My son called me recently and asked “What do you know about Parental Alienation Syndrome?” (PAS) He explained that he asked because a friend is going through a divorce and is alleging that his estranged wife is attempting to turn the children against him. My son observed that he had often seen his friend with […]
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EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES & QUALITY PARENTING TIME
One of the most common legal disputes in family court that occurs after entry of a divorce judgment relates to a child’s extra-curricular activities. Invariably, a divorce client will return to my practice with one or both of the following common complaints: (a) the other parent has violated the divorce judgment by enrolling the […]
FIVE FAMILY LAW FAQ’S AND THE SURPRISING ANSWERS
There are a number of questions that I frequently receive from potential clients. These are inquiries I have heard many times over the years and which are often based on assumptions that are usually invalid. The following are the top five questions, and the answers that often surprise the potential clients. Question No. 1 – […]
IN WHO’S BEST INTERESTS?
Michigan’s Child Custody Act mandates that courts must make custody decisions in the child’s best interests. The Act goes on to describe the analysis the court must apply to determine the child’s best interests. I was recently reminded that staying focused on the child’s best interests (rather than that of the parents) can be emotionally […]
best interests, children, divorce, legal custody, primary custody, step-parentsDIVORCE – WHEN TO TELL THE CHILDREN
Although I am not a psychologist, I am often asked by my clients both when and how to tell the children that a divorce is planned, or even in the works. I do recommend that clients – especially those whose children are already in treatment – follow the specific recommendations of the therapist. For the […]
PICK AND CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES
I had a call from a potential client this past week, a mother who was very distraught because during his last week of summer parenting time, her ex-husband had taken their ten year old daughter for a haircut. He did not consult with the mother first, and she was furious about that. She called me […]
AN ARGUMENT FOR LETTING CHILDREN BE CHILDREN
Or, stated otherwise, requiring adults to assume responsibility for making adult decisions. It was with no small measure of incredulity that I recently read an opinion piece in the New York Times Sunday Review by Ruth Bettelheim, who claims to have “over 40 years of practice as a family and child therapist.” According to Ms. […]
Interview with Detroit Legal News
Recently, Steve Thorpe of the Detroit Legal News interviewed me for his regular feature, “Asked and Answered.” The topic was a recent Michigan Court of Appeals ruling in a case where the divorced parents disagreed on whether the children should receive childhood immunizations. As you may know if you follow this legal blog, I am very […]
REMEMBER THE CHILDREN
“Many divorcing parents are aware of how stressful change can be for their children, and they do all that is in their power to contain it. Other parents seem oblivious to the price they ask their children to pay.” Hon. Anne Kass, District Court Judge, 2nd Judicial District, New Mexico. I could not agree more […]
USING GUARDIANS AD LITEM IN HIGH CONFLICT CUSTODY CASES
On July 9, 2015, I blogged about the ongoing saga of the Maya vs Omer Tsimhoni case, currently pending in the Oakland County Family Court (Michigan). This is a high-conflict custody and parenting time case involving allegations that the mother, through brainwashing the children, has so alienated the children from their father that they refuse […]