Divorce is challenging in any situation, but co-parenting a child with special needs adds layers of complexity that require careful consideration and deliberate planning. For parents of children with special needs, the stress of going through a divorce is significantly amplified. Concerns for the child’s stability and future well-being can complicate the process. When…
Last week, actress Halle Berry filed for sole legal custody of 10-year-old Maceo, the son she shares with ex-husband actor Olivier Martinez, citing ongoing difficulties with co-parenting. In their divorce, finalized last year (eight years after they split in 2015), the pair agreed to joint legal custody of Maceo. However, news outlets report Berry…
Summer break is almost over, and it’s time to send the kids back to school. If you’ve been going through a divorce this summer—juggling kids, jobs, all the tasks and complications of the dissolution process, and your new co-parenting responsibilities—these months may have seemed long, complex, stressful, and suffocating. You may be looking forward…
No one will say it’s easy. Learning to co-parent with your ex is one of the most challenging parts of divorce when you have a family. There’s no foolproof roadmap, no one-size-fits-all solution. You won’t always get it right, especially in the beginning when the emotional temperature is likely running high. But it’s important…
Just about any parent will tell you that raising kids is both the greatest and toughest job you’ll ever do. You’re fully invested, give it your all, and want the world for your kids. You try to pour the best of yourself into them. It’s no wonder, then, that the pain, bitterness, and brutality…
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a very serious matter. It endangers yourself and others. Alcohol-related accidents are the leading cause of death on U.S. roadways, accounting for nearly 30% of all traffic fatalities—well over 10,000 each year, plus 300,000+ injuries. Almost 70% of those accidents involve drivers with more than…
Earlier this month, six years after the shocking murder of a South Pasadena child by his father, new legislation aimed at protecting children from abusive parents and addressing systemic failures of the family court system was signed into law by California Governor Newsom. In April 2017, 5-year-old Aramazd “Piqui” Andressian, Jr., was smothered to…
Over the last few weeks, the contentious (and seemingly sudden) breakup between American pop star Joe Jonas and British actress Sophie Turner has made headlines almost daily—and rapidly escalated into a complex and closely watched custody battle. On September 6th, after seven years together (four married) and the birth of two daughters, the Jonas…
Parental Alienation is a hotly disputed, widely misunderstood, and oft-misused concept that can distort custody cases—sometimes with dangerous or damaging outcomes. It’s essential to understand the context and history of the Parental Alienation theory and how misapplication can have a detrimental—even devastating—effect in family court. Under California law, the child’s best interests, except in…
Raising your kids is the most important and rewarding job you’ll ever do. Parenting brings immeasurable love, joy, and satisfaction. It’s also one of the most challenging tasks out there—and that’s true whether you do it as a married couple, single, or separated person. Still, there is no question that divorced parents face specific…
