Child Custody and the Working Mom: Preparing for Divorce

The world has changed -- for the better -- in the last fifty years, and women are now a more pronounced presence in the professional work force.  While much work remains to be done towards achieving full equality, I see many divorces involving spouses balancing their careers and their children.  Oftentimes, the wife is both a professional and a caregiver.  In these types of situations, preparing for a divorce in advance is vital:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-helfend-meyer/child-custody-and-the-wor_b_3369173.html

Great advice in this piece.  The trend in Alabama has been towards one parent having primary physical custody and the other having visitation.  This fact only stresses the importance of the advice in this article.  If you're in need of a child custody lawyer, don't hesitate to call.

Divorce and Personality Disorders

Personality disorders often influence high-conflict divorce and child custody cases silently and from the shadows:
 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tina-swithin/why-our-family-courts-are_b_2908574.html?utm_hp_ref=divorce&ir=Divorce

This article succinctly summarizes the issue.  I'm optimistic that divorce attorneys and family law judges will become more aware of how drastically personality disorders impact such cases in the next few years.

Facebook and Divorce: An Unlikely Tandem

Facebook can be an asset, or a thorn in your side, in a divorce proceeding.  For those who heavy-handedly share their personal lives with everyone on Facebook, take note:

http://articles.cnn.com/2010-06-01/tech/facebook.divorce.lawyers_1_privacy-settings-social-media-facebook?_s=PM:TECH

Discretion and wise-posting are wise choices if you believe a divorce or child custody hearing may lie in your future.  An, if a divorce is right around the corner, contact a divorce attorney.

Sperm Donors May Owe Child Support

A recent court decision in Kansas found that a man who answered a request on Craigslist to donate sperm to a lesbian couple is, pursuant to Kansas law, the legal father of the child and must pay child support to the child's mother.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/04/us/kansas-sperm-donation/index.html?iref=allsearch

Since the parties involved failed to utilize a medical doctor to facilitate the insemination, the law will not ignore his paternity.

Alabama law is analagous (Section 26-17-702).  If you are considering sperm donation or using someone else's sperm donation to become pregnant, consult a child support attorney versed in Alabama family law first.