One woman, who is Native American, says she was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of her husband, who is not Native American. This all apparently occurred on the Southern Ute reservation, so her husband was essentially free to do as he wished with no prospect of being arrested, she says.
]]> She says the abuse began at the beginning of their short marriage when she was 24. She says he slapped, kicked or punched her at least 100 times by the time she filed for divorce about a year after they were married. Tribal authorities apparently refused to arrest him because of the law.She says she fled, after which he showed up at their home, destroying things and smearing his blood over the walls. The following day, he turned up at her Colorado workplace with a pistol. A co-worker helped to push her out of the way and was wounded. The man was ultimately considered a first-time offender and took a plea deal on an aggravated traffic offense.
Members of congress are hoping to change the law with new legislation that would allow tribal courts to prosecute non-Native Americans. A version of the bill has passed in the Senate, while it is still on the table in the House. The changes would certainly affect the lives of Native American people and non-Native Americans alike.
Source: CBS News, "Native American women seek protections from abuse," May 14, 2012
]]>Mena Suvari, who has starred in several movies including the Oscar-winning "American Beauty," filed for divorce from her husband in January, citing irreconcilable differences. Now he's seeking $17,000 per month in spousal support.
]]> The actress' ex-husband, a concert promoter, claims in court documents that she makes $750,000 in yearly income. He is seeking $3,000 in dining expenses per month, saying that he's grown accustomed to eating out nearly every day at expensive restaurants.The couple was married for about 18 months. After Suvari filed for divorce earlier this year, she had reportedly sought to prevent her ex-husband from collecting any spousal support. It remains to be seen what will happen.
The 33-year-old Suvari was previously married to a man who was 17 years older. That marriage ended in divorce after five years. She told reporters recently that she never thought she would be divorced twice by the time she was in her early 30s.
A woman like Suvari being asked to pay spousal support isn't exactly common, but it's much less rare than it used to be. With more women juggling successful careers and being the primary "breadwinners" in families, somefamily law attorneys are saying they see women being ordered to pay alimony and child support more often.
Source: Huffington Post, "Mena Suvari divorce: Ex requests $17,000 a month in spousal support," May 14, 2012
]]>The legislation was already previously approved by the Colorado state Senate, for the second year in a row. If enacted into law, it would increase the protections afforded to same-sex couples, including in areas such as child custody, other parental rights, inheritance issues, and the ability to easily be involved in a domestic partner's medical decisions. The bill continues the current ban on gay marriage. Approximately a dozen states currently provide for either civil unions or same-sex marriage.
]]> The civil unions bill would close a gap in the designated beneficiary's law already enacted, which proponents say does not clearly address the child support and child custody arrangements to be made when a same-sex couple with children separates.The vote in the House Judiciary Committee approving the measure was a narrow 6 to 5 vote. Before the vote, the committee members heard approximately three and a half hours of testimony and engaged in questioning of witnesses.
Among the witnesses testifying in support of the proposed law were parents of children who are gay as well as a committed same-sex couple. Among the witnesses testifying in opposition to the law were a clergyman and a man who stated that he regretted having engaged in gay relationships.
Approval by the Judiciary Committee is not the last step needed before a full House vote, as debate and approval by both the Appropriations and Finance Committees are needed before the full House can take up the bill. Since there was not a chance for a resolution before the end of the legislative session, the governor announced yesterday that he was calling everyone back to work.
Source: Colorado Springs Gazette, "Civil unions face defining moment in Colo. house," Ivan Moreno, May 3, 2012
]]>As they've been continuing the dispute in court, it appears they've reached a settlement agreement. The details of the child support settlement were not disclosed, but the parties reportedly spent the entire weekend working out the details, finishing it off on Monday morning.
]]> Evangelista had been seeking hefty monthly payments for armed bodyguards and a live-in nanny for the couple's 5-year-old son. He was born after the couple's four-month relationship. They apparently didn't see each other much while they were together.While Evangelista can still collect quite an income from her supermodel work, she says that she now needs help with her son's expenses. She used to have an income of $1.8 million per year, but that was apparently reduced after a high-profile contract with L'Oreal ended. Pinault's attorney had previously called her request for such high expenses "ridiculous."
Pinault, who is now married to actress Salma Hayek, makes approximately $4 million per year. He is the CEO of a company that owns successful fashion lines, including Gucci and Yves St. Laurent.
According to Yahoo, both parties testified at the trial. Evangelista had been set to continue testifying earlier this week, but that won't be necessary now that a settlement has been reached. Pinault's attorney noted that everyone involved is happy that they can put the dispute behind them.
Source: Yahoo, "Model, billionaire settle NYC child support fight," Jennifer Peltz, May 7, 2012
]]>When a couple gets a divorce, some estranged spouses might be tempted to withhold information from the other party, such as the amount of money they have or activities they are participating in. That's not always a wise move.
]]> Through many means, a person can find out a lot about their ex by looking online. Going into someone's web surfing history, doing a Google search or examining what they've posted on social media sites can be revealing.Some people also use programs that can analyze digital bank statements in the blink of an eye. It changes the meaning of what a "paper trail" is.
Then there's the matter of people poking into an ex-spouse's life illegally, sometimes with the use of spyware or even recording devices or cameras. Even though attorneys may advise their clients never to use these means, it doesn't stop some people. Even if they find information legally, it won't always be admissible in court.
In any case, it's definitely easier now than it used to be to discover if an estranged partner has been lying about money or some other issue. According to the Wall Street Journal, one attorney says, "The trail left by files on a computer is etched onto a hard drive somewhere, just waiting to be discovered."
Source: Wall Street Journal, "Why hiding money from your spouse has gotten a lot harder," Veronica Dagher, April 30, 2012
]]>A national survey of law enforcement agencies shows that domestic violence is up and is likely a reflection of financial stress. In general police have been responding to more domestic violence calls, whether charges are pressed or not.
]]> The study found that 56 percent of the 700 agencies that responded indicate that the sluggish economy is escalating incidents of domestic violence. That compares to 40 percent of agencies two years ago.The president of the National Domestic Violence Hotline says the statistics are concerning. She says that financial problems appear to be "intensifying and escalating" domestic violence, according to the USA Today.
In one city, for example, aggravated assaults increased from 188 in 2010 to 234 the following year. Simple assaults also increased there. In another city, domestic assaults increased by 10 percent from 2010 to 2011.
A lot of it probably comes down to fear and stress. When people have big debts, lose their job or are under the threat of foreclosure, they are more likely to take out their frustration on domestic partners.
The survey was part of a review and examination of how the economy is affecting law enforcement by the Police Executive Research Forum. As the economy improves, theoretically there should be a decrease in domestic violence. Time will tell whether that holds true.
Source: USA Today, "Domestic violence rises in sluggish economy, police report," Kevin Johnson, April 30, 2012
]]>Anthony officially filed divorce papers recently, officially ending any speculation that they might get back together. According to the Huffington Post, Anthony cited "irreconcilable differences" in court papers.
]]> Compared to many other stars, the ex-couple is on much better terms. Since announcing their breakup last summer, they have continued working on a reality show they created and produced, "Q'Viva! The Chosen." Anthony says he and Lopez are following in the footsteps of Sonny and Cher in terms of their post-split work dynamic.The couple was married for seven years before announcing their split nine months ago. They had begun dating in 1999 but both ended up marrying other people before they got back together in 2004 and got married. They have 4-year-old twins. At the time they announced they news, they said in a statement that splitting up was a very difficult decision, that it was amicable and that they would appreciate privacy.
According to the divorce filing, Anthony is requesting joint physical and legal custody of the twins, and is seeking to avoid paying Lopez spousal support. It wasn't clear if she was planning to request any, but the pair does seem keen to get along for the sake of their work and children.
Source: Huffington Post, "Jennifer Lopez divorce: Marc Anthony files divorce docs," April 11, 2012
]]>There are also some minor situations, even fairly trivial ones, that may give a person pause as they ask themselves, "How do I define my family?" The Huffington Post discusses an interesting scenario in a recent article. How should someone classify a stepparent or stepchild on their Facebook profile?
]]> Interestingly, on Facebook there is not a "stepparent" or "stepchild" option. A parent can define themselves as a "mother" or "father" and a child can define themselves as a "son" or "daughter." So what do people do in that situation?There are only so many options. A child can list a stepmother as a mother, which can show all parents involved that it's possible to love more than mother figure or father figure.
On the other hand, many children would likely ignore the conundrum altogether and not list their stepparent as anything on their Facebook profile. This, of course, could seem somewhat hurtful to stepparents who already consider themselves invisible.
Then, of course, there's the question of what the stepparent will do. Clicking on "son" or "daughter" has even more implications because the child's biological mother or father is likely Facebook friends with them and could become angry
There are never easy answers in these situations, but even the questions themselves can offer a learning experience.
Source: Huffington Post, "What can Facebook teach a stepfamily?" Barbara Goldberg, April 6, 2012
]]>The man was in a relationship with a woman but they never married. Back in 2006, he donated sperm for her in vitro fertilization. The woman ultimately gave birth to triplets, one of whom died.
]]> He did sign a declaration of paternity and was listed on the birth certificates as the father. But after that, he says, he moved on, marrying another woman in 2007.The following year, the man was surprised to be facing a child support lawsuit. He was ordered to pay child support for the children, which was made final by a state judge in October 2010. He appealed, and an appeals court recently overturned the original ruling. He is now off the hook for paying child support.
The 47-year-old man, a former police officer and a competitive bodybuilder, says it is not uncommon that people ask him to donate sperm. He doesn't plan to going forward, calling the situation a "valuable lesson," according to Lubbock Online.
Over the years, he says he paid thousands of dollars in child support, which stopped when the ruling was overturned in March. He says he was "blown away" by being ordered to pay in the first place. His is an unusual situation, to be sure, but it is not unheard of.
Source: Lubbock Online, "California court says Texas sperm donor owes no child support," April 12, 2012
]]>10 million children in this country do not have regular in-person interaction with one of their parents. In fact, within four years of a divorce, nearly three out of four single mothers will relocate at least once. Both the children and a parent who lives far away can have a tough time.
]]> One thing that has helped the situation is technology. For many people, using Skype is as close to seeing their child in person as they can get. Courts are starting to catch up with evolving technology, and several states now have laws regarding what is called "virtual visitation."In fact, 22 states have laws in the works regarding virtual visitation. It is a way for parents to have electronic communication with their children. Where there are virtual visitation laws in place, a family law judge can have the authority to decide whether a parent can have virtual visitation, what form of communication it is, and how often it takes place.
As with any law, there are protections if there is any sign of emotional or physical abuse. Some critics argue that a parent could use the child's camera to spy on the other parent, although one could argue that such practices could take place in the absence of virtual visitation.
Advocates say it's a good way for parents to interact with their children when the miles separate them. What do you think?
Source: Washington Times, "Virtual visitation: A sensible child custody option," Myra Fleischer, April 15, 2012
]]>As it turns out, Johnston is expecting a new baby with his current girlfriend. Palin claims that Johnston has not paid her child support for 22 straight months. He is apparently required to pay $1,750 per month in support.
]]> Palin's attorney says that they had hoped Johnston would make payments voluntarily, but that doesn't seem to have happened. However, Palin so far has not requested a court order to force Johnston to pay child support because collection efforts could strain their relationship further than it already is, according to the New York Daily News.Johnston claimed recently that the Palins were trying to prevent him from seeing his 3-year-old son, a charge they deny. They claim that they have never discouraged him from seeing his son.
In February, Johnston tweeted something that raised a few eyebrows. During the Super Bowl, he noted that he had placed $2,500 on the Patriots, and that the amount was "this month['s] child support interest alone!"
With another baby on the way, paying the child support may seem even more unlikely for Johnston. It remains to be seen whether Palin will initiate court proceedings to force him to pay or perhaps garnish his wages.
Source: New York Daily News, "Bristol Palin: Levi Johnston owes me nearly $39,000 in child support," Brian Browdie, April 7, 2012
]]>A criminal defense lawyer who is a candidate for the district attorney position in the Fifth Judicial District was recently charged with domestic violence and harassment, among other charges, according to the Breckenridge police.
]]> According to the Vail Daily, the 44-year-old man turned himself in to the Summit County Jail late last week. The charges reportedly stem from a domestic violence incident at the man's home recently. What exactly happened that led to the charges isn't clear. Investigators did not release details and a gag order was issued on the case as well.The man is reportedly withdrawing from the race for the DA and is lending his support to a former competitor. His domestic violence case will apparently be handled by the district attorney in another district to avoid any sort of bias, since the assistant DA in the 5th district is also running for the DA position.
The man had worked as a deputy district attorney prior to opening his own criminal law practice. He also served as a judge in another court.
The consequences of the domestic violence allegations could have serious repercussions. Clearly, it has already affected the man's career aspirations. People who are convicted of domestic violence offenses are sometimes precluded from making key decisions regarding their children, and there can be other limitations as well.
Source: Vail Daily, "DA hopeful charged with domestic violence," Caddie Nath, March 30, 2012
]]>A Psychology Today article offers some good tips for how to co-parent effectively. Nothing is foolproof, but even methods people don't want to try can inspire ideas for something else. Here are a few of the tips.
]]> • Make consistent rules for both households. Predictability can be comforting for kids, so keeping similar rules regarding homework, chores and bedtime can be helpful to make their lives consistent.• Stay consistent with extended family members. It can be a good idea to talk with your estranged spouse to make sure you see eye to eye on how much time kids should be spending with extended family.
• Give frequent updates to the children's other parent. It may be difficult to want to communicate with an ex-spouse, but it's best to share information with each other directly than for one of the parents to hear something from their child first.
• Come to an agreement on behavioral guidelines and boundaries. If one parent is very lax and the other is strict, the child will get inconsistent messages, and this can lead them to act out amidst the confusion.
• Stay positive. It's best not to say disparaging things about an ex-spouse in front of the children, and if they talk negatively about the other parent, call them on it.
Source: Psychology Today, "The do's and don'ts of co-parenting well," Deborah Serani, March 28, 2012
]]>Such expos have apparently been popular in Europe for years, and now an American mother-daughter team is bringing them to America. The country's first expo took place in New York City over the weekend, and it's entirely possible that something similar could make its way to Colorado sometime in the future.
]]> The two day event, titled the "Start Over Smart" expo and which costs $75 for one day or $125 for both days, offers industry professionals involved in divorce, including money managers, counselors and other experts. There are even beauty experts, cosmetic surgeons and matchmakers. In all over 100 professionals participate, and there are keynote speakers as well.The mother and daughter say they got the idea when they went to a similar expo in Paris. One of them is a family therapist, while the other is a divorce mediator who herself is divorced. Both agree that having a collection of information at the expo could be beneficial for those going through a divorce.
According to MSNBC, they say that they want the expo to be uplifting, and to help let people know that they don't have to go through a divorce alone, since the process can be confusing and isolating. And with nearly half of all marriages ending in divorce, they say there is a need for an expo like this.
Source: MSNBC, "First divorce expo in U.S. aims to 'empower' attendees," Jillian Eugenios, March 30, 2012
]]>Now words comes that Rodman is way behind on making spousal and child support payments. Earlier this week a court commissioner told him he could be sent to jail for 20 days for contempt of court. He apparently owes his wife over $860,000. According to WPIX, it's more likely that Rodman will get community service time instead.
]]> Rodman's attorney spoke candidly and said that Rodman is broke and an alcoholic. His condition makes it difficult for him to get work, she says.Rodman, who is now 50, had a successful NBA career with the Chicago Bulls. But since then he's run into some trouble. Police were reportedly called to his beachfront home some 80 times, mostly because of loud parties, and his expensive lifestyle has cost him over $31,000 a month.
When his estranged wife initially filed for divorce several years ago, he listed $3.4 million in property and nearly $1.5 million in stocks and bonds. But that's apparently changed. His attorney says that he has no savings, and no longer even keeps a checking account. He apparently used his NBA pension to pay taxes, and still owes about $350,000 in back taxes.
Even for all he owes his ex-wife, Rodman says the couple is still close and that their dispute has "never been a hate thing," according to WPIX.
Source: WPIX, "Dennis Rodman could face jail over child and spousal support," Lauren Williams and Mike Anton, March 28, 2012
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