Apr
26
2013
Zephyrhills, FL (Law Firm Newswire) April 26, 2013 – A pediatricians’ association has come out in favor of same-sex marriage and adoption rights. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently released a statement in the journal “Pediatrics” calling for same-sex couples to have the legal right to marry. The statement also backed adoption by those couples, a practice largely – but not universally – legal in the United States. “Same-sex marriage is the subject of a lot of legal wrangling, and adoption can be difficult for some of these couples as well,” Zephyrhills divorce attorney Marcie Baker commented. “Supporters will [...]
Apr
22
2013
Brandon, FL (Law Firm Newswire) April 22, 2013 – A Florida Senate committee advanced a bill to create a statewide domestic partner registry. Shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in two cases pertaining to gay marriage, the Senate panel approved legislation that would grant specific rights to domestic partnerships, including same-sex couples. “This is a step forward for same-sex couples and other unmarried domestic partners in Florida,” said Tampa family lawyer Joshua Law. “These individuals often have a difficult time pursuing legal arrangements that are automatically bestowed upon married couples.” The Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder [...]
Apr
9
2013
Brandon, FL (Law Firm Newswire) April 9, 2013 – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled a federal court must hear a father’s child custody claim. Jeffrey Chafin, a sergeant in the U.S. Army, found great solace in the Court’s 9-0 decision overturning the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal’s ruling that the case was beyond the legal reach of U.S. courts. Joshua Law, a Brandon divorce attorney who is not involved in the case, commented, “This is an unusual case to be argued before the Supreme Court, which only hears a tiny fraction of the cases appealed to it each year. Regardless [...]
Mar
27
2013
Denver, CO (Law Firm Newswire) March 27, 2013 – A request to retroactively modify child support highlights the care needed when making custody changes. A Colorado father was faced with a lengthy appeals process after being denied his motion to retroactively modify a child support order based on the change in physical care of his child. In 2000, a Colorado father was ordered to pay child support to the mother of the child. In 2008, the mother filed contempt sanctions against the father for failure to pay child support from July 2000 to April 2005. The father argued that there [...]
Mar
19
2013
Zephyrhills, FL (Law Firm Newswire) March 19, 2013 – A Florida man falsely accused of owing child support has won a decisive legal victory. Tony Schehtman, a businessman living in Miami, became involved in a lengthy dispute when his ex-wife accused him of failing to pay $3,632.25 in child support. A Miami-Dade judge recently brought a dramatic end to the case, calling prosecutors’ actions “reprehensible” and “irresponsible” and ordering them to pay Schehtman’s legal fees. Zephyrhills divorce lawyer Marcie Baker, who is not involved in the case, commented, “When a marriage ends badly, it is not uncommon to see jaded [...]
Mar
18
2013
Denver, CO (Law Firm Newswire) March 18, 2013 – In a Colorado child support case, a request for support modification was denied. In the case of Beatty and Turner, 279 P.3d 1225 (Colorado App, April 26, 2012), a couple’s marriage was dissolved in 2001. The father was subsequently ordered to pay monthly child support for one or more dependant children in the amount of $1,155. In 2009, the father objected to a garnishment of his wages to pay for back support payments he had not made, and he also requested a modification of the support amount. The case reached the [...]
Feb
28
2013
Zephyrhills, FL (Law Firm Newswire) February 21, 2013 – The Hillsborough County Commission has voted down a proposed domestic partnership registry. By a vote of four to three, the Commission recently rejected a registry for unmarried domestic partners. Commissioners Les Miller and Kevin Beckner voted with Mark Sharpe, who sponsored the measure, to create the registry. Al Higginbotham, Ken Hagan, Victor Crist and Sandy Murman voted against it. Zephyrhills divorce lawyer Marcie Baker commented, “This would have created a simple way for unmarried partners in the county to register for certain basic legal arrangements and protections. It is unfortunate the [...]
Feb
26
2013
Fairfax, VA (Law Firm Newswire) February 26, 2013 – Numbers released at the end of 2012 show some surprising information about divorce in the U.S. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, divorce rates have been dropping since 1996 for almost all demographic groups. While close to 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce, the numbers tell a slightly more interesting story. For first marriages, approximately 41 percent end in divorce, while 70 percent of second marriages are terminated, and 73 percent of third marriages wrapped up. In other words, the more an individual divorces, the more likely it is [...]
Feb
21
2013
Denver, CO (Law Firm Newswire) February 21, 2013 – The Supreme Court has agreed to review the ruling which returned an adopted child to her biological father. The adopted parents requested an appeal in the care of the now three-year-old, which the court had granted. The South Carolina couple adopted a Native American baby; her father is a member of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma. “Child custody cases such as this one are difficult for everyone concerned, and happen with some frequency,” said Denver child custody attorney Bill Thode. “Everyone typically wants what is in the best interest of the [...]
Feb
21
2013
Brandon, FL (Law Firm Newswire) February 21, 2013 – The “fiscal cliff” deal is a good deal for some families. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, also known as the “fiscal cliff” deal, is good news to families who plan to adopt a child or who have recently done so. The Act, signed into law by President Obama on January 1, 2013, makes permanent the existing adoption tax credit. Tampa family law attorney Joshua Law commented, “This is very welcome news for many American families. Too often, there are daunting expenses involved in adopting a child. This tax credit [...]
Feb
19
2013
Fairfax, VA (Law Firm Newswire) February 19, 2013 – After 40 years, Sesame Street, the long-running children’s show on television, is talking about divorce. Sesame Street has put together a series for children and parents, “Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce.” The Muppet character, Abby Cadabby, explains to Elmo that she lives in two different houses, because her parents reside in two different places. She also explores all the different ways she feels about having parents who are divorced with the help from her human friend, Gordon. “You can feel mad, or bad or scared, or sad, all at the same [...]
Jan
30
2013
Denver, CO (Law Firm Newswire) January 30, 2013 – Is it worth the time and effort to work with a child custody attorney? With more separating and divorcing couples unsure if they should use legal presentation or mediation to help them with the dissolution of their marriage, some also wonder if working with a child custody attorney is necessary. “The role of a child custody lawyer,” says Bill Thode, Denver child custody attorney, “is to work with the divorcing parents to reach the best parenting, living, and care solution for the child or children.” There are numerous issues to consider [...]
Jan
25
2013
Zephyrhills, FL (Law Firm Newswire) January 25, 2013 – The state of Kansas filed suit to force a Topeka man to pay child support for a three-year-old girl he fathered after donating sperm to a lesbian couple. Zephyrhills divorce attorney Marcie Baker, reached for comment, said, “The Kansas case is the unfortunate result of a lack of understanding of the law governing sperm donations and parental responsibility.” In 2009, William Marotta, 46, responded to a Craigslist ad posted by a local couple, Jennifer Schreiner and Angela Bauer, who wished to find a sperm donor so that they could fulfill their [...]
Jan
24
2013
Denver, CO (Law Firm Newswire) January 24, 2013 – Current statistics show that for every first marriage in the U.S., 41 percent of them end in divorce. Meanwhile, the divorce rate in the U.S. for second marriages is currently at 60 percent, and the divorce rate is 73 percent for third marriages. While not all of the unions that end in divorce do so due to disagreements about how to combine marriage and money issues, anecdotal evidence indicates that subsequent marriages tend to have trouble with the same issues as the previous ones. “While it is unclear how many marriages [...]
Jan
23
2013
Fairfax, VA (Law Firm Newswire) January 23, 2013 – One-third of adult homeowners now are living with their aging parent or adult child. Many of those adult children moved back “home” post-divorce. According to author Marsha Temlock’s new book, “Your Child’s Divorce: What to Expect – What You Can Do,” this is an all-too-common scenario. Adults who are put in the position of comforting and supporting their newly-split adult child may have some difficulty adjusting, says Temlock. “Divorce can be a transition for everyone in the family, not just the split couple,” agrees Fairfax divorce lawyer Lisa McDevitt. “Family members [...]
Jan
22
2013
Brandon, FL (Law Firm Newswire) January 22, 2013 – Divorce affects everyone differently. In this case, the woman spray painted a courthouse. “Divorce is a highly stressful event for everyone, particularly if there are kids involved,” pointed out Joshua Law, a Brandon divorce lawyer. “But even with the stress and tension being at an all time high, it is better to aim for an amicable divorce than a contentious one.” Consider the recent act of spray painting by an angry Florida woman in the middle of a divorce and custody battle. She took out her fury with a can of [...]
Jan
8
2013
Fairfax, VA (Law Firm Newswire) January 8, 2013 – Divorce rates continue to follow economic trends. The recent study, “Til Recession Do Us Part: Booms, Busts, and Divorce in the United States,” is out in early 2013, but researchers are already talking about how divorce rates follow the economic trends. A solid indicator of a growing and hearty economy in the U.S. is a high divorce rate, according to a professor of economics in the College of Business Administration. Abdur Chowdhury’s study shows that couples are more likely to divorce when things are good “out there,” and less likely to [...]
Dec
28
2012
Zephyrhills, FL (Law Firm Newswire) December 28, 2012 – The U.S. Census Bureau says nearly 60 percent of parents do not receive all of the child support to which they are entitled. “Unfortunately, a growing majority of parents do not get all the child support they are owed,” said Zephyrhills divorce lawyer Marcie Baker. “In this stagnant economy, that trend is likely to continue.” Court orders of child support can be enforced with the help of a family law attorney. State law also requires the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) to assist in the collection of child support. Some who [...]
Dec
26
2012
Brandon, FL (Law Firm Newswire) December 26, 2012 – The Florida Supreme Court heard a child custody case arising between two lesbians, but the case may be remanded to a lower court. Attorneys on both sides of the case said it will probably not affect other couples. “Although this case is unusual, it illustrates that divorce and child custody matters have many potential complications,” said Brandon divorce attorney Joshua Law. The genetic mother was an egg donor for her partner, who carried the child and gave birth in 2004. Two years later, the two women separated, and a child custody [...]
Dec
21
2012
Denver, CO (Law Firm Newswire) December 21, 2012 – Journaling and otherwise ruminating on the emotions surrounding separation or divorce may not be helpful. According to a recent study released by the Association for Psychological Science (APS), an individual who maintains a journal into which they record their feelings and turmoil during and after a separation, or divorce can feel just as badly months later. The researchers discovered that writing down feelings can often fix into place a sense of emotional distress. The APS researchers set out to evaluate the psychological effects of what they call “narrative expressive” journaling to [...]
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