Personal injury lawyers take cases on a contingency basis. This means that a personal injury lawyer is paid a percentage of the client’s judgment or settlement as a legal fee. Therefore, for some who are injured, there is a temptation to negotiate with the insurance company on their own rather than paying part of a…
Over the last several years, the policy in scheduling DCF home visits has changed a bit. In the past, just about every referral DCF received resulted in an unexpected knock on the door. Now, unannounced visits are reserved for those cases where DCF believes that the child needs immediate protection. For example, a claim that…
I get inquiries from time to time, on whether a legal separation or divorce is better suited for a particular client’s situation. For starters, a legal separation is similar to a divorce – the same laws apply regarding custody, child support, alimony and property distribution. Here are some considerations to help make the decision between…
Whenever DCF is involved there is always the risk that they might file a Neglect Petition in the Juvenile Court. It used to be that DCF would file Neglect Petitions virtually any time an Investigation was Substantiated and sometimes even in cases where there was no Substantiation. However, over the last year or two, the…
In Connecticut a divorce, there is no requirement that either spouse be represented by a lawyer. In fact, the family court tends to see a great number of self-represented litigants. You may not need a divorce lawyer if: There are no children who are issue of the marriage; If there are children, the parents agree…
DCF has implemented a new response to certain child abuse and neglect referrals. It appears to be an effort by the State to work together with families and service providers to address cases that are considered “low risk.” Essentially, rather than conducting a full scale Investigation DCF simply performs a Family Assessment – also known…
Yes – a prenuptial agreement can be contested in Connecticut. A party to seeking to enforce a premarital or postnuptial agreement must specifically demand enforcement of that agreement when the divorce is filed. If the other spouse wishes to avoid enforcement, they must file a reply within sixty days requesting avoidance of the agreement and…
It’s bad enough to be involved in a car accident. It’s even worse when the other driver flees the scene. In Connecticut, a driver operating a motor vehicle that has caused physical injury or property damage is obligated to stop and render assistance. At the scene, the driver is required to provide their name, address,…
Connecticut has been proactive in addressing school bullying. In June 2008, Connecticut enacted a new law requiring each school district to develop and implement a bullying policy and intervention strategy. Then in July 2011, Connecticut passed additional legislation to prevent school bullying and ensure that every child has the right to learn in public school…
By the time they turn 16, one-half of children in the United States will experience their parent’s divorce. If you are a parent and going through a divorce (or a contested custody case) it’s important to understand the impact that the process has on your children. I recently watched a quick film about kids and…