The state of New York holds that outside of extreme circumstances like domestic violence, both parents have the right to make important decisions about their child’s living arrangements, education, extracurricular activities, health care, nutrition and discipline. However, which decisions are made by which parent varies widely from family to family.

Here are some examples of what custodial and noncustodial parents can weigh in on and how parents can protect their legal rights to their child with the help of an experienced Long Island divorce attorney.

Divorce often puts families into financial and emotional upheaval. Even after all the financial and custody issues are settled, divorced couples with children are often dismayed to discover that they are not free to up and move if they have shared custody of their children with their ex. This can be devastating when trying to put the pieces of your life together and perhaps a new job opportunity opens up in a different city or state.

Parents who are divorced or separated are frequently frustrated to hear that they cannot just leave the city or even the state with their children. A planned “relocation” is what New York law refers to when one of the child’s parents wishes to relocate. 

If you and your child’s other parent can’t agree on where you should live, you’ll have to go through a court process that ends with a judge’s decision to approve or deny the change. Here’s what to understand about Long Island relocation laws and how to get legal help regardless of which side of the situation you’re on. 

Recreational marijuana is taking the country by storm, and early in 2021, New York state lawmakers approved a bill that legalizes marijuana use for adults 21 and older. The new law is expected to usher in a new potentially $4.2 billion industry of legal marijuana dispensaries and consumptions sites.

Now that high quality cannabis will soon be available from legal dispensaries and consumers can enjoy marijuana any time they choose, it leaves many people wondering just how to treat cannabis intoxication in certain situations.

Child custody is just one such scenario where it’s critical to be clear and set boundaries regarding marijuana use, especially when children are in the custody of a parent who uses cannabis on a regular basis.

Here’s what you should know about how legal marijuana use can impact your Long Island child custody case and how you can get the legal representation you need to protect the best interests of yourself and your family during your divorce.

Child custody matters in divorce are often wrought with emotion and are often simultaneously frustrating and heartbreaking. This is especially true when one parent struggles with addiction. When you need to protect your child or children from your ex, it can be very difficult to manage your emotions while trying to prove to the court why your ex should not have child custody or unsupervised visitation with your children.

Here’s what you should know about handling a child custody case involving substance abuse and how you can get legal assistance when you need it most.

Since children are often the ones who are impacted the most by divorce yet tend to suffer in silence, courts across the country are exploring implementing children’s bills of rights in divorce cases.

Here are some basic rights that a child should have when going through the process of their parents getting a divorce on Long Island and how you can get the help you need to make sure the dissolution of your marriage is as easy as possible on your family.

There are many important factors that go into determining child custody and visitation in New York. While a child’s wishes are heard and considered, especially if they are older, there are more levels of complexity to a child custody case than with whom the child wishes to live.

Here’s what you should know about when children can, and can’t, choose custody arrangements in a Long Island divorce and how to get the legal support you need now.

Child custody and visitation are some of the most emotionally-wrought, sensitive issues when dissolving a marriage. Both parents want to ensure that remain an important part of their child or children’s lives and have a say in how their child is raised. Typically, one spouse will have primary physical custody and this leaves the other parent concerned that they will be less a part of their child’s live than when they were married and all living together.

It’s important that you are as ready as you can be to address all of the issues that may come up when dealing with child custody and visitation in your divorce. Here are 22 child custody issues you and your soon-to-be-ex-spouse should be prepared for during your upcoming Long Island divorce.

Getting a divorce on Long Island is difficult enough, but when you’re dissolving your marriage (or an unmarried partnership) after having children, things can become much more complex. After your split, you’ll likely have a child custody agreement in place that discusses what you and your ex can and can’t do with regard to the wellbeing of your child.

Before signing on the dotted line, make sure there are no red flags that give your ex too much authority over the legal and physical custody of your child. Here are 5 red flags to watch out for and how to get the legal help you need.

Summer is just around the corner, and some separated parents may be planning trips or vacations with their children, especially now that COVID-19 restrictions are easing. Summer activities are also very different from school schedules, whether these arrangements entail taking an extended trip or letting children stay with a non-custodial parent for an entire week instead of just the usual weekend.

Parents who have joint custody of their children can find it difficult to accommodate these shifting schedules to ensure that they are able to spend quality time with their children. Here’s how custody and visitation works on Long Island during the summer.

Whether you are married or unmarried, ending your relationship is difficult. If you are unmarried and have children with your soon-to-be-ex, however, this can make the separation even more challenging. Read on to learn how child custody, visitation, and child support work for unmarried parents and what you can do to get the legal support you need when moving on from a relationship with your child’s other parent. Here’s what you should know.