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7 Tips for Parents Talking to the Kids About Divorce or Separation

May 6, 2022 By Joy Rosenthal

I’ve recently been helping some parents think through how and when to talk to their children about their divorce.  Here are some tips I’ve come up with – it’s based on years of reading and working with parents. –  please share it with your spouse! 7 Tips for Parents Talking to Kids About Divorce or Separation Plan. Talk with your spouse first and plan out how and when you are going to have this talk.  Your children will remember this … read more »

Filed Under: Children, Divorce, Families, General

The New York City Family Courts are Clogged Worse Than the BQE at Rush Hour

February 26, 2022 By Joy Rosenthal

I filed two uncontested divorces in early February 2021 in Manhattan Supreme Court, and neither of them have been signed yet.  That is nearly 13 months. It is stressful for my clients, and has a real economic impact, because they cannot transfer or access their retirement accounts until their judgment of divorce is signed. — But that is nothing compared to what is going on in Family Court.  I worked in the Family Courts for 10 years before I became … read more »

Filed Under: Children, Cultural Competence, Divorce, General

Breaking the news to the kids

August 16, 2021 By Joy Rosenthal

How to tell your kids you are getting divorced

Are you the child of a divorce? If so, do you remember when you realized that your parents were separating? My guess is that you do.What do you remember about it–Do you remember what room you were in? Or what you heard? What did you feel? Who comforted you? What was said? Did your parents tell you or did you overhear something? Was it in the context of an argument or was it presented to you calmly? Did your parents … read more »

Filed Under: Children, conflict resolution, Divorce, General Tagged With: children, divorce, family, listening, mediation

You Might Have more in Common with Bill and Melinda Than You Think…

May 23, 2021 By Joy Rosenthal

Bill and Melinda Gates recently announced that they are divorcing after 27 years.  Besides having to address their billions of dollars and their enormously influential foundation, this has brought attention to issues of a mature (or “gray”) divorce.  Like many other couples, they waited until their youngest child is about to go off on her own.  And they, like so many others, have to plan for a very different future.  Divorcing later in life comes up more often than you … read more »

Filed Under: Children, Divorce, General, Negotiation Tagged With: aging, divorce, Divorce Finances, divorce mediation, gray divorce, retirement, understanding

Making a Better Child Support Agreement

April 18, 2019 By Joy Rosenthal

Making a Better Child Support Agreement by Joy Rosenthal

A few months ago, I wrote a few notes about spousal maintenance. Today, I’d like to write a few notes about child support that I think are important to keep in mind. I gave a basic overview of child support last year, but I thought I would take the time to write about it again, since this is such an important part of any separation agreement. (You’re learning along with my students!) The Child Support Formula In an effort to … read more »

Filed Under: Child Support, Children, Divorce, Mediation, money, Negotiation Tagged With: Bradley Amendment, Family Court, New York Family Law, Settlement Agreement, The Child Support Formula

Families Belong Together

July 10, 2018 By Joy Rosenthal

Families Belong Together by Joy Rosenthal

On June 30, I joined about 30,000 others in Foley Square in Manhattan to protest the detention of the over 2,300 children who have been ripped away from their parents at the southern US border — many of whom are under 10 years old. Some are housed in large tents, some in converted warehouses. Some are scattered thousands of miles away from their parents — to 17 states, including New York. Yet, these kids have done nothing wrong. Their parents, … read more »

Filed Under: Children, Families, Happiness Tagged With: Families Belong Together, Immigrant Children, Immigrant Detention Centers

New York’s Definition of Family Has Grown, Once Again

May 30, 2018 By Joy Rosenthal

New York’s Definition of Family Has Grown, Once Again by Joy Rosenthal

Some 18 months ago, I wrote about an important decision, Brooke S.B.1, by the New York Court of Appeals, which is the highest court in New York. (You can see that blog post here.) In Brooke, the Court determined that the non-biological mother in a same sex couple had standing to request custody or visitation of the child she helped to raise. The Brooke court found that it was in the child’s best interest to continue that relationship, and found … read more »

Filed Under: Children, Divorce, Families, LGBT Tagged With: custody, Nontraditional Family, Parental Rights

Ripples

February 28, 2018 By Joy Rosenthal

Ripples by Joy Rosenthal

I know someone who knew a teenager who was gunned down at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida last week. I know someone who knew a reverend who was gunned down at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. I know someone who knew a small child who was gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Anyone can feel a Mother’s / Father’s / Sister’s / Brother’s / Nana’s /Auntie’s Life Shattered into … read more »

Filed Under: Children, Mindfulness, Nonviolence Tagged With: Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, grief, Gun Violence, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Newtown, Parkland, Sandy Hook Elementary School, School Shootings

Tips for Keeping the Kids out of the Conflict

December 18, 2017 By Joy Rosenthal

Tips for Keeping the Kids out of the Conflict By Joy Rosenthal

“Why can’t my real mom and my foster mom get along?” Lakeisha asked, looking up at me. “Why can’t we all live together in a house so I can play with them both? When I’m with my foster mom I miss my real mom and want to go home. But then when I’m with my real mom I worry about my foster mom and wonder if she’s ok.” I was the lawyer for children in foster care for about 10 … read more »

Filed Under: Children, Divorce Tagged With: children of divorce, Post-Divorce Parenting

Are You My Mother?

June 22, 2017 By Joy Rosenthal

Are You My Mother? by Joy Rosenthal

I have always been fascinated by families. They drive us crazy and they keep us sane. They are the rock upon which we stand, and can be the bane of our existence. We all know what it is like to be somebody’s child, and many of us know what it is like to be somebody’s parent or somebody’s sibling. But each of our experiences is so particular. So different. This article takes a closer look at 2 very basic questions … read more »

Filed Under: Adoption, Children Tagged With: Adoption, children, custody, family, LGBT

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Joy S. Rosenthal, Esq.
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