North Carolina lawmakers recently took a surprise step when a measure was proposed to create a waiting period of two years for those couples considering divorce. Beyond the wait, the bill would also require couples to undergo marriage counseling before being granted a divorce. The measure is backed by a group of Republican legislators who want… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Educational Resources
Subscribe to Educational Resources RSS FeedDo You Have A Social Media Will?
Posted in Educational Resources, Miscellaneous, Practice Tips, TechnologySocial media is everywhere. Each of us will die one day. We would be well served to prepare for the convergence of those two realities. The following article from my friend, Tim Baran, does an excellent job addressing this topic, and he’s graciously agreed for me to republish it last week at The Mac Lawyer and again… Continue Reading
For The Sake of The Kids…
Posted in Children, Communication, Educational ResourcesIn our practice, we listen to “for the sake of the kids” stories week in and week out, but rarely do we hear one that might actually be “better” for the kids than this one by Thomas F. McDow. What is so interesting is that the situation written about occurs some time after, not only… Continue Reading
Helping With Homework… Even from a Distance
Posted in Children, Communication, Educational Resources, Relationships, Technology, VisitationIf you are even remotely attuned to the world of technology, you have probably heard a mention or two of cloud computing. It’s the latest and greatest new thing to be introduced into our technology lexicon and is quickly becoming a tool that is indispensable at work and at home. A recent article on WiseBread.com… Continue Reading
What’s a Temporary Hearing in South Carolina?
Posted in Attorney-Client Relationship, Educational Resources, Practice Tips, Procedure, Trial of CasesIt’s typically the first big step in any divorce proceeding, but what exactly does a temporary hearing entail? In most contested divorces in South Carolina, a temporary hearing is held to allow the judge to get a brief overview of the issues at play in your case and put a temporary order in place to… Continue Reading
Sesame Street Tackles Divorce
Posted in Children, Communication, Divorce, Educational Resources, Marriage, Psychological Issues, Relationships, SeparationBig news on the children television front: Sesame Street has made the decision to finally deal with the messy topic of divorce. The production company behind the TV show didn’t arrive at the conclusion easily; instead, writers and researchers with the Sesame Workshop have spent two years planning the segment. The segment will star Abby Cadabby,… Continue Reading
Required Reading Straight from the Bench for Parents in Child Custody Cases
Posted in Child Custody, Children, Communication, Educational Resources, Relationships, VisitationRecently a Canadian judge issued a novel Order to two parents involved in a contested custody battle for their 11-year old twins. He assigned the parents with the obligation to each read three books about parenting in a divorce situation before they return to the Court later this year. Not only are they required to… Continue Reading
Tips for Safe Trick-or-Treating This Halloween
Posted in Children, Educational Resources, Miscellaneous, SafetyThe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers the following tips on costumes, treats and decorations to help your children trick-or-treat safely this year: Costumes: When purchasing costumes, masks, beards and wigs, look for flame-resistant fabrics such as nylon or polyester, or look for the label “Flame Resistant.” Flame-resistant fabrics will resist burning and should extinguish quickly. To… Continue Reading
HBO Documentary Lets Kids Give Parents Advice About Divorce
Posted in Child Custody, Children, Communication, Dispute Resolution, Divorce, Educational Resources, Psychological Issues, Relationships, Separation, VisitationIt’s pretty easy for one adult to share advice with another on how to handle your divorce. But for many parents, the divorce process is so full of details concerns unique to their family that tips from well-meaning friends, family members and colleagues can easily go in one ear and out the other. A new… Continue Reading
Stroke in Men Linked to Parents’ Divorce
Posted in Children, Divorce, Educational Resources, Medical Issues, SafetyEveryone knows that certain stressors make humans more susceptible to various medical problems. Stress-related conditions are usually preventable, but this depends on those affected knowing that there is a link between their stress and possible future harm. In that theme, researchers recently announced that they have discovered an association, though not a causal link, between… Continue Reading
Does Your Child Need Therapy After Your Divorce?
Posted in Child Custody, Children, Divorce, Educational Resources, Psychological Issues, Relationships, Separation, VisitationIf you’re going through a divorce or about to begin the process and have children, one of your top concerns will likely be the impact it will have on the kids. You may be worried about what signs to watch for and what behaviors signal that your child is experiencing problems that may require professional… Continue Reading
Study Examines Impact of Divorce on Drinking
Posted in Divorce, Educational Resources, Marriage, Medical Issues, SeparationA recent article on ABCNews.com discussed a study which sought to examine alcohol’s role before and after marriage. The study, presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association, looked at 5,300 people over a ten-year period and contained some surprising results. Lead researcher Corinne Reczek, assistant professor in sociology at the University of… Continue Reading
Teenagers and Divorce: What You Can do to Help Them Cope
Posted in Children, Communication, Divorce, Educational Resources, Psychological Issues, Relationships, SeparationThe following guest post is from fellow family lawyer, John Irving: Divorces are hard on everyone, but they can be especially hard on children for a number of reasons. Teenagers and divorce can be especially difficult to navigate, as studies have shown that teenagers and their fathers aren’t especially close following a divorce. But you can… Continue Reading
How Counseling Can Save A Marriage from Divorce (and How it Can’t)
Posted in Communication, Dispute Resolution, Educational Resources, Marriage, Psychological Issues, RelationshipsThe following Guest Post is from Aileen Pablo: Many believe that before taking a drastic step, like breaking up a family with divorce, you should first seek counseling. In fact, some states, like Nebraska and Wyoming, are introducing legislation that would make it mandatory to have at least three sessions with a marriage counselor before a… Continue Reading
Spartanburg Family Lawyer Ben Stevens Discusses Gray Divorce
Posted in Assets and Debts, Divorce, Educational Resources, Financial Issues, Marriage, Relationships, Separation, TechnologyLast week, I published an article about the increasing trend of older couples getting divorced, which has become known as “gray divorce.” I was interviewed this week by Colin O’Keefe of LXBN TV on this topic. Is this trend due to changes in the economy, advances in technology, or poor communication? Watch the interview below to… Continue Reading
College Costs and the Impact of Divorced Parents
Posted in Child Support, Children, Educational Resources, Financial IssuesThough college has never been cheap, the amount of money needed nowadays is bordering on the absurd. According to U.S. News and World Report, the average tuition for a private university now exceeds $35,000, while kids in public schools can expect to pay almost $20,000. With costs so high, it is no wonder that parents… Continue Reading
Facebook Named in One-Third of All Divorce Filings
Posted in Communication, Discovery, Divorce, Educational Resources, Marriage, Practice Tips, Relationships, Research & Investigation, Separation, Technology, Trial of CasesFacebook has made news this week thanks to its somewhat lackluster IPO. It’s now in the news for a different and surprising reason, a survey revealed that in 2011 one-third of all divorce filing contained the word “Facebook.” The Wall Street Journal mentioned the shocking statistic and highlighted the news that 80% of U.S. divorce… Continue Reading
Divorce Expo Marks a New Twist on Convention Ideas
Posted in Divorce, Educational Resources, Relationships, SeparationAccording to a recent CNBC article, a divorce expo called “Start Over Smart,” took place in New York over the weekend and was much like a bridal expo, only with lawyers instead of white gowns. The expo was the idea of Francine Baras and Nicole Baras Feuer, a mother-daughter team who have both been through the… Continue Reading
Is Marriage Becoming a Thing of the Past?
Posted in Divorce, Educational Resources, Marriage, Relationships, SeparationAccording to a recent article by the Associated Press, couples are becoming increasingly less likely to take the plunge into marriage. One recently single woman described what is the both the benefit and the problem of the trend towards cohabitation, “You start to see how people handle confrontation, financial realities, challenges, the housework load. If… Continue Reading
Judges Weigh in on Children’s Weight Problems
Posted in Children, Educational Resources, SafetyWhen it comes to settling child custody disputes in South Carolina and elsewhere, judges consider several factors in effort to determine what is in the best interests of the children. These factors can include the relationship the children have with each parent, the preference of the children, if old enough, the children’s current living situation… Continue Reading
Great Tips for Dads Raising Daughters
Posted in Children, Communication, Educational Resources, RelationshipsAttention dads – if you have a daughter, please do yourself a favor and take a few minutes to read the list of tips from Michael Mitchell, which contains many suggestions to help you be a better father to her. His list includes the following gems: Love her mom. Treat her mother with respect, honor, and a big… Continue Reading
When One Spouse Surprises the Other with Divorce
Posted in Attorney-Client Relationship, Divorce, Educational Resources, SeparationI read the following article on Rob Hagy’s Virginia Family Law Blog and felt compelled to share it with my readers. Most experienced family law attorneys have faced the difficult, heart-wrenching situation of having a spouse sitting across from them who has been completely shocked and/or blindsided by the prospect of facing a separation or… Continue Reading
Meditation for Successful Lawyers
Posted in Educational ResourcesThe following Guest Post is from retired attorney Sonia Gallagher: As an attorney who practiced in several fields of law in Florida and had my own Law Firm, I know that the law is an unforgiving profession. Being a lawyer requires a commitment of tireless dedication and perfection. Society places a standard of extremely… Continue Reading
All the Top Family Law News in One Convenient Location
Posted in Educational Resources, TechnologyThose looking for updates in family law topics now have everything they need in one convenient spot: Alltop’s Family Law page. This page includes many popular resources, including Divorce Discourse, Blawg Republic, Google News, and my own South Carolina Family Law Blog. If you’re not familiar with Alltop, you should be. It’s a service that… Continue Reading