family law – Divorce Dialogues

How Substance Abuse Impacts Divorce with Aaron Thomas

Katherine Miller — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 01:00:49 +0000

EP: 131

Aaron Thomas

How Substance Abuse Impacts Divorce

KatherineMiller · How Substance Abuse Impacts Divorce with Aaron Thomas

Substance abuse adds another layer of complexity to the divorce process. So, what do you need to consider if you’re divorcing an addict? And what if you’re struggling with alcoholism or drug abuse yourself?

Attorney Aaron Thomas is the Founder of Aaron Thomas Law, a family law practice based in Atlanta, Georgia. Aaron began his legal career in 2002 as an in-house staff attorney for Habitat for Humanity International. He also served as a trial attorney in the Dekalb County Public Defender’s office for four years before starting his own practice and shifting his focus exclusively to family law in 2007.

On this episode of Divorce Dialogues, Aaron joins Katherine to discuss how substance abuse impacts the divorce process. He explains how drug addiction and alcoholism affect a judge’s decision-making around child custody, child support, division of assets and spousal support. Listen in to understand how Aaron handles a case differently when he represents the addicted party and learn what you should think about as the spouse of an addict considering divorce.

Topics Covered

Why substance abuse is rarely used as grounds for divorce even if that’s the issue

How alcoholism and drug addiction impact child custody

When (and why) a judge might award the addicted spouse a lesser share of the marital assets

How Aaron handles a case differently when he represents the addicted party

The trend toward seeing addiction as an illness vs. criminal activity

Why it’s exceptionally challenging to represent the spouse of an addict

The consequences of making your spouse’s addiction public in the divorce process

Why a judge might base child support on the amount the addicted party SHOULD be making

What a judge considers before awarding alimony to the addicted party

Aaron’s advice to the spouse of an addict considering divorce

Connect with Aaron Thomas

Aaron Thomas Law

Connect with Katherine Miller

The Center for Understanding Conflict

Miller Law Group

Katherine on LinkedIn

The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller

Email katherine@miller-law.com

Call (914) 738-7765

The post How Substance Abuse Impacts Divorce with Aaron Thomas appeared first on Divorce Dialogues.

Coparenting Through COVID-19 with Cameron Goodman

Katherine Miller — Wed, 27 May 2020 01:00:26 +0000

EP: 126

Cameron Goodman

Coparenting Through COVID-19

KatherineMiller · Coparenting Through COVID-19 with Cameron Goodman

If you had trouble seeing eye to eye with your ex before the Coronavirus hit, the crisis likely magnified the issue. And with the current restrictions on travel, following your carefully crafted custody plan may be impossible. So, what is the best way to approach coparenting through COVID-19?

Cameron Goodman is the founder of Goodman Law Firm, a Chicago area boutique practice specializing in divorce and family law. With nearly 20 years of legal experience, Cameron is dedicated to helping families in transition move forward with their lives, leveraging the collaborative process whenever possible to produce favorable outcomes.

On this episode, Cameron joins Katherine to discuss the challenges of coparenting through COVID-19. He encourages divorced parents to prioritize their kids’ needs over their own and be flexible with custody plans in light of the pandemic, leveraging mediation to facilitate communication when needed. Listen in for Cameron’s insight on how the collaborative process helps coparents work together in a crisis and learn what you can do to demonstrate good parenting judgement in this unprecedented time.

Topics Covered

Being flexible with custody plans in the time of COVID-19

Cameron’s advice for his clients during the Coronavirus pandemic

Prioritize kids’ needs over own
Adjust schedule to minimize travel

The particular challenge when divorced parents see the crisis differently

When the courts in Illinois are granting ‘emergency relief’

Why it might show good parenting judgement to see your kids less right now

How the collaborative process helps coparents work together in a crisis

Cameron’s description of a high-conflict ‘scorched earth’ divorce

The broader opportunity for creative solutions afforded by a collaborative team of professionals

Cameron’s DO’S and DON’TS for coparenting through COVID-19

DO make child available to other parent by phone, follow jurisdiction’s orders for safety
DON’T insist on travel exchanges

How mediation can help facilitate communication between coparents

What led Cameron to focus his practice on the collaborative process

Connect with Cameron Goodman

Goodman Law Firm

Call (630) 474-6700

Connect with Katherine Miller

The Center for Understanding Conflict

Miller Law Group

Katherine on LinkedIn

The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller

Email katherine@miller-law.com

Call (914) 738-7765

The post Coparenting Through COVID-19 with Cameron Goodman appeared first on Divorce Dialogues.

Understanding Parental Alienation with Charlie Jamison

Katherine Miller — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 01:00:06 +0000

EP: 027

Charlie Jamison

Understanding Parental Alienation

Parental alienation is a high-stakes game with serious, long-term consequences for the children involved. When a child is manipulated into showing unwarranted fear or hostility toward the targeted parent and used as a pawn in one parent’s agenda against the other, it alters their sense of reality and normalizes deceit in the context of relationships. What causes a parent to put their child in this position?

Board Certified Marital and Family Law attorney Charles Jamieson has been protecting parental and family rights for the past 37 years. As lead legal consultant to individuals with divorce issues in more than 20 states, Mr. Jamieson has developed a wealth of experience in the field of family law services and collaborative family law, and he is respected among child support lawyers, domestic violence attorneys, and divorce attorneys alike in his home state of Florida.

Today, Charlie sits down with Katherine to discuss the spectrum of parental alienation, explaining why cases of extreme alienation are difficult to treat with traditional therapy. He shares case studies of extreme parental alienation and describes how the practice impacts the child long-term. Charlie makes the distinction between estrangement and alienation, offering insight around how to identify when a child is being programmed. Listen in to understand why children will lie to earn the victor parent’s approval and get Charlie’s advice on what to do if you are the target of mild alienation.

Topics Covered

The definition of parental alienation

Why extreme alienation is difficult to treat with traditional therapy

Case studies of extreme parental alienation

How parental alienation alters a child’s fundamental sense of reality

How to identify when a child is being programmed by the alienating parent

The idea of frivolous rationalizations (i.e.: I don’t feel safe because Dad yells)

The distinction between estrangement and alienation

How brittle parenting can be remedied with coaching, therapy

The concept of alignment with a divorcing parent

How escalating tensions in litigation can lead to baseless abuse allegations

Why children will lie to earn the approval of the victor parent

How spending time with your children serves as the antidote to alienation

Connect with Charlie Jamieson

Charles Jamieson Law

Call (561) 478-0312

Connect with Katherine Miller

The Center for Understanding Conflict

Miller Law Group

Katherine on LinkedIn

The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller

Email katherine@westchesterfamilylaw.com

Call (914) 738-7765

The post Understanding Parental Alienation with Charlie Jamison appeared first on Divorce Dialogues.

Making Divorce Child-Centric with Dr. Eric Frazer

Katherine Miller — Sun, 22 May 2016 01:00:05 +0000

EP: 024

Dr. Eric Frazer

Making Divorce Child-Centric

In working with divorcing clients, family lawyers develop both legal and financial strategy. But there is a third element to the ‘triad of divorce’—the family. How can we support lawyers in gathering the information they need in the area of child custody? How can we make divorce child-centric and support families in making a fluid transition?

How can we put the ‘family’ back in family law?

Dr. Eric Frazer is the co-founder of Child Custody Analytics, an online platform designed to provide family lawyers with expert information and solutions around child custody. A forensic psychologist in private practice since 2002, Dr. Frazer specializes in Psychological Assessment, and he is well-versed in the contributions psychology brings to family law practices. Dr. Frazer earned his PhD from the Yale University School of Medicine.

Today, Dr. Frazer joins Katherine to discuss the evolution of family law, specifically the current ‘best interest of the child’ standard. He explains the aim of his company, Child Custody Analytics, in facilitating good decision-making and making divorce child-centric. Dr. Frazer walks us through the Child Custody Analytics platform, describing how it serves to gather information from parents, organize it in a meaningful way, and provide lawyers with research-informed guidelines. Listen in for Dr. Frazer’s take on the factors parents should consider in designing a parenting plan and learn why the quality of the time spent with children is more important than the quantity.