One of the toughest parts of most co-parenting arrangements is that parents generally get to spend less time with their kids than they’d prefer. Even if kids reside with one parent most of the time, being away from them when it is their other parent’s turn for parenting time can understandably result in sadness for time lost. Thankfully, virtual visitation arrangements can help kids to remain connected with whichever parent is absent at any particular moment in time. Use of digital communication resources can extend beyond basic communication; they can foster shared experiences, help manage li ..read more

Parents often feel guilty about divorcing. They worry about the effect it could have on their children. Yet, if you feel you need to divorce for your own sake, then it’s probably going to be better for your children that you do. If you are in a strong, safe and happy place yourself, you are better placed to raise resilient, happy children.  Here are some ways you can help your children as they transition to their new reality: Work together as co-parents You need to communicate with your co-parent. If you find doing that face-to-face difficult, there are ways to make it easier, such as ema ..read more

Divorce is an emotionally and financially challenging process, especially when numerous assets are involved. Connecticut requires the equitable distribution of marital property to ensure neither spouse is left with an economic disadvantage after the divorce. But what happens when you suspect your spouse is hiding assets to avoid a fair distribution? Different ways assets can be hidden Hiding assets is an unethical and illegal activity undertaken by one spouse to prevent them from being included in the marital property division. It can take many forms, such as: Hiding cash by withdrawing money ..read more

Getting divorced can be difficult if you have children and you have to split up custody. You and the other co-parent have to work together to find a custody arrangement, or the court can decide how you should split up parenting time and decision-making power. Another common issue is property division, where you split up the marital assets that you own together. But how do pets fit into this picture? Say that you and your partner purchased a pet together shortly after getting married. How will it be handled if you get divorced? Your pet counts as property The most important thing to remember is ..read more

Many people see financial success as a positive for their relationship. For instance, maybe they’ve heard that divorce is more likely after job loss, which is true. Perhaps they’re just thinking about how financial stress often causes couples to have conflicts that may eventually lead to divorce. Wealth can reduce some types of financial stress, so it seems like it would prevent a divorce. But what research has actually found is that being wealthy may increase a person’s odds of divorce. A strong economy usually sees higher divorce rates. Why does this happen? The role of financial independenc ..read more

Conflict in a relationship often leads to divorce if couples can not resolve these disputes on their own. The disputes themselves could also drive a wedge between the two individuals so that they do not have the same romantic connection they had before. One way that this happens is when the couple did not have many serious conflicts in the past, and then they begin to start arguing frequently. This could indicate that there are underlying issues within the relationship making the couple unhappy. Because of these other issues, every little dispute suddenly feels like a major argument. The confl ..read more

Social media adds a new layer of complexity to the already challenging co-parenting dynamic. Social media platforms can impact a co-parenting relationship in various ways, both positively and negatively. Navigating this digital landscape requires careful consideration and may benefit from a set of agreed-upon guidelines.  When co-parenting, it’s important to be thoughtful about social media as a personal user and as someone responsible for setting limits for your child’s usage. On a personal level, you’ll want to be careful with how you engage on social media because it could impact your ..read more

As the new year rolls around, it’s time for co-parents to review and refresh their parenting plans. Why? A parenting plan, essentially a roadmap for raising children post-divorce or separation, benefits greatly from regular assessments and updates and the start of each new year is a great time to engage in these efforts. The practice of reviewing one’s parenting plan each new year helps to ensure that the plan remains relevant and effective in meeting the evolving needs of both the children and the parents that it affects. Conducting your review If you co-parent subject to the terms of a paren ..read more

Child custody cases are rarely a winner-takes-all scenario. Both parents end up sharing responsibility for the upbringing of the children after divorce in most cases, which is commonly referred to as joint custody. It means you are likely to share legal and physical custody of your children. Connecticut child custody laws prioritize the child’s best interests and custody arrangements must reflect that. The law presumes that children benefit significantly from consistent involvement and support from both parents post-divorce, which is what joint custody is all about.  Does the court ever d ..read more

After many discussions, you and your spouse have decided that you’re going to get divorced. It’s time to begin dividing your lives. Since you have a shared bank account, you’re considering closing that account and starting one under your own name. In many ways, this is a wise and necessary step. For instance, many couples will separate while they get a divorce, and they will both set up their own bank accounts so that they can have their paychecks deposited. Divorce can take months and couples have to work, pay the bills and take care of other financial obligations. You may need to close the a ..read more