As the “longest year ever” starts to draw to a close, we turn to thoughts of the holidays. The Halloween inflatables have come down, the candy has been eaten (except for that secret stash in the pantry!), and plans are being made for Thanksgiving and beyond. But how to plan and how to celebrate in this year of COVID-19? Extended families are separated by masks and geography. Many of us have experienced unspeakable loss since March, and all of us have dealt with fear, … [Read more...]
HOLIDAY SEASON 2020 – COVID STYLE
Can you believe it? The Holidays are upon us. I do not know where the year went. I guess COVID messed with my internal clock or something because although I cannot wait for the "New Normal" to return to the "Old Normal," COVID will impact how we celebrate this Holiday Season. Before I go any further, I cannot stress the importance of complying with your court order! No one should willfully violate a court order. "Willful disobedience." As it can expose a party to contempt and sanctions. It is … [Read more...]
Divorce During COVID-19 and Making Informed Decisions
As if COVID-19 isn’t enough to worry about, Individuals going through divorce are often overwhelmed by the laws involved, as well as by the financial issues. They don’t know what they don’t know, and they are stressed. Your attorney will be your primary guide through this process, explaining the laws as they apply to your situation and being sure that your goals and interest are addressed in the initial meeting and all along the way. Thee “goals and interest” will be paramount in … [Read more...]
COVID-19 Only Re-Enforces Wisdom of Collaborative Divorce – Part 4
Trying to get court settings for hearings in family law cases is a difficult proposition in normal times. Final trial dates are often available no less than 8 months, and up to 18 months, into the future, with the possibility of a continuance. And that was before the Courts closed to non-essential matters and all trials because of COVID-19. All cases set during the closure are now in need of reset and will have priority over newer cases. All hearings needed in pending cases but deemed … [Read more...]
5 “C’s” FOR CO-PARENTING AND COVID-19
For many parents, co-parenting when married is challenging and post-divorce it is darn near impossible. Different rules, different values, and different boundaries across two households can lead to significant conflict and difficulty in co-parenting. Add to this already bubbling cauldron of challenges a nationwide pandemic and shelter-in-place orders and the very real risk of boil-over readily rises to the surface, even for couples that previously had worked well together. Please read below … [Read more...]
COVID-19 Only Re-Enforces Wisdom of Collaborative Divorce – Part 2
In Collaborative Divorce, court access is not needed for resolution of the type of issues demanded in litigation, such as Temporary Orders Hearings, Temporary Restraining Orders, Injunctions, Discovery Fights/ Motions to Compel, Motions to Enforce, Depositions, Subpoenas, and compliance with strict deadlines in Pre-Trial Scheduling Orders, including those related to dueling experts. In Collaborative Divorce, all temporary matters and production of relevant documents are handled through the … [Read more...]
How COVID-19 Impacts the Divorce Process
In the current health crisis, families across the country are facing plenty of challenges. If divorce is on your horizon, you might wonder if it can even be done. Are courts open? Are lawyers even working? We are, and not only is it possible to get divorced now, it might be a great time, especially if you take the collaborative route. Here’s why: The Courts. In many jurisdictions, courts are shut down or limited for all but emergency proceedings. This … [Read more...]
COVID-19 Only Re-Enforces Wisdom of Collaborative Divorce Part 1
The following blog posts originally appeared on the Quaid Farish, LLC. Website. As the inherent nature of the Collaborative Divorce process makes it even more suitable for divorcing parties in the COVID-19 world, CDT felt it critical to amplify the reasons. The social responsibility of sheltering in place and self-quarantining has changed much of our day to day living. In the legal world, courts initially were closed and then closed, except to emergency situations limited to physical harm to … [Read more...]