attorney Bari Weinberger was recently interviewed for NJ 101.5 to give her take on the topic of child custody and the holidays, and why most couples should seriously consider writing a plan for the holidays right into their divorce settlement. Read more

What Happens To Children’s Bank Accounts In A Divorce?

You may have started a college savings account for your child, or have a joint bank account in their name, or have individual accounts that carry their name only. What happens to these accounts if you and your spouse end up filing for divorce? Read more

Co-Parenting When You Really Can’t Stand Your Former Spouse

Let’s face it, divorce can be messy. While the goal for many couples is get to a place of peace with one another, it can take time — often a great deal of time — to get there. If you and your soon-to-be former spouse don’t have children, taking a break during the divorce process is as easy as letting his or her calls go to voice mail when you don’t want to talk. But what about when children are added to the mix? Dealing with issues such as child custody arrangements, who helps your child with his homework, and who gets called in case of emergency at school, typically require both parents to communicate frequently and stay in close touch. Read more

Understanding the Signs of Parental Alienation

Your child’s other parent won’t let you talk on the phone to your son or daughter. Your child acts shy or resentful around you until it finally comes out that your ex has been saying some pretty awful things about you behind your back. And then one day, you go to your designated location to pick up your child for the weekend only to find no one there. When you text your former spouse to ask what’s going on, you receive a reply telling you that your child doesn’t want to see you. Is this the truth — or is it parental alienation? Read more

Including Personal Provisions in Child Custody & Support Agreements

Don’t want your former spouse smoking around your children when they are in his/her care? Committed to homeschooling? Raising your children on a vegetarian diet?

If you are considering mediation as a way to reach a resolution in your child custody or child support matter, whether it is part of your divorce settlement, or a separate matter brought up outside of divorce, one of the key benefits of negotiating with your spouse over child custody and child support is mediation’s ability to create a truly custom agreement.

Some of the terms parents have listed as “musts” for custody or support agreements? Here are a few of the many items parents have successfully requested: Read more

NJ Supreme Court Rules In Battle Over Kids’ Last Name Change

If you’re thinking about changing your child’s last name post-divorce, make sure you can give a judge a compelling reason why doing is a benefit to the child. That’s the message in a new New Jersey Surpreme Court ruling in which a Burlington County woman’s name changes for her children were overturned. Read more