When Co-Parents Disagree About Vaccinating Their Children
The Omicron variant is raising the stakes, again. As most are well aware, the CDC has approved, for emergency use, the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 for children ages 5-11, which means more parents are making decisions about whether to vaccinate children in this age group. Virtually every day, I hear from divorcing parents who disagree with their co-parents on […]
The Holidays Are Here: What Newly Divorced Co-Parents Need to Know
The first holiday season after divorce or separation is often the hardest. Particularly if there are children involved, divorce will affect the holiday season for all of you — including changing many holiday traditions. Changes may mean not having your children at your family’s traditional annual gathering or waking up on Christmas morning without your […]
There’s A New Law Addressing Pet Custody in New York
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed the bill on Oct. 25, 2021 and, effective immediately, the new state law now requires the court to custody in the “best interest” of the pet. Whether the Court will use many of the same factors that are utilized in determining the best interest of a child to determine […]
What do I do if my co-parent and I do not agree on vaccinating our kids?
The CDC has approved, for emergency use, the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5-11, which means more parents will be making decisions about vaccinating their children in this age group. Families began these conversations around their 16-year-old plus children, then younger teens, and now, the pool of those eligible has gotten considerably larger. Whether or […]
9 Considerations for You And Your Co-Parent as You Navigate Child Therapy.
Children processing a divorce in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic can certainly benefit from seeing a therapist. Keep the following tips in mind. Here are some basic rules of the road for choosing and dealing with your child’s therapist: Before you enlist the help of a therapist(s), make sure your co-parent approves of the […]
New York Courts May Soon Be Raining Cats, Dogs and Perhaps Parakeets
The new state law raises many issues including what consideration should be given to the allocation of resources with respect to pet custody, when people are waiting months and sometimes years to have their child custody cases determined.
Why “recoupling” can be more dramatic for your children than divorce.
Children often require time to process and adjust to the changes divorce brings into their lives. Introducing the prospect of a new relationship into the mix can be extremely challenging for children, no matter how old they are. Consider that with recoupling, there may also be new “siblings,” a new home, new routines, and of […]
Parental Alienation vs. Realistic Estrangement: Which Is It?
5 signs that might indicate your child is a victim of parental alienation. In some families, divorce may be coupled with a child having an extreme and seemingly inexplicable rejection of a parent. Parental alienation is the rejection of a parent without legitimate justification whereas realistic estrangement occurs for good reason. Signs of alienation include […]
A New Online Tool From LIFT: Legal Information for Families Today
I am proud to be a member of the Board of Directors for LIFT: Legal Information for Families Today. Our mission is to “enhance access to justice for children and families by providing legal information, community education, and compassionate guidance, while promoting system-wide reform of the courts and public agencies.” LIFT was launched inside Manhattan […]
Expense-Sharing Apps for Divorced Parents
Co-parenting is a challenge. Keeping track of parenting schedules and all the details of children’s lives is complicated, but probably the most difficult aspect day-to-day is splitting children’s expenses. When you add in heightened emotions, opportunities for conflict multiply. As a family law attorney, I am often called in to resolve disputes over money that […]