Our Family Wizard is an online communication resource that Connecticut judges have been ordering families to use to manage co-parenting issues.
The gizmo has been around since 2001 so it is not exactly new technology. Recently though I have seen it utilized more and more – especially in high conflict custody cases.
Here’s what it can do:
- Coordinate parenting time by using a shared family calendar;
- Log expenses and keep track of payments;
- Allow access to the child’s health, school and other pertinent records;
- Store email securely with date and time of correspondence;
- Send automated notices/reminders.
Read a recent article about this topic here:
Joint Custody, From a Distance – NYTimes.com
The feedback I have received about Our Family Wizard is generally favorable. I do think it decreases friction and tension by policing parents who might otherwise be unreasonable or unneccesarily combative.
Above all I like that the program eliminates any notion that the children should ever act as messengers between parents.
Many parents going through a divorce or custody battle initially seek sole custody. But is sole custody in your child’s best interest? And what does sole custody really mean?
Sole custody may be awarded to one parent if the other parent has exhibited certain behavior, which indicates that he or she is unfit to share custody and participate meaningfully in decisions affecting the child.
These include, but are not limited to:
- Domestic violence between the parents;
- Other displays of violence or inability to control anger;
- History of mental health issues;
- Substance abuse;
- Parental alienation;
- Other manipulative behavior such as making false abuse or neglect allegations against the other parent;
- The inability of the parents to agree, cooperate and communicate in important matters relating to the child.
However, sole custody does not mean that the other parent will be completely uninvolved in the child’s life.
In all but the most extreme of cases, the judge will set a visitation schedule for the non-custodial parent. This prevents the custodial parent from unilaterally deciding when and under what conditions the other parent will spend time with the child.
The majority of custody cases do result in some form of joint legal custody (joint decisionmaking). Sole custody cases are the exception rather than the rule. Nevertheless, when circumstances are such that joint custody is not in the child’s best interest judges in Connecticut will order sole custody.
Please contact me to discuss sole custody in Connecticut.
Many people may have heard about the increasing number of accidents on Connecticut roadways. Sometimes, the people involved in car accidents may escape with minor injuries whereas for others, the accidents may prove fatal.
Recently, a Connecticut woman was charged in a wrong-way car crash, almost nine months after the incident. At the time of the accident, there was a passenger in the car with her.
Reports state the woman’s vehicle crashed into a Toyota Rav4. One person died in the crash while two others were injured. All of the people involved in the accident were taken to a hospital for treatment. Although the accused and the driver of the other car escaped with minor injuries, the woman’s passenger died from her injuries.
The original police report stated that the accused was the passenger in the vehicle. Later, it was confirmed by police that the woman was actually driving the vehicle that caused the accident.
According to sources, the woman has been charged with vehicular manslaughter, lying to police and driving under the influence. She also faces additional charges in connection with the accident.
Sometimes, drivers’ careless and negligent actions like driving the wrong way or drunk driving can end tragically. Families may lose a loved one due to the negligence of another. As a result of the accident, the family may also face economic losses. In such cases, the victim’s family may file a claim for compensation against the liable driver. Any other person injured in the accident may also file a claim for compensation.
Compensation may be claimed for lost wages, pain and suffering and medical expenses. Other relevant costs may also be claimed from the person responsible. The advice of an attorney experienced in such matters is important in order to understand what actions can be taken. The attorney may advise the victim or the victim’s family on the correct legal action and may also give advice regarding victim’s rights under Connecticut law.
Source: NBC Connecticut, “Woman Charged in Fatal Wrong-Way Crash,” Nov 9, 2012.
Rear end car accidents are the most common type of auto collision. Unfortunately, even those that happen at a low rate of speed can cause significant injuries to both drivers and passengers.
These injuries frequently include:
- whiplash
- head injury (including concussion)
- back injury (bulging disc, herniated disc)
- neck injury
- broken bones
Many of these “rear enders” occur at intersections when a driver has stopped at a stop sign or is waiting for a traffic light to change.
In most rear end car accidents, it is clear that the person driving the car that struck the rear end of the other vehicle is at fault. But this does not mean that resolving your property damage and personal injury claims with an insurance adjuster will be easy. Insurance companies are reluctant to simply pay for all of your medical treatment, lost wages and pain and suffering.
After all, insurance adjusters work for the insurance company not for the injured driver or passengers. Their job is to pay you as little as money as possible (often much less than the case is worth) and close your file right away.
How will they do this?
Adjusters will minimize your injuries. They will question your course of medical treatment. They might even dispute who was “at fault” by alleging that you stopped suddenly or were otherwise not operating your vehicle safely.
Do not settle your case for less than you are entitled to. Once you sign a release with the insurance company, you will be forever barred from making future claims.
Please email me or call (203) 259-5251 if you would like more information on rear end car accidents.
Some people are offended by the idea of a prenuptial agreement or think it’s distasteful. Of course, discussing the topic is awkward and certainly not romantic.
But putting aside those thoughts, prenuptial agreements serve a very practical purpose.
And they are not just for the wealthy.
If drafted properly, these agreements clarify the financial responsibilities of each party during the marriage as well as govern the distribution of any and all property in the event of divorce or death of one the spouses.
Death benefits as part of life insurance policies and the right of a spouse to participate under a retirement plan are often topics covered in a prenuptial agreement.
Prenuptial agreements may set forth an alimony schedule or eliminate spousal support altogether.
These agreements can also determine how property will be passed on to children from a previous marriage.
But there are certain areas that are out out of bounds. For example, prenuptial agreements cannot cover the care, custody or visitation of children. In addition, the right of a child to support from a parent cannot be adversely affected by the terms of a premarital agreement. Finally, no provsions may be in violation of public policy or of a statute imposing a criminal penalty.
To avoid extensive and expensive divorce litigation consider a prenuptial agreement.
A person walking on the road is vulnerable to accidents. Although motor vehicle drivers are supposed to watch out for pedestrians, sometimes negligent actions by a driver may cause an accident. Connecticut residents must be aware of pedestrian accidents that take place while using a crosswalk or walking in a parking lot. Recently, a person was hit in a crosswalk by a pickup truck.
According to authorities, a man was crossing a road when a truck hit him. The man sustained serious injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. It was also reported that the truck driver did not receive any injuries.
Neighbors stated that they heard a crash and found the victim moaning loudly due to pain. It was also stated that the victim was lying on the road when an emergency team arrived at the scene. Police documented shoes and clothing that were found on the road. The road was closed for some time because of the investigation.
People residing near the accident location stated that many vehicles often speed on the road. It has been noted by the Department of Transportation that 91 accidents have taken place on the same road from 2008 to 2010. However, none of them were reported to be pedestrian accidents. As officials were concerned about the safety of pedestrians, medians were built at crosswalks. But at this location where the victim was crossing the road, there was no median.
When a pedestrian is involved in an accident, it may result in life threatening injuries. The person may receive catastrophic injuries to the head, neck and back. In this case, the person is likely to have medical expenses, rehabilitation costs and loss of wages due to his or her injuries.
According to Connecticut law, a person injured in an accident may be eligible to file a claim for compensation from the driver responsible for the accident. The person may make a claim for loss of wages, pain and suffering, rehabilitation and medical expenses. The person also may claim damages for diminished quality of life, particularly if some injuries become permanent in nature.
Source: The Cheshire Citizen, “Pedestrian struck on West Main Street in Cheshire,” Richie Rathsack, Nov. 2, 2012.