St. Charles Family Law Blog

How can I be a more effective parent to my child?

On behalf of Turken & Porzenski, L.L.C. posted in paternity on Sunday, August 18, 2019.

Divorce can complicate a parent's job quite a bit. This is especially true if there is a lot of animosity between you and your ex, which often results in squabbles and disputes on the best way to raise a healthy and happy child. If you're looking for ways to be a more loving and effective parent to your children, KidsHealth.org offers the following advice.

While discipline is important, make time to praise your child for things she does right. For instance, if your child performs a chore without your repeated urging, be sure to offer ample praise if you wish to see the process repeated again and again. Negative feedback is discouraging and may lead to more behavioral issues if that's all your child is ever privy to. Conversely, positive praise is highly motivating and is bound to increase your child's self-esteem quite a bit.

How does divorce affect your health?

On behalf of Turken & Porzenski, L.L.C. posted in child support and spousal maintenance on Sunday, August 4, 2019.

Divorce affects your life in a number of ways. Along with financial changes that often occur after a married couple splits, many people also experience issues with their emotional and physical health. Health.com explains the impact of divorce stress and how you can cope.

Research shows that chronic health issues are more likely to develop in people who've been divorced. This includes heart problems that can have serious consequences, such as cardiac arrest. In fact, women who've gone through a divorce have a 12% higher risk of suffering from a heart attack than those who have not. Additionally, this risk increases with each divorce a woman experiences. Increased stress is also known to cause an increase in one's blood pressure, which in turn makes for a greater likelihood of stroke.

Postponing divorce until the time is right

On behalf of Turken & Porzenski, L.L.C. posted in high asset divorce on Friday, August 2, 2019.

Sometimes, people decide to file for a divorce immediately. For example, those who find out about a spouse’s affair or are subjected to physical abuse may instantly lose all interest in the marriage and want to get out as soon as possible. In other circumstances, some people may know that they want to get a divorce, but they may decide to postpone the end of their marriage. Their marital partner may be in agreement with this decision, or they may be keeping their intentions to file for a divorce private until some point in the future.

There are a lot of reasons why people decide to push off their divorce. Some people may want to wait until a child is finished with school, while others may want to wait until they finish their college degree. Financial challenges, holidays and family vacations are some of the other reasons why people decide to postpone their divorce. Regardless of the reasons behind this decision, it is imperative to approach your divorce in the appropriate manner, even if this means waiting until the right time has come.

Custody disputes and your outlook on the future

On behalf of Turken & Porzenski, L.L.C. posted in child custody on Saturday, July 20, 2019.

There are a lot of different issues that can arise with disputes over child custody. For example, a couple may have stress over how custody will be awarded, or how a particular parent having more or less time with their child will affect the child’s life. There are many different outcomes when it comes to custody disputes, sometimes people are able to secure very favorable outcomes while others may be less ideal. Moreover, it is important to think about the long-term implications of a custody dispute and do everything you can to prepare for court (as well as your life and relationship with your child afterward).

You may have a positive outlook on your future, hoping to gain custody rights and raise your child without your ex in your daily life. On the other hand, you may be very pessimistic and worried about losing the ability to help raise your child (or even spend time with them at all, in some instances). There are many reasons why it is crucial to review your options and your legal rights when it comes to a dispute over child custody, and your outlook on the future is one of them.

Dealing with unexpected problems and child support payments

On behalf of Turken & Porzenski, L.L.C. posted in child support and spousal maintenance on Friday, July 12, 2019.

For many parents, paying child support on time can be very difficult. Many people live from one paycheck to the next, and some have an extremely hard time staying current on what they owe. Unfortunately, this can become even more difficult (or even impossible) when an unexpected problem arises in life. For example, if someone’s car breaks down, they may need to buy a new vehicle in order to get to work. Or, if a parent suffers a major health issue, they may be unable to work and left with hefty medical costs. These are just some of the difficulties that can arise in life and they can interfere with child support.

It is impossible to fully prepare for unexpected difficulties that can arise, but when they do it is imperative to stay current on child support. Falling behind on child support can make life exponentially worse, and many people have faced serious challenges after becoming delinquent on their child support payments. Fortunately, there are options available to those who are trying to deal with an unexpected problem (or several problems) and child support. For some, setting up a payment plan allows them to work out their budget and avoid problems down the road. However, payment plans often do not address serious financial issues, and the modification of a child support order is necessary in some instances.

Sleep problems as a result of divorce

On behalf of Turken & Porzenski, L.L.C. posted in high asset divorce on Friday, July 5, 2019.

The divorce process can turn someone’s life upside down in different ways, whether they face financial challenges as a result of family law issues such as child support or property division or they have high stress levels due to a dispute involving the custody of their children. In some instances, divorce can generate a considerable amount of anxiety and it may lead to other concerns, such as sleep problems. If you are having difficulty sleeping due to your divorce, it is important to keep in mind that a certain amount of stress is normal. However, there may be ways you can address this problem.

Some people have difficulty falling asleep because they are stressed out, while others may wake up in the middle of the night because of their concerns about some facet of their divorce. People lose sleep over worries about how their divorce will affect their relationship with their kids, how marital property will be divided and their ability to adjust to life without their spouse. Our law office is well aware of how much pressure people have during such a potentially tumultuous time, and we believe it is imperative for people to focus on strategies that can help ease concerns and lead to better sleep.

How do I get a child custody modification?

On behalf of Turken & Porzenski, L.L.C. on Friday, July 5, 2019.

For divorced parents, sharing custody time of your children often is a struggle, especially as children get older and are spending more time with friends and being involved in extracurricular activities. However, how do you know when you might need a court-ordered custody modification? And when might you be successful when you file for one?

Social media and custody disputes

On behalf of Turken & Porzenski, L.L.C. posted in child custody on Friday, June 28, 2019.

There are many different factors that you may need to review if you are in the midst of a dispute over child custody, or you anticipate that such a dispute will arise in the near future. You should always look out for your child’s best interests, and you should do what you can to make the custody process as straightforward as possible while minimizing the emotional toll. However, custody disputes can be very difficult, regardless of a parent’s attempts to make things easier, and there are all sorts of factors that may come into play with regard to custody disputes. In the digital era, social media has become increasingly common, and online activity can definitely play a role in custody decisions.

For starters, it is important for you to be vigilant with respect to the information you share on social media. If you decide to post something that could be used against you, it may have a negative impact on your pursuit of custody rights. Sometimes, even information that may seem harmless, whether the content consists of text, images or video, can influence the outcome of a custody dispute.

Should the marital home be sold in divorce?

On behalf of Turken & Porzenski, L.L.C. on Monday, June 24, 2019.

Going through a divorce is an emotional rollercoaster. Many couples with children want to give their kids some stability during this difficult time and see keeping the family home as a key way to do that.

By staying, the children can keep going to the same school and maintain the same friendships.

Can a small business be considered marital property?

On behalf of Turken & Porzenski, L.L.C. on Monday, June 24, 2019.

If you own your own business and are going through a divorce, you may be wondering if your business can be considered marital property.

The short answer is: yes. Small businesses are like any other asset in a marriage. If a judge deems your business to be marital property, then they may divide the assets between you and your spouse. However, every situation is different.