In Connecticut, parents involved in a divorce must complete a Parenting Education Program if they have children under age 18.
The program is designed to educate parents on the developmental stages of children, adjustment of children to parental separation, dispute resolution and conflict management for parents, guidelines for visitation, stress reduction in children and cooperative parenting.
A few points:
Parents may attend together but are not required to do so.
Online courses do not fulfill the requirement since they do not provide interactive participation through questions and answers and role playing scenarios.
The Notice of Automatic Orders requires that parents complete the program within sixty days of the commencement of the case. Nothwithstanding I encourage parents to complete the program as soon as possible so they may put into play what they have learned.
Some judges are fining parents for not completing the class on time.
Completion of the Parenting Education Program is amongst the “best interest” factors a judge may consider when deciding custody and visitation issues.
Successful people ask better questions.
But on Aristotle’s view, the lives of individual human beings are invariably linked together in a social context. In the Peri PoliV he speculated about the origins of the state, described and assessed the relative merits of various types of government, and listed the obligations of the individual citizen.
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Working from home meant we could vary snack and coffee breaks, change our desks or view, goof off, drink on the job, even spend the day in pajamas, and often meet to gossip or share ideas. On the other hand, we bossed ourselves around, set impossible goals, and demanded longer hours than office jobs usually entail. It was the ultimate “flextime,” in that it depended on how flexible we felt each day, given deadlines, distractions, and workaholic crescendos. Integer vel libero arcu, egestas tempor ipsum. Vestibulum id dolor aliquet dolor fringilla ornare. Nunc non massa erat. Vivamus odio sem, rhoncus vel bibendum vitae, euismod a urna. Aliquam erat volutpat. Aenean non lorem arcu. Phasellus in neque nulla, sed sodales ipsum. Morbi a massa sed sapien vulputate lacinia. Vivamus et urna vitae felis malesuada aliquet sit amet et metus.
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Folks hire a private investigator to find evidence. Straighforward.
In the divorce arena, I see private investigators retained for three purposes:
1. Prove infidelity. You may have hunch or a gut feeling that your spouse is being unfaithful but nothing more. So you hire a private investigator to conduct surveillance or determine whom an unfamiliar phone number belongs to. But whether cheating is really that important to the outcome of your divorce case is very fact dependent.
2. Uncover hidden assets. A private investigator has access to databases and records that we ordinary people do not. If you have doubts about whether your spouse is disclosing all their assets hiring a private investigator may be worthwhile.
3. Custody/visitation issues. Sometimes a parent has legitimate concerns about the welfare of their child when they are with the other parent. In those instances, they may choose to hire an investigator to provide documentation of substance abuse, the company the parent keeps and other unsafe conditions that their child may be subjected to.
Never hire a private investigator without first discussing it with your divorce lawyer. Your lawyer should be able to advise you on whether a private investigator is really a good investment based on the particular circumstances of your divorce case.
Injuries caused by a drunk driver are senseless. A driver swills too much and gets behind the wheel with unfortunate consequences.
It could have so easily been avoided.
Hail a cab. Phone a friend. Take a walk. Or of course, not drinking at all.
Drunk drivers are selfish.
According to a recent study performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 31% of all fatal motor vehicle accidents are caused by an impaired driver.
Tragic.
Intoxicated drivers are more than negligent – they are reckless. Therefore, in Connecticut, a victim in a drunken driving crash may be awarded punitive damages. This could result in double or triple compensation.
Nevertheless, establishing that the driver was impaired often requires thorough investigation and extensive preparation.
Sure – the drunk driver will be arrested but that is not necessarily enough to prove liability. For example, the driver may cut a deal with the Prosecutor and cop to a reduced charge. Or they might participate in the Alcohol Education Program for first time offenders. Successful completion of the Program wipes their record clean.
Two things to consider:
1. Notify law enforcement (arresting police department and the Prosecutor) that you were injured because of the accident. Ask for their help in preserving the evidence (blood, breathalyzer, field sobriety tests).
2. Retaining a toxicology expert to opine of intoxication. This may be necessary if a settlement is not reached with the insurance company and the case heads to trial.
Be safe.
A grassroots group, Connecticut Alimony Reform, is trying to change how alimony is calculated in Connecticut divorce. Putting limits on the amount that can be paid and adding “guidelines” appear to be the focus. In 2011, Massachusetts substantially reformed its alimony laws but Connecticut has not yet followed suit.
Alimony reform has sparked spirited debate amongst judges and members of the bar.
Those in favor guidelines believe that using a standard formula provides consistency and uniformity in alimony awards. (Child support in Connecticut is determined by guidelines). Set guidelines will also likely decrease litigation concerning alimony orders.
Those who oppose a guideline-based determination argue that no two-divorce cases are identical. Therefore, judges need the discretion and flexibility to craft orders based on the particular circumstances of the case at hand.
A report on potential alimony reform will be presented to the Judiciary Committee by February 1, 2014. So for now, alimony will continue to be calculated as it has been for the last 40 years.
A few minor changes will take effect October 1, 2013. One requires a judge to specifically explain the reasons for setting lifetime alimony. As a practical matter however, lifetime alimony awards have become increasingly rare in Connecticut.
Alimony reform in Connecticut? Is it time?
Relocation cases involving children are the thorniest case a Family Court decides.
Sure, once in awhile, the other parent will agree – particularly if a suitable visitation schedule is worked out. But many times, it’s simply all or nothing. You know if a parent wants to go to California (Led Zep on in the background) with the children you don’t compromise and settle on Chicago.
And sometimes it even prompts the non-relocating parent to file a Motion to Modify Custody.
So here’s the deal with relocation.
There are two standards in Connecticut for relocating with children depending on the stage of the case.
- At the time a divorce is entered (or while a divorce is pending), a parent may leave Connecticut and relocate with the child if a judge finds that such a move is in the child’s best interest.
2. When a custodial parent seeks to relocate after a divorce is finalized, the relocating parent must satisfy certain criteria set forth in Connecticut General Statutes 46b-56d.
A recent case in Norwich highlights how a judge might analyze a proposed move at the time of divorce.
The mother requested permission to relocate to Tennessee. She had family support there with free housing and childcare.
The father objected since he would it be difficult for him to establish a bond with his 18 month old daughter from a distance.
The judge allowed the mother to move citing the economic benefits of the move and because the mother agreed to generous and flexible with visitation.
Consultation and Representation
I represent clients in child relocation cases in Family Court through out Fairfield and New Haven Counties including those who reside in Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Trumbull, Stratford, Bridgeport, Westport, Weston, New Canaan, Wilton, Norwalk, Darien, Stamford, Greenwich, Shelton, Orange and Milford.
Please email me or call me in Stamford at (203) 356-1475 or in Fairfield at (203) 259-5251 to schedule a consultation today.