The first of the three principal areas that we have to make decisions in is education. That’s going to be the choice of schools, the choice of tutors, are the kids going to receive a public education from a public facility or are they going to be enrolled in a private school. The education decisions […]
Parenting and Stepfamily Issues
Can a parenting coordinator help with creating a safety plan in a divorce case?
If Family Services is not involved in the case, we do create our own parenting plans in divorce cases through attorneys, parenting coordinators, mediation, etc. We can make safety plans for clients that have concerns – and the concerns don’t rise to the level of some sort of crime, but they are concerned about different […]
If the parents can’t agree, what are the steps to creating a co-parenting plan and who creates it?
There are experts out there that you can utilize in the course of litigation, even post-litigation, towards trying to alleviate some of those differences. They are typically referred to as parent coordinators. Parent coordinators are oftentimes attorneys and sometimes child psychologists. They work with the parents to openly develop what is in the best interest […]
What can a father do to help prevent parental alienation during and after a high-conflict divorce?
A father needs to exercise his rights as a parent. Now, we speak high-conflict post-divorce, not that it would really come into play if indeed the father has had the opportunity to exercise his parenting rights during the course of the litigation. No matter how much Mom and Dad are fighting, that parent, that father, […]
Why is it important to have both parents in their children’s lives post-divorce?
Well, it’s very basic. Kids love their parents, and unless there is some overriding reason that a child for some reason has been alienated from that parent and that parent has been the one to do the alienation, most kids want their parents involved in their lives. It makes for a well-rounded adult psychologically, emotionally, […]
If there is a lot of conflict between the parents, can they still share equal parenting rights and responsibilities?
The short answer is no. Conflict – what does that mean? Does it mean that there is abuse in terms of physical abuse? Does that mean that there is just a lot of arguments? Does that mean that they are diabolically opposed in how they should raise this child? It makes the whole process very […]
Do the courts try to award custody to one of the biological parents whenever possible?
Yes, they do. The biological parents have strong rights; they’re presumed to be acting in the best interest of the child – and actually it’s the legal parent, not necessarily the biological parent. A legal parent is the parent by adoption or biology. They’re exactly the same, but the legal parent has the right to […]
How can a service member ensure regular contact with his or her children during deployment?
Generally, military will not get involved in custody disputes. They’re not there to mediate in any way, shape, or form. The JAG officers will try to intercede until it becomes too contested. Contact during deployment is best ensured by the court order, and enforcing your rights through court if the other parent won’t let you […]
Are there two different parenting schedules for service members?
Typically, military members who are on deployment are not having regular visitation because, of course, they’re deployed to places where they can’t take the children. When they are back home on leave for holidays, generally that coincides with the children’s school holidays. If it does, they have the children. If you are already divorced and […]
Does an adoptive parent have the same rights to custody as a biological parent during or after divorce?
An adoptive parent is a legal parent and they have the same rights as the biological parent. Laura Schantz, a Beaverton divorce and family lawyer and mediator has helped clients find creative solutions to complex financial matters involving asset division, spousal support, and child support. To learn more about Laura Schantz and her firm, visit […]
Follow Us on Social Media