In April 2018 Kentucky became the first state to require courts to use a rebuttable presumption of shared parenting in cases of separation or divorce. Translated into language still often used in Virginia, by default the court would order joint legal custody (shared decision-making) and well-shared physical custody (child living with each parent about 50% […]

by guest author Lydia Chan When I learned that my Aunt Lucille had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, I cried. This was the woman who held me on her lap when I was a child and often amused me with her dry sense of humor. As you can imagine, I was relieved to hear that she hadn’t

by Guest Author Krishan Smith Accepting a long distance situation We’re all familiar with the term long distance relationship. Many people have tried it; many would discount it as a possibility for them without even considering trying it. That’s because of all the perceived and the real issues that come along with it. It has

by guest author Jackie Waters Planning for the future is always important, but especially so when you have a child with special needs. You never know what bumps lie in the road ahead, what costs you might incur, or how financial conditions might change along the way. It’s crucial to make sure that no matter

In Part I on this topic, I described divorced co-parents who were fighting about the co-parenting schedule for their kids. It seemed unlikely that they would be willing to resolve their major dispute in mediation. Their most likely next step was to take the matter to court, where each would try to convince a judge that the

  Jack and Ann* have been divorced for a year and a half but are still fighting about their co-parenting schedule (still called child custody in courtrooms). This is a very big problem for their kids. Jack and Ann hate each other. They don’t trust each other. Each suspects that the other has ulterior, self-serving motives

Here are some things I learned from Rick Clemons during our Family Matters interview Nov. 10, 2015. Coming out as a gay person is a journey, not a one time event. It starts with recognizing and accepting what is true about yourself. Then you tell the relative(s) and friend(s) you can most easily talk with or

When the extended family gets together for a holiday, amidst the fun, awkward quirks and tense conflicts sometimes come out. This year may be worse than most. The recent election brought some huge political differences to the fore. Close to half of the people who voted chose Donald Trump, and more chose Hilary Clinton, who

One caveat as we begin: If one parent is actually abusive or otherwise harmful to the children, then the better parent’s avoiding the custody fight will not put the kids in a good situation. This article is intended for parents who are in the normal range of parenting abilities and styles. Here’s the short version: Custody

by guest author Paul Denikin Caring for a loved one who has Alzheimer’s can be overwhelming at times, and when the individual’s capacity for understanding and retaining information dwindles, there may be a time when you are required to step in and help make decisions for their day-to-day care and future. It’s extremely important to remember, however,