Brangelina Divorce Shines Spotlight On Shared Vs. Sole Custody

Angelina Jolie Brad Pitt custody

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Brad Pitt’s comment regarding his wife, Angelina Jolie’s filing for divorce was short: “I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the well-being of our kids,” he said in the statement. “I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time.” Jolie also made a statement, following her filing for divorce: “This decision was made for the health of the family…”

Given these two family-centric statements, what has struck some as interesting in Jolie’s filing papers is her request for sole physical custody of the couple’s six children. While Jolie has asked that Pitt have joint legal custody, she has clearly asked in her divorce filing that the children live with her for the majority of the time, and that Pitt have visitation or parenting time as it is most recently called, with their children.

Why would a parent ask for this for this particular arrangement? Read more

When Your Adult Child Is A Heroin Addict and Lives With You

adult child heroin addictionWhat are the repercussions for allowing your adult child with an opioid or heroin addiction live with you when you have minor children still in the home?
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Addiction and Divorce: Even Brangelina?

addiction and divorce

The world today is in a bit of a state of shock over the news that one of Hollywood’s most famous couples, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, have split. The pair has been married for two years and romantic partners for more than a decade. During their time together, the couple welcomed six children, both both biological and adopted. They seemed to be a couple with true staying power. What went wrong? Read more

Grandparents: How Do You Get Custody Of Your Grandkids When Their Parents Are Addicts?

grandparent rights

Who is often the only person capable of picking up the pieces when a child’s parents are addicted to heroin? A grandparent. Learn how more grandparents are taking custody of their grandchildren as a result of opioid and heroin addiction crisis facing families in New Jersey. Read more

Opioid Epidemic Awareness Week: How Can Addict Parents Get Help?

Thoughtful manPresident Barack Obama has officially proclaimed Sept. 18 through Sept. 24, 2016 as Opioid Epidemic Awareness Week, a first ever awareness week to highlight prevention measures for the growing heroin and opioid crisis in the United States. According to White House officials, the week will be marked by Cabinet members and federal agencies coming together to educate the public about the epidemic that has spread to every corner of our nation, including New Jersey.

As a December 2015 article on NJ.com reported, “The statistics on New Jersey’s heroin crisis are staggering, and paint a picture of a crisis that spreads far beyond overdoses and deaths.” Since 2004, there have been 5,217 heroin-related deaths in New Jersey, and the heroin death rate in the state is more than three times the national average. And, there have been over 184,000 New Jerseyans admitted into treatment facilities for heroin or opioid abuse since 2010.

Many of those who are addicted are also parents. So what does this mean for child custody? Read more

Life After Divorce: Don’t Get Lonely, Get Out There!

your happy post-divorce lifeAfter divorce, living your life happily is truly the ultimate goal now and in the future. But how do you get there? And how can avoid your new status as “single” from turning into the feeling of “being alone” and lonely? Here are the tips you need to start building a life you love! Read more

Parenting Time After Addiction Recovery

addiction recoveryWithout question, addiction is devastating, not only on the person suffering with the addiction, but also their friends and family. And, it cannot be argued that those hurt most profoundly are the children of the addicted. Read more

Reconciling Your Marriage After Sex Addiction

Is your spouse a sex addict?Is there life — and marriage — after one partner recovers from sex addiction? While the healing process may understandably difficult for couples seeking to put their marriage back together, one legal option — a reconciliation agreement — may give you both the security you need to start moving forward. Read more

Investigating Parent Addiction In Child Custody Disputes

legal help for child abuse
In New Jersey, issues of custody and parenting time are evaluated by the courts looking at what is in the best interests of the child. If a parent brings an allegation of drug addiction to the court, this allegation is taken very seriously and the court will inquire as to the truth of the statement. To do this, judges can order certain evaluations, such as custody and parenting time evaluations or a risk assessment. Read more

3 Steps To Stepparent Custody

co-parenting after divorce

In child custody disputes, the courts will always put the best interests of children first in awarding parenting time and legal/physical custody. This usually means dividing a child’s time between their biological or adopted parents. But not always. What can happen when it’s a stepparent who is pursuing custody? Here is the story of one stepfather who gained custody of his stepdaughter and the steps he took to get it. Read more