Month: January 2018

January 2018

Should You Ask for a Guardian Ad Litem?

January 30, 2018 / Divorce Made Simple

If custody and/or parenting time issues are contested, it may be helpful for a neutral, third party to step in to help assess what’s in the best interests of your child. A guardian ad litem (GAL) is someone who is appointed by the court for this purpose. GALs are usually lawyers with special training. You may ask your judge to appoint a GAL at any point if you believe that the assistance of a neutral person, whose sole purpose is to assess your child’s best interests, would be beneficial. Talk with your family law attorney about requesting a GAL if

Milestones: Part II

January 25, 2018 / Doing Divorce

We were both nervous. When I reached for her hand in the car to offer a reassuring squeeze, the clamminess I felt from hers was a sure sign that her stomach was fluttering. She was facing the unknowns of a new school without knowing another soul. I was facing the unknowns of how I was going to navigate these last years of hers as she speeds too fast toward adulthood. Last week I wrote about my eldest daughter’s upcoming high school open house. I described my emotions as I approached the day and wished that I wasn’t a divorced parent

What is a Custody Evaluation?

January 23, 2018 / Divorce Made Simple

If custody is a contested issue in your divorce, you may consider seeking a custody evaluation. A custody evaluation, performed by a child custody expert, is used by the court to determine what custodial arrangement is in the best interests of your child. A child custody expert is a neutral evaluator, usually a licensed psychologist, whose role is to determine the bests interests of the child and to make recommendations to the court regarding custody and parenting time. He or she will conduct a complete evaluation of the parties, conduct psychological testing, interview the parents and the child, and evaluate

Is My Premarital Agreement Enforceable?

January 9, 2018 / Divorce Made Simple

A premarital agreement (sometimes referred to as a “prenuptial agreement”) is a contract entered into between two people prior to their marriage. Before marriage, a couple may contract with respect to property rights, alimony, inheritance, and which state’s laws will govern the enforcement of the agreement in the event that their marriage ends in divorce. In Nebraska, premarital agreements must be in writing and signed by both people. Because the agreement is made in contemplation of marriage, it only becomes effective upon marriage. Premarital agreements are treated as ordinary contracts. Generally speaking, people may include provisions in their premarital agreement