The Maley Firm

10/30/2020

No mask, no custody? Addressing the risks of COVID can pose special problems for existing custody and visitation schedules. While most courts in California are now open, they are nearly all operating at a reduced capacity. Getting new custody orders, or modifications to existing custody orders, can take time. In the meantime. parents, lawyers, and judges must improvise to balance children’s need to spend meaningful time with their parents and the unique risks posed to families where children are moving between two homes.

https://www.courts.ca.gov/43589.htm

10/27/2020

In a recent The New York Times op-ed related to the pandemic, author Kim Brooks recounts how her family law attorney told her that she does not call herself a divorce lawyer, instead saying that she works in family restructuring. Brooks says, “It occurs to me that a lot of families are going to need some restructuring by the time this is over. Also, I think, many of them probably needed it before.“ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/opinion/divorce-marriage-coronavirus.html

10/23/2020

“The pandemic is creating new dynamics that will continue to redefine marital and family law for years to come. Considering that stress is at an all-time high and family finances are at an all-time low, the rising divorce rate and the desire for cost-efficient solutions we are seeing today should not come as a surprise,” according to Law.com. Read more about “Marriage and Divorce in the Time of Covid:”
https://www.law.com/dailybusinessreview/2020/09/23/marriage-and-divorce-in-the-time-of-covid/

10/21/2020

With health being at the front of most people’s minds these days, This Financial Advisor Magazine article provides guidance on estate documents you may want to consider updating: https://www.fa-mag.com/news/estate-planning-considerations-in-light-of-covid-19-56321.html

10/19/2020

No mask, no custody? Addressing the risks of COVID can pose special problems for existing custody and visitation schedules. While most courts in California are now open, they are nearly all operating at a reduced capacity. Getting new custody orders, or modifications to existing custody orders, can take time. In the meantime. parents, lawyers, and judges must improvise to balance children’s need to spend meaningful time with their parents and the unique risks posed to families where children are moving between two homes.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/06/18/coronavirus-navigating-uncharted-territory-of-child-custody-disputes-fueled-by-virus-fears/

10/14/2020

“Even the most amicable relationship under constant duress, such as a national health crisis, can create friction. This is especially true for co-parents navigating complicated relationships with their exes. Trying to get in sync about a shared pandemic protocol, or not, as states reopen has left many families exhausted, frustrated and — most of all — anxious.”

This Washington Post story highlights co-parenting complications brought on by the pandemic: https://www.washingtonpost.com/road-to-recovery/2020/09/15/co-parenting-visitation-covid/?fbclid=IwAR1T_Vtd2gD00KYnMSSOIAKLERmA-b7WZz-NLTQlFyG-qL-92LvSEqwpSns

Co-parenting families across the United States deal with questions about custody and visitation during the coronavirus pandemic.

10/09/2020

In a recent New York Times opinion article related to the pandemic, author Kim Brooks said, “It occurs to me that a lot of families are going to need some restructuring by the time this is over. Also, I think, many of them probably needed it before.“ Read more about post-pandemic divorce, or “family restructuring” here: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/opinion/divorce-marriage-coronavirus.html

A lot of families are going to need restructuring by the time this is over. They probably needed it before.

10/01/2020

How is an attorney like a Sherpa and why is it important to have an attorney who understands what a Sherpa does? Family law attorney Drew Maley explains what makes for a good family law attorney: https://www.maleyfirm.com/tips-from-a-family-law-attorney/what-makes-for-a-good-family-law-attorney

09/29/2020

There’s more to custody orders than just deciding your child’s schedule. In addition to physical custody and visitation, there is legal custody. A parent with legal custody has the right and the responsibility make decisions about the education and healthcare of the child. Just like with physical custody, there can be sole legal custody or joint legal custody. Even where one parent has sole legal custody, it is not unusual for the parties to jointly hold legal custody. For more information on child custody in California, visit the California Courts website here: https://bit.ly/2FcZFbF

09/25/2020

Spousal support awards, also known as alimony, are one of the most controversial and contested issues in a divorce. Even a party who receives spousal support is expected to take steps toward being as self-sufficient as possible. In calculating spousal support, the judge will consider the marketable skills of the spouse or partner getting support, the job market for those skills, and many other factors. Learn more here from the California Courts website: https://www.courts.ca.gov/1038.htm?rdeLocaleAttr=en

09/22/2020

“Even the most amicable relationship under constant duress, such as a national health crisis, can create friction. This is especially true for co-parents navigating complicated relationships with their exes. Trying to get in sync about a shared pandemic protocol, or not, as states reopen has left many families exhausted, frustrated and — most of all — anxious.” This Washington Post story highlights co-parenting complications brought on by the pandemic: https://www.washingtonpost.com/road-to-recovery/2020/09/15/co-parenting-visitation-covid/

Co-parenting families across the United States deal with questions about custody and visitation during the coronavirus pandemic.

09/21/2020

The pandemic has presented new challenges for all parents. For two-household families, it can be especially difficult to align pre-pandemic custody and visitation plan with the uncertain and changing measures that need to be put in place. The American Academy of Pediatrics has published six key questions for co-parents to answer in “Co-parenting Through COVID-19: Putting Your Children First” in this article, via healthychildren.org: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/COVID-19/Pages/Co-Parenting-Through-COVID-19.aspx