The OurFamilyWizard Blog
Welcome to the OurFamilyWizard blog. This blog was setup as a forum for the exchange of ideas to help families and the professionals who serve them. Articles within are relevant to Attorneys, Mediators, Judges, Magistrates, Referees, GAL’s, Visitation Expeditors, Parenting Consultants and Parents. Our goal is to create a place where anyone involved in family law can share ideas that could reduce conflict, improve communication, protect children and help move families forward:
- February 8, 2012
- Myths About OurFamilyWizard - Calendar
There has always been some skepticism about the OurFamilyWizard website® and the benefits that it’s online tools bring to co-parents. It is always common in competitive industries for myths and rumors to form about the participants. We are never surprised when we hear myths about OurFamilyWizard, but we would like to convey to co-parents everywhere that they are just that, myths. This article will serve to clear up some misconceptions about the OurFamilyWizard Calendar that we have been encountering for years.
- February 7, 2012
- Joint Custody Parenting Plan
Child custody is an extremely important thing to focus on for co-parents who are going through a divorce. For many, the issue of custody is pushed into the back of their minds simply because they are caught up in their own drama with the divorce case. Co-parents must remember that overall, it is most likely that their children will be most affected by the divorce in general. Agreeing on a type of custody and forming a parenting plan are the most important steps to accomplish. A joint custody parenting plan is typically favored by most co-parents and professionals, and we’ll explain why.
- February 2, 2012
- Divorcing Parents
Divorce seems to have become a common occurrence in society. The number of divorces that occur within the United States is staggering. Although this may not be a very pleasant issue to think about, we cannot overlook the fact that it’s a reality. For couples who have gone through divorce or are thinking of getting a divorce, the best thing that you can do is prepare yourselves and do what you can to lessen the emotional damage that is done to you and your family. Divorcing parents have a great responsibility to themselves and especially their children.
- January 30, 2012
- Divorced Parents and Teens
Divorce is often a very sensitive issue to deal with in a family setting. It can break up families in more ways than one and leave everyone involved damaged. There is really no such thing as being good at divorcing; therefore the best thing that co-parents can do is seek out help from family law professionals specializing in divorce and child custody. Putting divorced parents and teens together is a difficult mix. Many divorced parents make simple mistakes when dealing with their teens and often cause more harm than good.
- January 24, 2012
- Can You Really "Win" Child Custody?
There are many controversial topics that arise within the family law industry, a lot of which have to do with divorce and child custody. After being in the industry for a number of years it is common to run into these topics, especially on the Internet where anyone and everyone is able to voice their opinions. It’s easy for readers to be misled by untruthful articles and blogs that pop up everyday surrounding issues of divorce and child custody. One of the most common issues that arise poses the question can you really “win” child custody? This is an important question but many sources seem to be answering it incorrectly.
- January 20, 2012
- Divorce in the Family
Divorce can be a very difficult issue to deal with. It can take a toll on everyone that’s involved emotionally and physically. It is in the opinion of many people that a divorce in the family is one of the most damaging blows that can occur in a household. Since a divorce in the family is already extremely damaging its up to both co-parents to work together to protect the welfare of their children. Helping your children to cope during this difficult time could potentially benefit the health and wellbeing of your children.
- December 22, 2011
- Child Custody Relocation
Child custody relocation can be a very sensitive issue. Many co-parents misinterpret this issue to have malicious intent but this is typically not the case. Most custodial parents choose to move to pursue a better job, be closer with their family, or just start a new life in a new place. In any case, child custody relocation should not be taken lightly.
- December 21, 2011
- Child Custody Evaluation
Child custody evaluations are a very common process. Although the purpose of all custody evaluations are to ensure that the needs of your child are met as best they can, it can still be a very nerve racking ordeal for co-parents to experience. It is important for co-parents to understand the basic details of what goes into a child custody evaluation to prepare for the process.
- December 19, 2011
- Divorce Kids and Custody
Divorce can be a very emotionally difficult time for everyone in the family, especially for your children. It is extremely important to treat the situation with care for the sake of the emotional health and wellbeing of your children. Divorce kids are often portrayed in the media as being emotionally tainted and full of anger towards their parents, but this definitely doesn’t have to be the case. If you handle your situation appropriately, your divorce and custody may have a less damaging effect on your children.
- December 16, 2011
- Divorce, Parents, and Children
Divorce is a very difficult time for everyone who is involved in the situation. Remembering that you are not the only one having a hard time dealing with the situation is important. Divorcing parents often shut everyone else out of their lives and only focus on themselves when they are going through a difficult divorce. After a divorce, both parents and children need the proper amount of attention to cope with this difficult issue.
- December 14, 2011
- Divorce Can Affect Long-Term Happiness in Children
Divorce is never easy to deal with for anyone involved. The ordeal has the ability to cause major disruptions within any family. It is often said by family law professionals that the emotional and psychological effects that divorce can have on a person are magnified when applied to children. Most professionals believe that divorce can affect long-term happiness in children if not handled properly. It is up to the co-parents to handle their situation appropriately for the sake of their children’s health and wellbeing.
- December 12, 2011
- Types of Child Custody
Child custody can often be a very confusing subject to comprehend. There are so many legal and professional terms that anyone who has never gone through a custody case would have a hard time understanding. Once everything is broken down the different types of child custody are easier to understand. This is especially important for divorced parents who are going through a custody case to understand. Getting lost in all of the legal talk can be a very dangerous thing.
- December 7, 2011
- Child Support and Joint Custody
Child custody often comes into question when dealing with a joint custody case. Most co-parents do not often relate the two with one another or they simply rule out the issue of child support because they feel that joint custody should not include any child support. The reality is that many custody agreements will include both child support and joint custody even though they may seem to be conflicting ideas.
- December 5, 2011
- Child Custody Agreement
Divorce is a very sensitive subject and can be a very difficult time for any family. When you and your ex-spouse have children with one another it brings a lot of new complications and obstacles into the mix. It’s the job of the co-parents to make sure that the best interest of their children is held above all else in a divorce and custody case. The best way for co-parents to ensure that the needs of their child are being met is to put the necessary time and effort into creating and implementing the proper child custody agreement.
- December 2, 2011
- Child Custody Questions
Child custody is very complex and can often be a confusing issue to those who are not familiar with the details involved. The common person will most likely be unaware of the issues and details involving child custody unless they are going through a divorce or custody case themselves. In order to clear things up for the confused co-parent we have comprised a list of commonly asked child custody questions. Please be aware that child custody laws and practices often vary by state or county so it is extremely important to consult with a family law professional in your area before taking any legal action or following advice from non-professionals.
- December 1, 2011
- OurFamilyWizard works on both MAC and PC
For years and years there have been debates about which is better and easier to use for consumers, MAC computers or PC computers. Advocates for MAC computers often argue that their platform is extremely elegant and user friendly while PC computers are often seen as powerful and more customizable. One of the biggest questions that arise when is comes to software and applications is compatibility. Whether or not a program will work on a MAC computer and not a PC computer, and vice versa. With the OurFamilyWizard website® and tools there is no need to worry, they will work seamlessly on both MAC and PC computers!
- November 28, 2011
- Child Visitation Rights
Child custody is a term that is used to describe the legal relationship between a parent and child. It is a very important issue that all who are going through a divorce or custody case must discuss. The outcome of the case and how the issue is handled can have a severe effect on the emotional health and wellbeing of your children. Not all types of custody are appropriate for all situations. Child visitation rights are important for those co-parents who are not awarded full custody of their child.
- November 15, 2011
- Family Law Attorneys
An experienced and knowledgeable family law attorney can be the key to avoiding any conflicts that may arise in your divorce or child custody hearing. Anyone that has gone through a divorce or child custody case knows that it can be a very scary process. A friendly and helpful family law attorney can help to ease your mind and ensure you that there will be help at every step of the process.
- November 11, 2011
- Shared Child Custody
There are a handful of different types of custody that can be awarded in a child custody case. The type of custody that will work out best in your situation should always be determined by recognizing what is in the best interest of your child. In cases where there is little to no conflict between co-parents, it is often seen as being in the best interest of the child to award shared child custody.
- November 9, 2011
- Divorce Custody Rights
Divorce and custody issues typically go hand-in-hand with one another. Divorce is seen as a judicial declaration dissolving a marriage and releases both the husband and wife from all matrimonial obligations. When the husband and wife have children with one another things can get complicated. Divorce custody rights must be determined and a parenting plan must be enforced.
- November 8, 2011
- Custody Parenting Plan
Child custody is a very important subject that you and your co-parent must spend a lot of time discussing. It is crucial that co-parents going through a divorce or custody case realize that the custody parenting plan that they enforce will define their parenting lives for a long time. This issue does not just stop at custody; a parenting plan must define in much more detail the arrangements that have been made between co-parents. The first step in creating an effective custody parenting plan is to understand everything that goes into creating it.
- November 4, 2011
- Child Support and Custody
The issues of child support and custody can be very sensitive subjects in any divorce case. This is primarily because they involve money and the legal rights to spend time with the child. It is important for co-parents who are going through a divorce to understand the basics of how child support and custody are awarded to prepare themselves for possible outcomes of their court case.
- November 3, 2011
- Help With Custody
Dealing with child custody can be a very scary and confusing time. There are many places that you can turn to for help with your case but not all have the best interest of you or your child in mind. There are different kinds of help that most co-parents need during these difficult times. Family and personal issues need to be resolved in a reasonable manner during this time. The next step is to determine the best type of custody that will best meet the needs of your child. Getting help with custody is a necessary step to being successful in the process.
- November 2, 2011
- Joint Custody and Child Support
Child support and child custody are two different things but they often go hand-in-hand with one another. Most people may not associate joint custody and child support with one another. The truth is that in many cases one or both co-parents are still ordered to pay child support even if they are granted joint custody of their child. When you and your co-parent are discussing a possible joint custody agreement with one another do not eliminate the possibility of child support. A lot of factors are taken into account when determining joint custody and child support.
- October 31, 2011
- Joint Custody of a Child
If you’re going through a divorce or have recently gone through a divorce you are probably overwhelmed with the technical terms and legal lingo. When dealing with issues of child custody, there should be absolutely no confusion. As a parent, you should be clear on everything that is happening in your case. If you are working with an attorney it’s their job to help you through this process but the fact is that they are not always the most helpful. It is the job of you and your co-parent to keep yourselves informed, especially in the case of joint custody of a child.
- October 6, 2011
- Joint Custody Holiday Schedule
If you and your co-parent have opted for joint custody, you have a lot of work ahead of you. Joint custody is a very big commitment but it allows you to spend significant and quality time with your children. It is typically seen as being in the best interest of the child because significant time is spent with both co-parents. This is why family courts and professionals often encourage joint custody. One very important issue often comes up during the scheduling process, the issue of a joint custody holiday schedule.
- October 4, 2011
- Fathers with Custody
Divorce or separation can be a very difficult process. One of the most important issues to consider when going through a divorce or separation is the custody of your children. This experience can often be traumatic for children, especially if they are younger. It is important for fathers with custody to focus on protecting the mental and emotional health of their child during this time.
- October 3, 2011
- Laws of Custody
Child custody is a very serious issue that must be addressed when couples are separated or going through a divorce. Divorce and custody proceedings tend to go hand-in-hand. Each state across the country has slight variations on their laws of custody from other states. It is extremely important for separated or divorcing parents to get to know the child custody laws of their state so that they are prepared for any possible outcome.
- September 27, 2011
- Online Co-Parent Communication Tools
When parents are going through a divorce or have gone through a divorce in the past, everyone pays a heavy toll financially, mentally, and emotionally. When children are involved, these effects can be greatly magnified. Good communication between you and your co-parent can help everyone to heal and cope with the situation. An emerging and extremely effective trend is the use of online co-parent communication tools.
- September 26, 2011
- Child Custody Holiday Schedule
Creating a child custody schedule is not an easy task. When going through a divorce, you should be putting a lot of thought into the custody of your child and what would be in your child’s best interest. Co-parents are typically encouraged by the family law courts to determine an appropriate custody schedule outside of court that both co-parents can agree on. One very important thing that must be covered when discussing possible custody schedules is a separate child custody holiday schedule.
- September 23, 2011
- Divorce Tools to Communicate Expenses
Divorce poses many difficulties for all parties involved in the situation. One of the biggest challenges that divorcing or divorced couples have to deal with are the financial obligations that are associated with their divorce. Some of these fees can be pretty hefty, such as attorney fees, but these expenses are typically short term. The most common long term expense associated with a divorce is child support payments. There are many divorce tools to communicate expenses between you and your co-parent, which can make them significantly easier to manage.
- September 21, 2011
- Same Sex Custody Issues
Determining child custody and visitation arrangements for same sex parents is a very new and still emerging area of family law. Since same sex marriage and other issues are still very controversial in most U.S. states, same sex custody issues have not been widely considered in the past. Each state is beginning to recognize same sex custody issues at their own pace.
- September 16, 2011
- Online Custody Calendar
Going through a divorce and custody battle can be a very difficult time for any family, no matter the situation. The outcome of most cases seems to leave every party unhappy. It’s just not a very pleasant ordeal in general. There are a number of ways you can try to ease this pain and also many people out there who want to help you in your situation. Tools and resources such as an online custody calendar can greatly help to reduce conflict between you and your co-parent, which is ultimately in the best interest of both you and your children.
- September 13, 2011
- Shared Custody Calendar
Child custody is a very sensitive subject. Any determination of custody that is different from how a family previously interacted before a divorce will be very awkward and difficult to handle at first. There are many tools and resources that can help to alleviate the difficult task of organizing and getting used to your new custody order. One tool that has proven to be extremely effective is a shared custody calendar.
- September 9, 2011
- Divorce Communication Tools
Divorce can be a very difficult time for all parties involved. It is often extremely draining both physically and emotionally. These effects can be even more intense if you and your ex spouse have children together. Divorce can take a major toll on children, especially if they are at a younger age. An event like divorce has the potential to damage them mentally and emotionally for the rest of their lives. There are many tools available for divorced parents to keep this threat on their children and themselves to a minimum. Divorce communication tools are possibly the most effective and easiest to use in any divorce and custody case.
- September 8, 2011
- Custody Visitation Calendar
When parents are going through a divorce it is a very hard on everyone in the family. This is especially true for younger children. The next step in the divorce process will be the determination of custody. Typically, if joint custody is not granted, one co-parent will receive full custody of the child while the other co-parent is given visitation rights. This can often be very confusing for the co-parents and difficult to manage since it is a completely new schedule that they aren’t used to. A custody visitation calendar can greatly help co-parents to quickly get accustomed to their new schedule.
- September 7, 2011
- Back-To-School Essentials for College-Bound Students
The beginning of a new school year is quickly approaching and it is the job of every parent to make sure that their children are equipped with everything they need to make this school year a great one. No matter what your situation is at home, you must always remember that the education of your child is nothing to be taken lightly. Cooperation and coordination with your co-parent is a must during this important time. Each level of education requires your child to have different tools to learn and study with, so be sure to check out our personal back-to-school checklists based on these different education levels. For children entering college for the first time or continuing college we highly recommend the following products for a successful school year!
- September 6, 2011
- Back-To-School Essentials for High School Students
The beginning of a new school year is quickly approaching and it is the job of every parent to make sure that their children are equipped with everything they need to make this school year a great one. No matter what your situation is at home, you must always remember that the education of your child is nothing to be taken lightly. Cooperation and coordination with your co-parent is a must during this important time. Each level of education requires your child to have different tools to learn and study with, so be sure to check out our personal back-to-school checklists based on these different education levels. For children entering high school for the first time or continuing high school we highly recommend the following products for a successful school year!
- September 1, 2011
- Back-To-School Essentials for Middle/Grade School Students
The beginning of a new school year is quickly approaching and it is the job of every parent to make sure that their children are equipped with everything they need to make this school year a great one. No matter what your situation is at home, you must always remember that the education of your child is nothing to be taken lightly. Cooperation and coordination with your co-parent is a must during this important time. Each level of education requires your child to have different tools to learn and study with, so be sure to check out our personal back-to-school checklists based on these different education levels. For children continuing or entering grade school or middle school for the first time we highly recommend the following products for a successful school year!
- August 29, 2011
- Solutions for Supervised Visitation
- By Teri Walker McLaughlin
The typical reasons families might be ordered to obtain supervised visitation services include histories or allegations of; domestic violence, child abuse, mental illness, drug or alcohol abuse, extended absences between the parent and child, newly established paternity, among others.
- August 15, 2011
- Does Shared Parenting Work?
Shared parenting is a custody agreement between co-parent in which the care of the children is essentially equal between the two co-parents. Shared parenting has been gaining a lot of popularity among co-parents and family law professionals within recent years. Some believe that shared parenting doesn’t work and that it is a wonderful idea but an unreachable goal.
- August 9, 2011
- Back to School Tips for Co-Parents
The new school year is quickly approaching and its time to start preparing. Preparing your child for a new school year requires a lot of coordination and cooperation between you and your co-parent. This is an important time for your child to feel support from both you and your co-parent and to know that you both care. Here are some tips to remember to make going back to school as smooth as possible for you and your child.
- August 5, 2011
- Custody Exchange Calendar
Custody exchange can be a daunting task for some co-parents, especially if they are in a high conflict relationship with one another. Discussing about pick up and drop off times can be challenging when the both of you can’t seem to agree on anything. The actual pick up and drop off of your child can be a prime time for you or your co-parent to spark up an argument. If this is your case, or if you even just want to keep your custody exchanges organized, consider using a custody exchange calendar.
- August 3, 2011
- Shared Custody Schedules
Shared custody, more commonly known as joint custody, is the case where custody of the child is awarded to both co-parents. Both co-parents are seen as custodial parents of the child. Although both co-parents have equal custody over their child, their shared custody schedules do not necessarily need to be split 50/50, and in most cases they are not. Shared custody schedules are for co-parents who wish to divide their schedules so that they have relatively equal amounts of time with their child.
- August 2, 2011
- Online Child Visitation Calendar
Many co-parenting families have a difficult time keeping up and maintaining their visitation schedules. This is not an easy task and actually takes a lot of time and effort to keep everything organized and up-to-date. One thing that has been gaining a lot of popularity among co-parents recently is the use of an online child visitation calendar.
- August 1, 2011
- Joint Parenting Time
Joint parenting is more commonly known as joint custody. There are two types of custody, physical custody and legal custody. Physical custody has to do with the day-to-day care of the child while legal custody refers to the decision-making for the child. Joint parenting time typically refers to joint physical custody. It is important to know the difference between these two types of custody because both must be defined in your child custody and visitation agreement.
- July 28, 2011
- Child Custody and Visitation Agreement
Most family courts will encourage co-parents to create their own child custody and visitation agreement before stepping into the courtroom. This allows co-parents to make agreements and compromises for themselves instead of having their judge or family law professionals create one for them. After they have submitted their child custody and visitation agreement to the court, the judge is able to make revisions based on what he/she feels is in the best interest of the child.
- July 27, 2011
- Printable Child Custody Calendars
Child custody can sometimes be a difficult thing to manage for co-parents. Life can get even busier and stressful after separating from your spouse. After a long day at work, remembering to pick up your children from your co-parent’s house may not be such an easy thing to do. Online child custody calendars can greatly help you if you are a busy co-parent. Printable child custody calendars are even more helpful, allowing you to print one for each member of the family so that everyone is on the same page.
- July 25, 2011
- Alternating Weeks in Your Custody Plan
Some co-parents may choose to go with a more simplistic route when choosing a custody plan that works for them. Not all co-parents can accommodate a 50/50 time split, but if you can then alternating weeks in your custody plan is simple and easy. As with all custody plans it’s definitely not perfect. There are both benefits and drawbacks to alternating weeks in your custody plan that must all be taken into consideration when choosing the best custody plan for your own family.
- July 21, 2011
- Setting Up a Parenting Time Schedule
Setting up a parenting time schedule is a very delicate process. If you are in the process of divorce, it is typically a requirement of both co-parents to submit a parenting time schedule that they feel is appropriate to be approved by the courts. Others may be reviewing their current parenting time schedule because they feel that it isn’t working for them as effectively as it should be. In any case, setting up a parenting time schedule takes a lot of time and effort from both you and your co-parent to determine what will be the best for your children.
- July 20, 2011
- Out of State Visitation Schedules
Visitation is hard when you and your co-parent live in different states, especially when you are not the primary custodial parent. Out of state visitation schedules are not easy things to create. They are very hit and miss and each one must be tested to see if they can work to the benefit of everyone involved. Out of state visitation schedules just seem to create more complications than there ever were before, which is why it is so important that you find the one that works best for you and your family, especially for your children.
- July 19, 2011
- Shared Parenting Manager
Shared parenting is what is more commonly known as joint custody, where both co-parents are awarded custody over their child. When creating and implementing your parenting and custody plan, many situations will call for some sort of joint custody. If you and your co-parent plan to or are implementing shared parenting it should be known that it may require more work than you had expected, but ultimately it is in the best interest of your child. An effective shared parenting manager can help you to manage this workload.
- July 18, 2011
- Modifying the Parenting Plan
After your divorce and child custody settlements are complete, your family court judge will issue a final parenting plan. This can be based on a plan that you and your co-parent have both agreed on or a plan that was created by the judge to fit the needs of your child. Although this is viewed as the final plan for you and your family, family courts understand that circumstances change and modifying the parenting plan may be necessary.
- July 15, 2011
- High Conflict Divorce Tools
Why can’t divorced couples just get along? Things just never seem to go the way we want them to. The unfortunate reality is that high conflict between divorced parents is a common problem. You’re not the only divorced couple in this situation. High conflict divorce tools are a necessity for you and your co-parent for the health and wellbeing of you and your children. Family law professionals and courts are beginning to recognize the severity and volume of this problem. In fact, some have even been known to court order the use of certain high conflict divorce tools.
- July 14, 2011
- How to Set a Schedule for Dual Custody
Creating a dual custody schedule that works and is convenient for all people involved is no easy task. The daily lives of parents and children are busy and stressful. Dual custody can easily make the lives of co-parents more difficult with the added time and effort for scheduling, pick up and drop offs, splitting expenses, and more. Co-parents must spend a good amount of time discussing in order to set a schedule for dual custody that is in the best interest of their children and gives equal time to both co-parents.
- July 12, 2011
- Split Custody Schedules
Split custody is a very different form of custody than joint or sole custody. It is much less popular than other forms of custody therefore it is used much less often. Many divorce courts and family law professionals believe that split custody schedules can greatly benefit the emotional and physical well being of children involved in certain cases. A split custody arrangement requires that half of the children live with one co-parent and the other half live with the other co-parent, which can sometimes be problematic if your family has an odd number of children.
- June 30, 2011
- Documenting Divorce Communications
Counseling and other marriage tools strive to increase communication between you and your partner but they do not always succeed. You may think that the final resort to escape this problem is divorce, but in fact, the need for strong communication continues during and after your divorce as well. Documenting divorce communication can help you to reduce conflict and the chance of going back to court in the future because of unresolved issues.
- June 29, 2011
- Did your commute to work end your marriage?
It is interesting to think that something so small could end a marriage. One Swedish news site published an article recently based on a 15-year study of long commutes to work and the effects that they have on marriage. The article stated that about eleven percent of Swedes have a 45-minute or longer commute to work.
- June 28, 2011
- Wrongfully Accused - MPR News on Child Abuse
Today, MPR News published a story about child abuse cases in which the initial medical evidence lead to the incarceration of the parent or care taker. The story was about how many of these cases are now being overturned upon actually going to trial. As it turns out, medical science is not an exact science and as the profession has become more and more sophisticated, the previous determinations that were widely accepted are now being called into question.
- June 21, 2011
- Divorce and Summer Break
Whether you have just recently divorced or separated from your spouse or you have done so a few years ago, one thing that you can count on is that it will continue to impact your life for years to come. One thing that always seems to pose a challenge co-parenting families is divorce and summer break. Families who have just recently gone through a divorce may not be used to the idea of visitation schedules, which can make divorce and summer break even more difficult. Even co-parenting families who are more comfortable with raising a child as divorced parents because when the summer months come; their whole parenting and visitation plan may change.
- June 16, 2011
- Building an Effective Joint Custody Parenting Plan
When going through a separation or divorce, one very important part is to build a successful parenting plan that is tailored for the needs of you and your co-parent. Everyone’s situation is different. You may be in a high conflict situation, you may want to relocate, etc. In every case, the most important factor should be the benefit and welfare of your children. Discuss your parenting plan options with your co-parent along with your attorney and have them consider and reflect on creating a joint custody parenting plan.
- June 15, 2011
- Child Custody and Visitation Software
With all of the new advances in technology the past couple of decades, many of the complicated things in life have gotten much simpler. In this case we are talking about child custody, visitation rights, and life as a co-parent in general. Child custody and visitation software has made it even easier.
- June 15, 2011
- Good Co-Parenting Management is Important
Co-parenting is definitely not an easy task, especially if you’re completely new to the idea. Everyone has his or her own unique situation when it comes to co-parenting. Stress levels are high, and if you are in a high-conflict situation they may be almost unbearable. This makes good co-parenting management extremely important, because in the end, it is the welfare of the children that matters the most.
- June 15, 2011
- Parenting Plan Examples-A Plan That Fits Your Needs
Families with children are often overstressed and overworked. With work during the day, taking the kids to school, picking the kids up from school, taking the kids to all of their after-school activities, these is little time for anything else. After divorce, these tasks only seem to get even more stressful and time consuming. A solid and workable parenting plan is definitely a necessary piece of a successful parenting life. You want an easy-to-navigate and straight-to-the-point plan that will put you on the road to success.
- June 14, 2011
- Child Custody Relocation
When it comes to child custody, the relocation of either party is a very sensitive issue. Many different things may bring on this issue but in most cases it is a recent job change, a relocation of other family members, or a new spouse. This issue is not to be taken lightly. More often than not the relocation will infringe on the other co parent’s visitation rights. Because of this, depending on the details of the child custody relocation such as whether or not you will be moving out of state, the courts may have the ability to deny any request for relocation.
- June 14, 2011
- Child Custody Tracker, A Necessary Tool
A simple online child custody calendar can be a very powerful tool for families with divorced or separated parents. With an online child custody calendar, each party can easily schedule and track parenting time. This is a very important part of parenting if you are a divorced or separated parent. In addition to providing an organized calendar, this flexible tool also acts as a child custody tracker by providing accurate and detailed information about the actual visitation that is occurring between the two parties.
- June 12, 2011
- Online Child Custody Calendar, It May Be Your Missing Link
Life as a divorced or separated parent may be more difficult than you had expected, but some tasks may not be as daunting as you believe them to be. A child custody and visitation calendar may alleviate some of this pain. It can help divorced or separated parents to better visualize their custody arrangements and agreements which will in turn help to avoid common conflicts that often arise with unorganized custody arrangements. By utilizing these tools everyone involved is on the same page, providing the child or children involved with a more stable environment.
- April 22, 2011
- Navigating the Emotional Roller Coaster of Communicating With the Other Parent
- By Joan Pechauer, LMFT
What emotions do you experience when you see an email or text come up in your inbox from your child’s other parent? Anxiety, irritation, exasperation? Or on the flip side, what are your feelings when you have to bring something up with your Ex? It’s not uncommon to feel like you’re on an emotional roller coaster
- April 18, 2011
- There Is No Such Thing As Quality Time
- By Bruce Sallan
I keep learning this great lesson. It’s something I know, but seem to have to experience repeatedly for it to sink into my stubborn head. With kids, there’s no such thing as quality time, only quantity time.
- March 16, 2011
- Make the custody exchange easier
Spend less time planning and coordinating, spend more quality time with your kids. Rather than sending out emails with copies of upcoming schedules, just log into the site for up to date information. Which is great for keeping the kids and anyone else who needs to know in the loop. Shared access means shared success; get your family moving in the right direction. Costly court battles are no way to spend your child’s future college tuition money.
- March 2, 2011
- The original co-parenting website.
Since 2001, the OurFamilyWizard website has been transforming the way co-parents share important family information from separate homes. Both kids and parents are very busy with lots of activities and responsibilities to manage. Doing it effectively from separate homes is made a whole lot easier by using a shared co-parenting tool like the OurFamilyWizard website.
- March 1, 2011
- The ultimate divorce parenting calendar
With kids, after divorce or separation, setting up a color-coded calendar can make sharing custody a lot easier. It can be easy to make mistakes if you don’t have a master calendar. It may seem simple to calculate in your head or by simply hand counting the weeks however; the simple reality is that if you miscount one weekend, an entire year’s worth of planning may become inaccurate.
- February 3, 2011
- Using your phone to communicate with your ex can be a dangerous endeavor.
In this world of instant gratification, smart phones have become an incredibly popular way for people to communicate. Whether you are sending text messages, updating your status or sending an email, doing it from your smart phone can have some pretty unforeseen and ugly consequences. Why, how you may ask, well a nifty little feature called autotype, autocorrect or predictive text can dramatically change your intended message.
- January 26, 2011
- The #1 Problem After Divorce
- By Don McAvinchey
Being lonely. Of course that’s a natural and expected state to be in and feeling after a divorce. I know, I’ve been there too. Twice. It’s a very lonely place at first, because we’ve created the habit of being with this person who is no longer in our life, and so many of our skills and capabilities for taking care of ourselves and our own state of mind we shared in relationship.
- January 11, 2011
- What is the one change parents can make to improve the outcome of their divorce with children?
Recently, we posed a question to our group of professionals on LinkedIn and the responses were too good not to share. The question we asked the group was: What is the one change parents can make to improve the outcome of their divorce with children? We all know there aren't any silver bullets, but what tidbit of knowledge do you think most closely represents one?
- December 22, 2010
- Tips For Working Out Your Holiday Visitation Schedules
Working our your visitation schedules or parenting time for the holidays can be very stressful. The key word is "can be"; it is up to you and your co-parent as to whether or not it will be a positive or negative experience.
- December 16, 2010
- Setting Up Your Child Custody Calendar
You may have agreed on a child custody schedule in court, but getting it implemented correctly can be a challenge for some families. Using tools like the OurFamilyWizard website can make this easier by creating a shared repository that both parents can work from. Simple mistakes and miscommunications can be very stressful for both parents and children.
- December 13, 2010
- Collaborative Family Law in Action
A great tool for the collaborative approach is the OurFamilyWizard website. The site can act as conduit for all parties involved to share important family information and schedules. The different levels of account access can provide each individual family with the flexibility they need. Everyone involved can be kept in the loop in a safe and documented environment.
- December 2, 2010
- Divorcing parents
You have finally decided to go through with it, you are getting a divorce. As a divorcing parent, what do you need to think about? How do you minimize the affect of the divorce on your children?
- November 22, 2010
- Can the Our Family Wizard website be used by only one parent?
Although the greatest benefit to divorced and separated parents comes when both parents are sharing information through the site, the site can be a tremendously helpful tool even without the other parent's involvement.
- November 19, 2010
- Long distance custody arrangements
Shared parenting from separate households is difficult in its own right, but when the separate homes are hundred if not thousands of miles away from each other shared parenting can be near impossible without tools. The potential for lack of regular contact with the parent who is not close can be very traumatic for children. With advances in technology, reduced physical contact can be supplemented by online custody or parenting time.
- November 17, 2010
- Great gift ideas for 2010
Need a gift idea for the 2010 holiday season, here are some great gift ideas to get you started.
- November 3, 2010
- Stepparent custody rights
We live in a world where everyday at least 1,000 new stepfamilies are formed, unfortunately only about half of these marriages will last.
- October 11, 2010
- Ideas for the Parent Who's Alone This Holiday
- By Kathy Leonard
The thought of spending Thanksgiving or Christmas Day without your children may fill you with dread. But if you are separated or divorced, the reality is that you might be alone for the holidays this year. Instead of pushing the thought out of your mind or becoming anxious, a better option is to create a plan of action.
- September 23, 2010
- Parental Alienation
Parental alienation refers to the systematic breakdown of attachment between a parent and child.
- September 16, 2010
- Books that feature the OurFamilyWizard website
Over the years, the OurFamilyWizard website has become the standard for online shared parenting and child custody communication tools. We have been fortunate to receive recognition from some of the best experts in the area of family law.
- September 14, 2010
- Healing after divorce
How does one move forward after a divorce? For many, divorce can be a very traumatic experience. It is very important that you are cognizant of the impact the divorce has had on you
- September 9, 2010
- Songs that help keep me inspired through my divorce
- By Paul Volker
- September 8, 2010
- ABA Presents Mediate.com with Institutional Award
- By ABA Section of Dispute Resolution
- August 18, 2010
- Top ten custody books on Amazon.com
There is a lot of information out there in regards to child custody, managing child custody and winning child custody time. Child custody issues are often very complex and the more information you know, the better chances you have of a succesful outcome.
- August 2, 2010
- Co-Parenting With Your Ex Does Not Have to Be an Oxymoron
- By Written by Carole Lundell
I don’t think anyone would disagree that divorce is a painful, difficult, heart wrenching experience. But as hard as it is on the adults, it is even worse for the kids. The kids didn’t have a choice in this matter. This is completely out of their hands. So it is up to us as the adults in the situation to make this process as safe and healthy as it can be for their sake
- July 22, 2010
- Don't spend $1,000 to fight over a $50 expense.
It is that not that uncommon to hear a story about divorced parents spending thousands in legal fees to fight over issues like a $200 expense or changes to the parenting schedule over the holidays. How does this happen? Why do otherwise logical and financially responsible people waste so much time and money fighting? Are the children’s best interests always the driving factor when parents engage in costly litigation over issues?
- July 14, 2010
- Child Custody Calendar Software
Your divorce may have started 10 years ago or last month, but as long as you have minor children together, you and your co-parent will need to develop a parenting plan that can work for both of you. Many families are turning to custody software solutions like the OurFamilyWizard website to assist. The OurFamilyWizard website works as an ongoing "living" version of your parenting plan.
- July 13, 2010
- Bath Time Struggles
- By Bill Corbett
Getting a child to take a bath falls in the category of getting someone to do something they don’t really care about.
- July 12, 2010
- How to Positively Co-parent after Divorce
- By Dyan Eybergen BA, RN
Co-parenting is a term used to express the relationship that two individuals, typically a mother and father, have in relation to parenting a child or children after separation or divorce. This relationship is conceptualized separately from the romantic relationship as the parents are no longer living together, yet they maintain a relationship to parent their children.
- July 9, 2010
- Red Flags that a Child is Playing Parents Against Each Other
- By Gary Kohler
It does not take some children very long to realize the advantages of playing parents against each other to get what they want. After a few years of being on this earth children start to realize that just because dad said no doesn’t mean that mom will say no (or vice versa). Toddlers often see the world in almost magical terms where they simply ask for something and then it will appear. To children this age, parents are the great providers in charge of giving them anything they need at all times – not matter how difficult.
- June 22, 2010
- From Power Struggles to Cooperation
- By Melanie Miller, M.Ed.
I’m sure we all remember those toddler days when our kids were really good at saying “no”, running away when it was diaper changing time or throwing a fit because their favorite shirt wasn’t clean and ready to wear. Weren’t they suppose to grow out of this? If you’re still feeling challenged, provoked, threatened or defeated by your child’s behavior, cheer up, you’re not alone! Even though our kids have gained a few years, they can still be experts at successfully engaging us in power struggles.
- June 15, 2010
- Punished by Rewards, Motivated by Incentives
- By Tom Dozier, BCaBA
- June 11, 2010
- Connection, Connection, Connection
- By Melanie Miller, M.Ed.
Many of us know that when it comes to buying a house it’s all about location, location, location. But have you ever heard that when it comes to parenting, it’s all about connection, connection, connection.
- June 10, 2010
- Coping with Changeovers as a Co-Parent
- By Scott Morgan
Co-Parenting has proven to be a reliable and consistent method that enables a divorced couple to actively engage and parent children produced from a union; however, co-parenting comes with its own set of problems. These problems can be resolved, and the right advice on co-parenting can make life a lot easier for you and your children.
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