Same sex marriages in Connecticut were legalized in October 2008. But that doesn’t mean that spouses in a same sex marriage derive all the benefits of a heterosexual marriage. Some examples of inequality include: 1. Tax returns. Since Connecticut acknowledges same sex marriages a same sex couple may file a joint state income tax…
Yes – it does. It is true that Connecticut is a “no fault” divorce state. However, “no fault” simply means that a Court may grant a divorce without finding either spouse at fault for causing the divorce. For example, if the parties have reached a resolution on how to settle their divorce, a judge will…
On May 25, a Connecticut couple was awarded $58.6 million in a medical malpractice suit, the most ever recorded for such a case in Connecticut. The jury at Waterbury Superior Court sided with Domenic and Cathy D’Attilo from Norwalk in their suit against Dr. Richard Viscarello and his medical practice in Stanford, Maternal-Fetal Care PC….
Facts: An 8th grade student injured her leg during recess on a school playground when she ran into a steel post. The family sued the school and the New Haven Board of Education alleging failure to supervise the student, failure to inspect the school premises and failure to warn of a dangerous condition on the…
What is “joint custody” in Connecticut? ” I field a lot of phone calls on this issue. Here is how custody really works in Connecticut or what “joint custody” does or does not mean. Whether I am representing a parent in a contested custody case or have been appointed by the Court as a child’s…
The Legislature recently passed a bill designed to offer more protection to victims of domestic violence. Governor Malloy is expected to sign the bill. Here are the key provisions: 1. An arrest is mandatory for dating violence. Currently, the police have discretion as to whether those in a “dating” relationship should be arrested. 2. Those…
The DCF Hotline number: 1-800-842-2288. I get calls or emails occasionally from those wishing to make a report. Don’t contact me to make a report. Call 1-800-842-2288 Who should call? Anyone who has a “reasonable suspicion” that a child is the victim of abuse or neglect. Who must call? Mandated reporters such as school personnel,…
PAS has been defined as “a mental condition in which a child, usually one whose parents are engaged in a high conflict divorce, allies himself or herself strongly with one parent, and rejects a relationship with the other parent, without legitimate justification.” One argument in favor of PAS being recognized as a legitimate mental health…
A Montana lawmaker proposed legislation to require a couple with children under the age of 18 to attend seven sessions of counseling before being granted a divorce. He apparently wants couples to think twice (or seven times) before divorcing. The idea of counseling is not a novel one. What is unique is seven mandatory sessions…
The Huffington Post recently listed the top ten cases which significantly impacted divorce law. These cases cover many areas of divorce law including alimony, pensions, relocation, foreign judgments, palimony and visitation rights for grandparents. This a national list. In fact, no specific Connecticut cases appear on the list. However, some of these cases resulted in…