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CLICK THIS LINK FOR A SHORT VIDEO ON PARENTING, COMMUNICATION AND YOUR CHILD’S BRAIN!
Children's Lawyer and GAL AMC in Connecticut
CLICK THIS LINK FOR A SHORT VIDEO ON PARENTING, COMMUNICATION AND YOUR CHILD’S BRAIN!
Child & Animal Law Offices is offering pro bono/reduced fee mediation services as a public service through the end of February only!
Although it is now legal for adults (21 and over) to purchase and consume marijuana, that doesn’t mean you can smoke weed without potentially devastating consequences. Responsibility is key. Marijuana is regulated and some people still can’t smoke it legally in this state (including people under 21 and people on probation). Just like alcohol or […]
RANTS: People walking around staring at their cell phones, completely unaware of the live people and action around them (myself included as I sit here blogging in the airport). Fast Food. Unnecessary C-Sections and medicated births. Formula. “Educational” Television Programming for kids. RAVES: Parents who limit their own “screen time” in front of their children. […]
The holidays are supposed to be a time with family and friends, for reflection and cheer. It’s a great opportunity to create new traditions or re-live your favorite ones. Don’t put your kids in the middle of your battle over where they are going to spend the holidays — it will likely leave an unintended […]
So many working parents ask themselves, “Which is better – a nanny or daycare?” The right answer will depend on your particular family and the financial resources available to you. It will also depend on whether you have more than one child and the age of your children. For example, infants and young toddlers will […]
Many questions and fears may arise when a nursing mother is facing divorce or separation. She may ask – how can I nurse my baby if the father has parenting time? Is it dangerous for my baby to stop nursing? What do I do if I’m getting divorced and my baby is still breastfeeding? First, […]
Do you really want someone appointed by the judge in your divorce case to stick their nose in your family business? Your first response is most likely, “No”. However, a Child & Family Investigator (CFI) will put the focus back on your kids. And focusing on them is what is most important in the long […]
The Child’s Legal Representative (CLR) is an attorney in a domestic relations case, appointed to represent the child’s best interests (as opposed to the child’s wishes – although, as a rule – I think the child’s wishes should be expressed to the court unless there are special circumstances indicating otherwise). The CLR does not file […]
In Colorado, if you have kids and you’re involved in divorce or allocation of parental responsibilities (“APR”) litigation, you may need to consider whether a Child and Family Investigator (“CFI”) or Parental Responsibilities Evaluator (“PRE”) needs to be appointed in your case. You may also be faced with the fact that the appointment may happen […]
Even after you’ve become entangled in custody related litigation, you can discuss with your attorney (or if you’re pro se, with opposing counsel) the possibility of settlement as opposed to going to trial. If a CFI (Child and Family Investigator) is appointed in your case, the written report may be a good tool to use […]
The negative impact of high conflict divorce on children is real. It can be scary, stressful, confusing, frustrating and exhausting. It can lead to disruptions in comfort and routine, problems at school and create behavior changes and/or aggression and withdrawal. Such changes may lead to unstructured and unhealthy risk-taking behaviors. Children may likely suffer a […]
When you have kids but never married your ex, you still need to consider having an official court order as to parenting time and decision-making responsibility. The parenting plan and court orders will help to ensure clarity and consistency. Hopefully you and your ex can figure out a way to co-parent easily but the plan […]
Nearly every parent involved in parental responsibility litigation wants to make a good impression upon the Child & Family Investigator appointed in their case. However, the CFI is not, cannot be, and will not become your new best friend. The Child and Family Investigator’s role is very clear in that the CFI provides recommendations in […]
A mental health diagnosis does not necessarily preclude a parent from being designated the primary residential caretaker, having parenting time or being allocated decision-making responsibility. The issue isn’t the illness itself but how the illness impacts that parent’s ability to identify and meet the needs of his or her children on a consistent basis. If […]
When parents who have a special needs child divorce, it is imperative that the new routine and environment meets the unique special needs of the child. For example, frequent changes or transitions between homes may be especially detrimental for a child who has a difficult time dealing with disruptions to her regular routine. A well thought out […]
When one parent lives a significant distance from the other, it can seem difficult for the child and non-residential parent to stay connected, present and involved in each others’ lives. The good news is that nowadays, there are so many ways to help mitigate the reality that after separation or divorce, one parent moves away. […]
Even years after divorce or separation, you may find yourself in family court. Child support, parenting time, decision-making responsibilities – they may need to be officially modified by the judge. A CFI may be appointed to investigate one or more of the issues at hand and make a recommendation in the best interest of your […]
In order to draft the best parenting plan for your children, many factors need to be taken into consideration. Some relevant information including age, development, routine, relationships, proximity of co-parent and expressed wishes are all important to consider. Other factors determined by law are analyzed as well. It is critical to keep in mind the […]
The CFI needs to be appointed by the judge assigned to your case. If you have an attorney, discuss this option with her. If you are representing yourself, you can ask the judge to appoint a CFI. You can ask the judge during a hearing or you can file paperwork to request a CFI. Check […]
A CFI (Child & Family Investigator) is appointed by a judge to investigate and make recommendations about contested issues in a family court case. The CFI’s role is as an investigative arm of the court and is specifically investigating the best interests of the child or children involved. Although the CFI performs the investigation and […]
Child Welfare includes a variety of issues and case types (Domestic Relations, Dependency & Neglect/PRNP, Juvenile Delinquency, Adoption). In Gabriela’s current practice, she focuses on domestic relations cases where she serves as a Child and Family Investigator (CFI). Divorce, separation and disputes regarding allocation of parental responsibilities are stressful events. In addition to coping with […]