Legitimation: A Stumbling Block for Fathers
One of the great myths concerning child custody is that a father’s name on a birth certificate always results in legal rights. In fact, unless the parties are married at the time the child is born or after the child is born, a father’s name on a birth certificate means little other than “This is […]
How Lying About Adultery Can Ruin Your Case
It’s true that mundane adultery does not necessarily affect custody arguments … but sometimes it does. The problem with adultery is that it is dishonest, and this makes the adulterer a liar. The tendency to lie is often not limited to a few instances of bad conduct. One lie often requires ten more to perpetuate […]
Attorneys Fees in Divorce, Custody, and Child Support Cases
Clients nearly always ask me if they can recover their attorneys fees in their family law case. My response is almost always a very tentative “maybe.” The short answer is: – Divorce: Sometimes – Custody: Rarely – Child Support: Often In a divorce proceeding, both parties are entitled to a reasonable sum from the marital estate […]
8 Excellent Ways to Ruin Your Custody Case
Custody decisions are some of the hardest for parents and judges to make. Most of the time, the parents are able to figure out a custody arrangement that works, if not well, at least “good enough.” When parents can’t make the decision, they leave the decision in the hands of a judge. Judges are well-intentioned, […]