The fight for LGBTQIA+ rights is ongoing and multifaceted. One area that has recently gained significant attention is gender-affirming care for minors, particularly transgender children. This issue has become a focal point in the ongoing culture wars, with a surge in anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation aiming to restrict access to gender-affirming health care for transgender youth. Several…
The lazy, hazy days of summer have arrived! You want your child to have a fun, relaxing break from school, with time to play and get outside, see friends, take some lessons, or go to sleep-away camp. Perhaps you’re looking forward to visiting extended family or friends, planning a trip to some exciting locale,…
When you married, you and your spouse planned on a lifetime of just the two of you—and perhaps children. When it doesn’t work out for you as a couple, there is pain and stress in the dissolution process. Without question, divorce is even thornier when there are children. But in some instances, there is…
A fascinating and controversial child custody case is pending in Virginia that involves a battle over breastfeeding. The Washington Post recently reported on the custody dispute involving the mother, Arleta Ramirez, who gave birth to a daughter in July. Shortly after, she split with the child’s father, Mike Ridgway. Their baby is currently exclusively…
Raising kids takes a long time. Although great care goes into making the best possible custody and visitation agreement, the right plan for your child at four years old may not be suitable by age 10 or 14. There are several reasons this might happen. Fortunately, in California, either parent, custodial or non-custodial, can…
For parents going through a divorce, the decisions and disputes surrounding child custody can be among the most challenging and emotional parts of the process. Whether you and your ex will work together to reach an agreement out of court through negotiation or mediation, or the conflict has reached the point where a judge…
When you separate from your spouse or partner, and there is a child involved, custody is often one of the thorniest issues to resolve—complex, emotionally loaded, and time-consuming. In every case, when the court is deciding custody, there are many factors to consider, but the question of what is in the child’s best interest…
Everyone wants to celebrate mothers! It may seem like a sweet, harmless occasion—a holiday largely promoted by greeting cards, candy, and flower companies. But for many women—and for many different reasons—Mother’s Day can be agonizing. Some women have lost a mother or child or are estranged. Some struggle with an unfulfilled longing to become…
In years past, there was a presumption in custody battles that children should be with their mother, and therefore mothers almost automatically got custody. Today this scenario is no longer the rule, but it’s a common misconception. It’s important to know that California law does not favor either parent. Instead, the court must always…
High-conflict divorce is not only painful for sparring spouses it can cause emotional consequences if there are children involved. A study published in Child Development found that conflict between divorced or separating parents is linked to an increased risk for children developing mental health problems. Researchers found a connection between parental conflict and higher fear of…
