In South Carolina, when people separate or divorce, one spouse is typically awarded “exclusive use and possession” of the marital home. This is usually implemented at a temporary hearing soon after the parties separate, but it is subject to change at the final hearing. In either case, an Order is issued specifying who has possession… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Safety
Subscribe to Safety RSS FeedWhat Not To Do With Your Child During Visitation
Posted in Children, D.S.S. Issues, SafetyThis probably goes without saying, but having your nine year old daughter act as your designated driver during your weekend visitation with her is not a smart idea. Apparently, however, one guy was not aware of this: “Dad Charged With Child Abuse” The saddest part of all of this is that from the story, it truly… Continue Reading
Always Think Safety First
Posted in SafetyThere’s been news this week of another courthouse shooting, this time in Chesterfield County, SC. The news report states that a 21-year-old mother was ambushed and shot twice by her child’s father following a child support hearing in Family Court. Apparently, the father did not attend the court hearing, but was instead waiting outside the… Continue Reading
Cyberbulling Is a Very Real Problem – How to Protect Your Kids
Posted in Children, Dispute Resolution, Domestic Abuse, Harassment, SafetyWith the integration of the internet and “social” networks into almost every area of our lives, it was only a matter of time until someone used these innovations for the wrong purposes. Cyberbulling has become more and more of an epidemic and some of the most vulnerable victims, in my own opinion, seem to be… 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
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
Tips for Physically or Financially Abused Women Facing Divorce
Posted in Assets and Debts, Child Custody, Child Support, Communication, Divorce, Domestic Abuse, Financial Issues, Psychological Issues, Safety, SeparationWomen that have suffered through an abusive relationship have to do all the same things that any woman going through a divorce would need to do. The only difference is that each step is made more difficult by the looming presence of an abusive spouse. It’s often the case that women in abusive relationships have… Continue Reading
Think Breaking Up is Rough? New Study Confirms Divorce Can Kill
Posted in Divorce, Safety, SeparationAccording to a recent article on HuffingtonPost.com, A new study entitled “Divorce and Death” appearing in “Psychological Science” shows that failed marriages can actually kill at the same rate as smoking cigarettes. Results were shocking as numbers showed that the risk of dying is a full 23% higher among those that have gone through a… 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
Who Is (Isn’t) Present During Hearings in Family Court?
Posted in Guardian ad Litem, Procedure, Safety, Trial of CasesIf you are facing a hearing in Family Court, you may wonder who will be in the courtroom during your hearing. Many clients ask this question, while others certainly wonder about it. Hopefully this article will help provide some answers to this question and ease your mind. Certain people are always present in the Courtroom during… Continue Reading
Safety in the Courtroom During Family Court Hearings
Posted in SafetyPeople facing Family Court must deal with important, life-changing issues like divorce, child custody, visitation, child support, alimony, contempt, etc. As a result, emotions can run high and tempers can flare. To ensure the safety of the parties, witnesses, Judges, and attorneys, all Family Courtrooms in South Carolina have a Deputy Sheriff present during all hearings…. Continue Reading
Tips for Safe Trick-or-Treating this Halloween
Posted in Children, 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… Continue Reading
How Old Is Old Enough? Age-Related Concerns for Childcare and Babysitting
Posted in Children, Educational Resources, Safety, VisitationIn child custody cases, parents often accuse each other of leaving the child inadequately supervised. The allegations can be that the child was left home alone or left with someone who cannot properly supervise the child (such as relatives who are too old or too young). Left Unsupervised: A Look at the Most Vulnerable Children,… Continue Reading
Online Safety Guide for Children
Posted in Children, Educational Resources, Safety, TechnologyFor anyone concerned about their children’s online safety, CNET has produced an extensive guide to keeping kids safe online. Not only is there written information, but the guide also contains video reviews, demonstrations, and parent-driven discussion groups. Their guide is divided into the following six sections: Developing safe and smart Internet citizens Parental controls that… Continue Reading
Consumer Reports Retracts Article on “Failed” Car Seats
Posted in Children, Other Resources, SafetyFrom a post on my South Carolina Personal Injury Law blog: As I previously posted, Consumer Reports magazine reported two weeks ago that many infant car seats were reported to have failed side-impact crash tests. However, Consumer Reports has now retracted the article after receiving data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, who reported… Continue Reading
Infant Car Seats Perform Poorly in Tests
Posted in Children, Other Resources, SafetyConsumer Reports magazine reports that car seats for infants often fail to withstand broadside impact. Manufacturers are only required to test baby seats in head-on collisions, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said they are working on developing their own broadside crash tests. Out of the 12 models tested, 10 of them failed the… Continue Reading
Family Safety Resources Available Online
Posted in Children, Other Resources, SafetyDuring the holidays, children are the central focus for many of us, so now is a good time to think about Internet safety. To educate yourself on both the dangers that exist online and safety precautions to take, visit: SafeKids.com FBI‘s A Parent’s Guide to Internet Safety For in-depth guidance on ensuring the safety of… Continue Reading
Tips for Safe Trick-or-Treating this Halloween
Posted in Children, 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… Continue Reading
Effect of Domestic Violance on the Workplace
Posted in Domestic Abuse, SafetyCan domestic violence hurt small business owners? A study last year by the University of Arkansas found that almost 40% of female and 22% of male respondents said they had been abused at some point in their lives and that 20% of threats and 72% of stalking incidents occur in the workplace. These statistics show… Continue Reading
Useful Resources Regarding Domestic Violence
Posted in Divorce, Harassment, Other Resources, SafetyThe American Bar Association‘s Commission on Domestic Violence has published two useful resources: For Clients: Domestic Violence Safety Plan: Safety Tips for You and Your Family. This downloadable document includes practical tips for protecting your children and yourself at home, at work, at Court, and elsewhere. For Attorneys: Tool for Attorneys to Screen for Domestic… Continue Reading
Five Ways to Eliminate Domestic Violence
Posted in Domestic Abuse, SafetyKnow What Domestic Violence Is. When spouses, intimate partners, or dates use physical violence, threats, emotional abuse, harassment, or stalking to control the behavior of their partners, they are committing domestic violence. Most victims of domestic violence are women. Children who witness domestic violence are also victims; they suffer from behavioral and cognitive problems. Boys,… Continue Reading
Trick-or-Treat Safety
Posted in Children, SafetyHalloween is now 10 short days away. Parents.com has compiled a list of tips to help protect your children from common Halloween hazards. These tips are concise, well-reasoned, and direct. If you have children, do yourself a favor and click on this link to take advantage of this excellent resource. You will be glad that… Continue Reading
Current Safety and Recall Information
Posted in Children, SafetyJustia maintains a website that lists current recall information for many products. Parents may find the Infants & Children section particularly useful, as it provides current recalls in the following categories: furniture, safety items, outdoor equipment, and toys. Animal owners might also want to check out the Pets section as well. Thanks to Dave Swanner… Continue Reading