DCF must inform parents of their legal rights at the beginning of the DCF Investigation. In the past, an Investigator would sometimes present parents under Investigation with a two page document called a “Parent’s Right to Know Pamphlet.” The pamphlet was 2 pages of questions and answers concerning basic answers to questions surrounding the State’s…
Automatic Orders in a Connecticut divorce are essentially restraining orders, which take effect at the beginning of a divorce case. The Orders are designed to maintain the “status quo” so that one spouse does not take advantage of the other spouse. The Orders attempt to make the early stages of a divorce more efficient and…
Effective August 15, 2011, Connecticut Practice Book Section 25-2A requires: If a party to a divorce wishes to enforce a premarital or postnuptial they must disclose the existence of the agreement within 60 days of the return date of the divorce complaint and demand its enforcement. If a party to a divorce seeks to avoid…
A recent survey found that 20% of divorced or separated pet owners are drafting written agreements to formalize custody arrangements. Other per owners are drafting agreements before a breakup, a “prepup”, which details custody and other decisions for the pet in the event of a breakup. Remember, pets are considered property in Connecticut. Therefore, in…
More fathers in Connecticut are “winning” custody according to a recent article in the Connecticut Post. By the way, “winning” is a lousy characterization. Divorcing with children must be put in its proper context. Any time parents involved in custody or visitation litigation think in terms of “winning” and “losing” they have sadly missed the…
Are you heading for divorce? Do you own a business? What strategies should you employ if your business is considered a marital asset? The article below, from “Entrepreneur,” sets forth seven maneuvers if divorce is contemplated. These tactics include maintaining good records, obtaining a fair valuation/appraisal, paying yourself a reasonable salary and maybe even firing…
I just read an article, which offers practical financial advice for those individuals contemplating or in the process of a divorce. I especially agree with the notion that not all marital assets are created equally. For example, a pension or other retirement plans are particularly attractive assets due to their tax treatment and the potential…
Yet another example of parental alienation. A father created a blog called “The Psycho Ex Wife” where he vented about his ex – the mother of his two boys ages 10 and 12. During a recent court hearing, a judge ordered the father to shut down the blog. According to the judge, the father was…
As part of a divorce or a legal separation, a court may make orders requiring parents to pay for college and associated expenses. In order to do so, the court must make a finding that it is more likely than not that the parents would have provided support to the child for higher education or…