You’re probably reading this because your case has come to an end, whether you’re (finally) divorced or your custody case has been resolved. What do you do now? This guide is intended to help you navigate the days, months and years to come, so that you’re prepared if you ever need to come back to court. Not all of it will apply to you, but hopefully, some of it will.

Paperwork

• Read your paperwork carefully. Then re-read it again periodically. Some of the language can be technical. Make sure you understand what you’re reading. If you have any questions, just ask. But remember the phrase, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.” Just because you didn’t read or understand your paperwork doesn’t mean you haven’t violated it. Be sure you are very familiar with what you’re supposed to do, and not supposed to do.

  1. What happens if you don’t follow your paperwork, you ask? Well, then you could be looking at the Big C - CONTEMPT. You do NOT want to be in contempt. If you violate the paperwork, the other party can make you come to court and explain why you didn’t follow it. And trust me, the judges are not sympathetic. They can fine you, and even jail you. So be sure you follow it to a T.

• Make sure you have both hard copies and an electronic copy of your paperwork. I suggest keeping copies close at hand, whether in a file folder or on your phone. You might also want to give copies to your children’s school, daycare, doctor, or other providers, so everyone is on the same page about custody and visitation.

Child Support

• Read your paperwork to find out who is supposed to set up the child support case. Almost all cases require that child support be paid through the Arkansas Child Support Clearinghouse. In order for it to be paid, first a case has to be set up. Then you and the other side should both receive paperwork in the mail explaining the different ways you can pay and the different ways you can receive. The first payments may come via check, but you can later set up direct deposit.  

• Keep your child support case number handy. If you ever need to call the 1-800 number, this is the first thing they will ask for. Keep in mind that you can periodically request an accounting from the Clearinghouse, which will show all payments that have been made.

• Pay your child support directly to the other party until the case is set up. Sometimes it will take a couple of weeks to get the case going. Until then, you should pay the other party directly via check or some other provable method.

Record Keeping

• Keep good records of the communications between you and the other party. I cannot tell you how many times people come to me with complaints but then have lost the text messages to back them up. What you do is: screenshot the relevant text messages and then email them to yourself so that if your phone is lost or broken, the text messages are still saved somewhere. There are also apps that will download all of your communications, which is a great idea.

• Screenshot relevant Facebook posts, and anything else that could be relevant later. You never know what you might need. If the other party or their family is spouting off on Facebook, screenshot it. If they leave you an ugly voicemail, save it to your email. Do not lose this stuff because you never know when you might need it.

• Keep a calendar of relevant events. It is very handy for your attorney to have a timeline of when things happened. If the other party misses a visitation, or cancels last minute, or decides to go to Cancun instead of exercising visitation, write it down! A journal, calendar or diary that is kept contemporaneously is admissible in court. So write. it. down.

Co-Parenting

• Do your part to work with the other party for the sake of your children. Ask yourself: What will the Judge think about my actions? Did I give the other party the benefit of the doubt? How will this affect my children? The best thing that you can do for your children is to have a good relationship with the other party. Be flexible. Switch weekends upon request. If there’s a problem with the kids, the first person you should call to talk to about it should be the other party.

• Keep the other party informed, or, ask for information. If you are the custodial parent, take your role as a privilege and a responsibility. Keep the other parent informed of what goes on at home, at school, at the doctor, and at extracurricular activities. Even if they don’t respond, keep doing it. If you’re the non-custodial parent, this does not relieve you of your duty to find things out. You should know the names of your kids’ teachers, their doctor, their coaches, etc. You should go to parent-teacher conferences. Know what is going on in your kids’ lives.

• Try an electronic calendar or co-parenting app. I have a different blog post about the different options. An electronic calendar can help you, the other party, the kids, and even stepparents be aware of where the children are and where they’re going to be. You can schedule and re-arrange holiday and summer visitation far in advance. The kids can know which parent to ask about sleepovers, etc. You can add things to the schedule, like school events or practices, without having to constantly text the other parent. I highly recommend you look into it.

Review Your Lawyer!

• If I haven’t asked you already, please consider leaving us a five-star review if you are happy with the services you have received. They make a big difference for a small business like ours. There are two places where you can review: 1) Google (where all good things come from; however, it is public) or 2) Avvo (where you rate and review attorneys and can leave an anonymous review). Thank you in advance for your feedback, and good luck!

Co-parenting is not an easy task. You have to learn to emotionally separate yourself from the other parent and treat your communications like business. When do you pick up the kids? What do they need for soccer practice? Who is their guidance counselor? It’s a lot to keep up with.

What if there was “an app for that”? Just your luck, there is! A couple of apps, actually. I’d like to introduce those apps to you in this blog post in the hopes that you will find the best way for your family to communicate.

1) Google Calendar. The first app I will introduce is the simplest one of all: a shared electronic calendar. It is easy to set up and use, and it’s free. You can set up multiple calendars for different things, such as, a calendar for visitation, a calendar for doctor and dentist appointments, a calendar for school events, a calendar for extracurricular activities, and so on. Either parent can add events to the calendar, and cause a notification to be sent to the other parent so that they know what was added. Stepparents and children can also be given access to the calendar, so that everyone knows where the children are at any point in time. The children can look at the calendar and know which parent to ask about a sleepover, for example, or whose house they will be at for Christmas. Kids thrive on stability and certainty, and something as simple as a Google Calendar can provide just that.

2) Our Family Wizard. Our Family Wizard is the creme-de-la-creme of co-parenting apps. It has everything you could want and more. Not only is there a calendar, but there is also an internal messaging app, expense tracking, medical information, school information, and note taking. Attorneys like it because it saves everything: you can easily print or send all of your communications with the other parent to your attorney if there’s a problem. You can easily track expenses and reimbursement, if someone falls behind. It even has a feature to identify and flag “emotionally charged sentences” to help prevent you from accidentally saying something that you might regret! Pretty nifty stuff. The only downside to this wonderful service is the price: $120 per year. But with that, you get excellent customer service and an excellent service. Most clients find that it is well worth the price.

3) AppClose. AppClose is the budget version of Our Family Wizard. It has many of the same features, but none of the price, because it’s free! It also has a calendar, messager, expense tracking & reimbursement, and important information. With the expense tracking, you can log an expense in the app and request reimbursement from the other parent, who can pay through the app, instantly. From my experience, AppClose doesn’t work quite as seamlessly as Our Family Wizard. In fact, the set up can take awhile. But once it’s set up and you get the hang of it, it’s great! And at the $0 price, it’s worth a try.

4) Cozi Family Organizer. Cozi is an app that is used by nuclear families and non-traditional families alike. It is an easy way to organize your family’s life by use of electronic calendars, to-do lists, a family journal, and even recipes and shopping lists! It is easily shared across all of your devices. It is an upgrade from the Google Calendar, but not quite the full-fledged co-parenting app like Our Family Wizard or AppClose. If you’re like Goldilocks and want something in the middle, Cozi is a great choice for you. And once again, it’s free, unless you opt for the Cozy Gold, which has additional features.

Alimony has a bad rap. No one wants to pay it, but everyone’s always asking for it. So what is alimony, anyway?

Alimony, now more commonly called “spousal support,” is the financial support of a spouse during and after a divorce case. It’s commonly ordered in cases where one spouse has financially supported the other during the marriage. They will be expected to continue to do during the divorce case, and sometimes, afterwards.

How does the Judge determine if spousal support should be awarded? The two primary things we look at are: the ability of the supporting spouse to pay, and the need of the dependent spouse for the support. There is a document called an Affidavit of Financial Means, that both parties will fill out. For the supporting spouse, we are looking to see if they have enough income, after reasonable expenses, to pay support. For the dependent spouse, we are looking to see if they have a deficit after their income and expenses have been considered. If the supporting spouse can pay, and the dependent spouse has a need, voila! You have a case for alimony.

Is that all the Judge looks at? No. Although ability to pay and need for support are the primary things the Judge considers, he or she will also look at other factors, including: (1) the financial circumstances of both parties; (2) the couple’s past standard of living; (3) the value of jointly owned property; (4) the amount and nature of the parties’ income, both current and anticipated; (5) the extent and nature of the resources and assets of each of the parties; (6) the amount of income of each that is spendable; (7) the earning ability and capacity of each party; (8) the property awarded or given to one of the parties, either by the court or the other party; (9) the disposition made of the homestead or jointly owned property; (10) the condition of health and medical needs of both husband and wife; (11) the duration of the marriage; and (12) the amount of child support (if applicable).

How long does it go on? Well, it depends. The trend is toward “rehabilitative” alimony, meaning, long enough to help the dependent spouse get back on their feet. However, in certain cases, permanent alimony can be awarded, especially in cases of long marriages or where the dependent spouse is disabled or unable to be rehabilitated into the work force.

Who can I call if I need help? This one’s easy: call Leslie! She can assess your particular case and help you make informed decisions about what is best for you. Schedule a consultation and come talk to her today.

There's a lot to think about when getting divorced. Who is keeping the house? What about the kids? One thing you may not be thinking about is changing your Will and other legal documents. 

When can you change your Will? Anytime you want. You do not have to notify your spouse that you are doing so. You do not even have to be divorced. As soon as you know you want to change your Will, that's the time to do it. 

Isn't that automatic when I get divorced? Nope. The law is going to assume that you still wanted to leave your spouse part of your estate, if that's what your Will says of course. Whatever the Will says goes.

What else do I need to change when I get divorced? Here is a short list: 

• Healthcare Power of Attorney
• Financial Power of Attorney
• Advanced Directive
• Deeds and Titles
• Life insurance beneficiaries
• Retirement account beneficiaries
• Bank accounts -> payable on death beneficiaries

Leslie Copeland Law handles all aspects of your family and the law, including wills, trusts and estates. If you're getting divorced, or need to change your Will or other legal documents, schedule a consultation to see Leslie today.

Dependency Neglect proceedings with DHS are very serious and very scary for parents. Fortunately, you don't have to go through this experience alone. You have the right to be represented by an attorney at every stage of the process. The terminology and laws that apply to DHS hearings are unique. There are steps you need to take to protect yourself and your children. This article is designed to give you a brief overview of the DHS Dependency-Neglect process so that you know what to expect. Here is the timeline:

1.  A person files a report with the Child Abuse Hotline and DHS investigates the report.
2. If DHS determines that there is an emergency, the child will be temporarily taken into DHS custody or the custody of a relative. If the child is placed in DHS custody, DHS will obtain an "Ex Parte Emergency Order for Custody."
3. Within 5 days after the Emergency Order is issued, there will be a "Probate Cause Hearing." At this hearing, the court will determine whether DHS had probable cause to remove the child and whether the child can be returned home safely. This is the only issue heard at this hearing. You or your attorney should look at DHS's evidence closely to see if they can show that they had probable cause. You have the right to review the investigator's report and to question any witnesses. If there was not probable cause, the child can be returned home.
4. Within 30 days after the Probable Cause Hearing, the court will hold an "Adjudication Hearing." This is a trial. The court will determine at this hearing whether to "adjudicate" the child as dependent, neglected or abused. If the court does not find that the child is dependent, neglected or abused, then the child can be returned home. However, if the court does find that the child is dependent, neglected or abused, then the court will move forward to the "Disposition Hearing."
5. The "Disposition Hearing" is held either at the same time as the Adjudication Hearing or shortly thereafter. The Disposition Hearing will set out a 6-month plan for the child and the parents. The court will determine who will have temporary custody of the children and what the visitation schedule will be. The court will also order DHS to provide services to the parent(s) in order to remedy the problem. The parent can be ordered to complete certain classes or tasks, like taking a drug test, submitting to a psychological evaluation, going to parenting classes or going to therapy.
6. At the "Six Month Review Hearing," the court will determine whether the parent has followed the 6-month plan and whether they have received the services ordered by the court. The court will determine whether these services have remedied the problem such that the child can return home.
7. The court will continue to hold Six Month Review Hearings until either the problem is resolved or whether permanent plans need to be made for the child's future.
8. If the problems have not been resolved within a year, the court will hold a "Permanency Planning Hearing" to decide whether it would be in the child's best interest to be adopted. If so, the court will set a "Termination Hearing" to terminate the parental rights of a parent who has not followed the orders of the court and has not shown that he or she can provide adequate care for the child. If parental rights are terminated, the parent is no longer related to the child and has no rights as to them. The court will continue to hold Post-Termination Hearings until the child is adopted but the terminated parent will not be allowed to attend.

As you can see, these proceedings are complex and their implications are serious and sometimes permanent. If you have a DHS hearing, you need to contact an experienced family law attorney like Leslie immediately. 

We all know the lyrics: "Till the one day when the lady met this fellow / And they knew it was much more than a hunch / That this group must somehow form a family / That's the way we all became the Brady Bunch!"

Cheesy, I know. But in reality, blended families are more common now than ever. And stepparents often to come to love and care for their stepchildren as if they were their own. Adoption not only solidifies that bond, but it has some important legal benefits as well. Once an adoption is finalized, the stepparent is treated as though they were the child's parent at birth. They have the right to make decisions regarding the child's health, welfare and education. The child will stand to inherit from the adoptive stepparent. And the stepparent will have the right to petition for custody and visitation if they divorce.

How Does It Work?

In a stepparent adoption, the stepparent petitions the court to adopt the child. Attached to the petition is the child's birth certificate, the death certificate of any deceased parent, and a consent form from the stepparent's spouse. State law also requires that an Adoption Information Form be sent to DHS.

Who Is Involved?

The stepparent's spouse, the natural parent of the child, must consent to the adoption by filing a notarized consent form. Further, the biological parent will need to be given notice of the adoption and have the opportunity to either consent or object, with some exceptions.

A biological parent will be considered to have waived their right to consent or object if their parental rights have been terminated, or if a judge determines that they have "abandoned" the child by willfully refusing to support or contact them for more than a year. If the biological parent is deceased, then the biological grandparents will need to be notified; although their consent is not necessary, they have the right to come to court and object if they choose.

Will I Have To Go To Court?

Yes. But first, there is a ten-day waiting period after the filing of consent to allow a consenting parent time to withdraw the same. In other adoptions, there is also a required minimum residential time as well as a home study and a child study. These requirements are waived in stepparent adoptions.

At the hearing, the natural parent, the stepparent and the child must all be present. The judge or the stepparent's attorney will ask the parents a few questions. If the child is old enough, they may be asked if they wish for the adoption to proceed as well. Any objections to the adoption will also be heard.

The judge will establish that the requirements for adoption have been met and will issue a Decree of Adoption. Then there are usually pictures and a celebration lunch!

If you are a stepparent who would like to adopt a child, call Leslie to schedule a consultation.

Shakespeare once said, "That which we call a rose. By any other name would smell as sweet." True as that may be, there is a multitude of reasons why a person might want to change his or her name. It could be as simple as a misspelling. I  had a client whose middle name was misspelled on his adoptive birth certificate, causing confusion as an adult. Or sometimes, it might be because of family history. I had another client who wanted to change her last name to that of her foster parents, even though she was never officially adopted by them.

There is an infinite list of reasons why a person would want a name change. Fortunately, the process is pretty simple! Arkansas Code § 9-2-101 says that any person can petition to have his or her name changed "upon good reasons shown."

An attorney can draft the paperwork for you for a very low fee, and accompany you to court. There is a filing fee (about $165) and you will have to present your petition to the judge. It's a relatively pain-free process but having an attorney by your side can help calm the nerves.

So what's in a name? Whatever you want it to be.

If you find yourself caring for another person, you may need to consider getting guardianship over that person.

The most common reason that people need a guardianship is because they are caring for a child whose parents are unable to care for them. The second most common reason is caring for an adult who can no longer take care of themselves. A guardianship can also be sought for a person who not capable of caring for his or herself due to a mental or physical disability. In any of these cases, caring for a person without legal authority to make decisions for them can make things logistically and legally complicated. That's where a guardianship comes in.

What does guardianship mean? 

Guardianship means that the guardian has the power to make decisions regarding the "ward." There are three types of guardianship: guardianship over the person, the estate, or the person AND the estate.

A guardianship over the estate is needed when the ward has financial assets that need to be managed. In a guardianship over the estate, the guardian may have to post a "bond" with the court proportionate to the size of the estate they will be managing.

To be a guardian over someone, that person has to be "incapacitated." This could be because they are a minor, or because they have a mental or physical disability that prevents them from caring for themselves.

What does it take to be a guardian? 

To be a guardian in Arkansas, you must be a resident of this state, be at least 18 years of age, be of sound mind, and not be a convicted felon.

How do you get a guardianship? 

You file a petition for a guardianship in the county where the proposed "ward" resides. You also have the notify all of the interested parties. In the case of a minor, his or her parents. In the case of an adult, you have to notify the adult and their closest family members. If the proposed ward is in the custody of some kind of institution, then you have to notify the director of that institution. And if the proposed ward is receiving some kind of state services, like from DHS, then you have to notify DHS as well.

It may be possible to get the parents of the ward, or family members, to sign a waiver saying that they consent to the guardianship. If so, the case will be uncontested.

You will have to have a hearing before a judge, where you explain the petition and why you are asking for guardianship. If the matter is contested, both sides will be able to explain why they do or do not think that a guardianship is warranted and/or that the proposed guardian is the appropriate person to do the job.

What is the end result? 

If the guardianship is granted and an ordered is entered, you will be issued "letters of guardianship" that you can present to people when you have to make decisions for the ward. In the case of children, you would present them to their school, their doctor, or their daycare. In the case of adults, you would use them any situation where you need authority to act on their behalf.

Getting guardianship over a person you're caring for gives you a host of protections when making decisions for that person. If you think you need a guardianship, come in and see Leslie for a consultation. 

What is an annulment? 

An annulment is a declaration by the court that a marriage was not valid. Upon a decree of annulment, the marriage will be treated as if it did not exist.

What are the effects of an annulment? 

If your marriage is annulled, then you will return to the status you had before the marriage. For example, if you owned a home in your name before you were married, you will return to being the sole owner. It will not be considered marital property and your former spouse will not have any rights to it. Likewise, you will not inherit from a spouse if your marriage is annulled. It will be as if you were never married at all. 

However, there is one exception to note. Children born to a marriage that is subsequently annulled will still be considered legitimate in that the former husband will still be assumed to be the father. Even if you are granted the annulment, the court will decide custody, visitation and child support issues separately.

Am I eligible for an annulment?

There are very specific grounds for getting an annulment in Arkansas. An annulment is available when either one of the parties was not capable of consenting to the marriage because:

• One or both of the parties were too young to legally get married;
• One or both of the parties were mentally unable to understand and consent to the marriage;
• One or both the parties were incapable of entering into the marriage state due to physical causes; 
• Consent to marry was obtained through fraud; or
• Consent to marry was obtained through force.

The most common ground for divorce that I see in my practice is consent obtained by fraud for reasons of citizenship. You may be entitled to an annulment if you were defrauded into marrying someone so that they could gain citizenship.

Other examples include where one spouse didn't tell the other that they were impotent; or in the shotgun wedding example, where one of the parties was forced to get married against their will; or, where one or both parties were so intoxicated that they were incapable of consent.

A case I studied in law school involved a couple who were mentally disabled and got married. However, because both knew what marriage was and what getting married meant, and were therefore capable of consenting to it, the marriage was allowed to stand.

What is the difference between divorce and annulment? 

You can only get an annulment if the marriage was never valid. If the marriage was valid, you will need to get a divorce.

An attorney can help you decide if an annulment or a divorce is right for you and your situation. If you think you need an annulment or a divorce, schedule a consultation with Leslie to talk about your options.

When a potential client calls my office with a child custody question, the first thing I need to know is where the child lives and how long the child has lived there. Why does this matter? It matters because there is a law called the UCCJEA and it governs what court can hear a particular custody case.

UCCJEA stands for the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. It is the law in every state in the United States (except Massachusetts, where it is still pending in the legislature at the time of this post). Before the UCCJEA was adopted, any state where a child was physically present could make a custody determination. This resulted in parents abducting children and traveling to other states in order to "forum shop" to get a favorable custody determination.

The UCCJEA says that a child's "home state" has priority to decide custody of that child. A home state is defined as "state in which a child lived with a parent or a person acting as a parent for at least six consecutive months immediately before the commencement of a child-custody proceeding." Temporary absences from the state don't count. And if the child is an infant less than six months old, then the period from birth to present is what counts.

What if the child hasn't lived in one place for six months? In that case, jurisdiction will be proper where the child and at least one parent have a "significant connection" with the state and there is substantial evidence concerning the custody determination available there.

If the child does not fall into either category, then any state with an appropriate connection to the child can make a custody determination.

Now, there are a couple of exceptions. First, if a state court has already made a custody determination regarding a child, then that court will continue to have continuing exclusive jurisdiction over the child so long as one parent continues to live in that state. Second, if there is an emergency that threatens the welfare of the child, then a state can have temporary jurisdiction to take measures to protect the child, but the child's home state will have priority once the emergency has ended.

Let's take up a couple of examples.

Let's say that you and your husband live in Arkansas with your children. You move to Atlanta for a job opportunity and you live there for one year. You and your spouse decide to divorce. Even though you may be able to file for divorce in Georgia, Georgia will not have jurisdiction over the custody determination because Arkansas is the "home state" of the children.

Now let's say that you and wife divorce in Arkansas and she gets primary custody of the kids. She moves with the kids to Chicago. Seven months later, something happens and you want to file for a change of custody. Even though Illinois is the "home state" of the children, the Arkansas court will have continuing exclusive jurisdiction because it made the initial custody determination, and you continue to live here.

As you can see, this gets complicated. But knowing where to file is the first and very important step in filing for custody. If you have a custody case, scheduele a consultation with Leslie and see how she can help.

You could have been at work, minding your own business. Or maybe you were at home in your pajamas. Either way, it's not fun to be served with a lawsuit. But what are you supposed to do now? 

The first thing I will tell you is what NOT to do. Do not wait. Do not stick it in with the rest of your mail and forget about it. Do not wait to go talk to a lawyer.

The second thing is to READ the summons. There is some important information in there. A typical summons will tell you that you have 30 days to respond to the lawsuit or you will risk default. If you default, a judgment can be entered without you. And it is near impossible to undo.

The summons will also include what court the lawsuit is in, who the lawyer on the other side is, and where the clerk's office is to file a response.

Occasionally, a summons will provide for a shorter time period. For example, if you are served with an unlawful detainer lawsuit, you will only have five days to respond, or you will be evicted.

In addition to the summons and the complaint or petition, there may also be a notice for a temporary hearing. In almost all cases, it is imperative that you attend the hearing. Even if your 30 days to respond has not run yet. If the hearing is in the morning, go to the hearing and tell the judge you want a continuance to find a lawyer. 

The third thing is to take the summons to an attorney as soon as possible and learn about your options. Schedule an appointment as soon as you can. Do not want until your answer is due.

If you have been served with a lawsuit, get proactive. Because it's not going away. Read it carefully and then schedule an appointment with an attorney like Leslie who can help you. 

The first thing that comes to mind when I hear "emancipation" is the emancipation proclamation. Of course, that is not what we're talking about here! However, just as slaves were emancipated from their owners, so too can a minor be emancipated from their parents. Here's how.

Emancipation is the process by which a child's "disability" of being minor is removed. This allows the minor to enter into contracts and conduct other business as if they were an adult. They will be able to obtain their own medical care, sign their own school forms, sign rental contracts and leases, receive their own disability checks, sign up for benefits programs, and more.

There are two ways to get emancipated. True emancipation is found in Arkansas Code 9-27-362. It allows a minor who is part of a dependency-neglect, dependency, family in need of services, or delinquency case to file for emancipation. They have to be 17 and they have to serve their parents with notice. After emancipation under this section, the minor's parents are no longer responsible for them. The court looks at the following factors to decide if the minor should be emancipated:

• If the juvenile has the ability to live separate and apart from their parents;
• If they can manage their own financial affairs;
• If they have a legal source of income, like a job;
• If they have a plan for healthcare coverage;
• If they can meet compulsory school attendance laws; and
• If emancipation is in their best interests.

This type of emancipation only occurs as part of a DHS case. And notably, it does not allow you to buy cigarettes or alcohol before you are of legal age!

The other kind of emancipation is called "removal of disabilities." It's also called "contract emancipation." It falls under Arkansas Code 9-26-104 and it allows a judge to authorize someone who is 16 years of age or older to either "transact business in general" or to transact some particular business specifically.

For instance, I had a case where a 16-year-old girl needed to be able to sign her own medical releases because her parents were either unable or unwilling to do so. The judge can either remove all of her disabilities and allow her to contract in general, or he could issue an order allowing her to sign her own medical forms specifically.

Contract emancipation does not have the same factors as emancipation in a DHS case, and it may not have as far-reaching results either.

As you can see, this can get complicated. If you're a minor who is considering emancipation, or a parent who needs representation, then schedule a consultation with Leslie and see what she can do for you. 

Temporary hearings are an important part of the divorce process. Not every divorce requires a temporary hearing. But if there are big issues that need to be decided quickly, like possession of the marital home or custody and visitation of the kids, you have the right to ask for a temporary hearing. The judge will issue a Temporary Order that will be in place during the divorce process.

Each judge handles temporary hearings differently. Some judges only allow the parties to testify. Others only give you a certain amount of time, as little as 20 minutes per side. Still other judges allow you to call whomever you want and take as long as you please.

Sometimes parties will ask for a temporary hearing as soon as they file for divorce, and then serve the other party with the Complaint for Divorce and notice of the hearing. They are allowed to do this, and you must attend the hearing. I do this in cases where my client needs to get before the judge as soon as possible, such as if they have been booted out of the house, or if their spouse is not allowing them to see the kids.

A Temporary Order often has an effect on the final divorce settlement. If you've been served with a notice of temporary hearing, or you need to get your issues before a judge as soon as possible, having an experienced attorney by your side, who knows her judges, is extremely valuable. Schedule a consultation with Leslie today.

Note: If you are reading this and your hearing is in the morning, go to the hearing and tell the judge that you want to hire a lawyer! He or she will likely give you additional time to find one. Call or email us ASAP and tell us your new hearing so that we can get you in quickly.

Picture this scenario: You and your girlfriend deliver a happy, healthy baby at the hospital. The baby has your eyes, and your last name. Everything goes great for awhile, until you decide that it's best for you and your girlfriend to go your separate ways. You assume that because you are on the birth certificate, you have certain rights as a father. But is that really the case?

Answer: Not exactly. In Arkansas, unlike in many other states, you have to actually file a Petition for Paternity in circuit court and be found to be the legal father of the child before you have any rights to custody or visitation. It is not automatic. Your girlfriend can also pursue you for child support and ask that you be found to be the father that way. In either case, a judge has to declare you to be the father.

You may be interested to know that in Arkansas, if a woman is not married at the time of the child's birth, then she is legally the sole custodian of the child, until there is an order of paternity and custody signed by a judge.

So what do you do? You've broken up with your girlfriend and you want to see your child. You will need to come to my office for a consultation where we can assess your situation, and then file a Petition for Paternity, asking for you to be declared to be the legal father of the child, and for you to be awarded either custody or visitation.

Too many dads come into my office either thinking they automatically have rights, or that they'll never get custody. Neither assumption is correct. I can help assess your situation and give you a path towards accomplishing your goals. Come see me today!

Sometimes when clients come in to see me, they aren't 100% sure they want a divorce. Maybe something has happened that lessened their faith in their spouse, but they aren't sure they want to throw in the towel completely. So they ask: What about a legal separation?

In Arkansas, legal separation is usually called separate maintenance. The spouse filing for separate maintenance has to prove three primary things: 1) that they are an "innocent" spouse, 2) that they are without sufficient means to provide for themselves or their children, and 3) that the other spouse has sufficient means to provide for them.

What is an "innocent" spouse, you ask? It is a spouse that has not given the other spouse any grounds for divorce. In other words, they have not treated their spouse in such a way that would allow their spouse to file for divorce against them.

The innocent spouse can ask the court to award them "separate maintenance," or alimony, while the parties are separated. They can also ask the court to award them possession of certain property, like the house or the car. The court cannot divide ownership of the property, like they do in a divorce, but it can award simple possession.

During the separation, the innocent spouse has the time and space to think about divorce or reconciliation. During this time, the parties are still married so marital assets continue to accrue, like retirement or paying down the house and cars.

After 18 months of separation has passed, either party will at that time have grounds for divorce based on 18 months of separation and either party can file for divorce at that time.

There are some risks associated with a legal separation, and it is not appropriate in many cases. If you have questions about whether this is the right avenue for you, please contact Leslie and schedule a consultation so that she can assess your particular situation. 

Covenant marriage is legal in three states: Arizona, Arkansas, and Louisiana. In essence, it really does two things: makes it harder to get married, and makes it harder to get divorced.

First, before you can enter into a covenant marriage, you have to submit to authorized marital counseling by a therapist or preacher or similar person, and you have to sign a declaration that says this:

"We do solemnly declare that marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman who agree to live together as husband and wife for so long as they both may live. We have chosen each other carefully and disclosed to one another everything which could adversely affect the decision to enter into this marriage. We have received authorized counseling on the nature, purposes, and responsibilities of marriage. We have read the Covenant Marriage Act of 2001, and we understand that a covenant marriage is for life. If we experience marital difficulties, we commit ourselves to take all reasonable efforts to preserve our marriage, including marital counseling.

With full knowledge of what this commitment means, we do hereby declare that our marriage will be bound by Arkansas law on covenant marriages, and we promise to love, honor, and care for one another as husband and wife for the rest of our lives."

Your counselor also has to sign a declaration that says that he or she has explained to you the nature and purpose of covenant marriage and the grounds for termination of the marriage. These grounds specifically include ONLY the following:

• (1) The other spouse has committed adultery;
• (2) The other spouse has committed a felony or other infamous crime;
• (3) The other spouse has physically or sexually abused the spouse seeking the divorce or a child of one of the spouses;
• (4) The spouses have been living separate and apart continuously without reconciliation for a period of two years (or two years and six months of a minor child is involved);
• (5) The spouses have been living separate and apart continuously without reconciliation for a period of two years from the date the judgment of judicial separation was signed.

In sum, unless there has been adultery, a felony or abuse, you have to wait for two years of separation. In the meantime, you can get a judicial separation (which may come with some spousal support).

In my experience, people are often wearing rose-colored glasses when they enter into a covenant marriage. They are in love and assume that they always will be. I have seen covenant marriages completely fall apart in a matter of months, only for the couple to have to wait for two years in order to get divorced. My advice is to be very careful when entering into this kind of marriage. And if you're trying to get out of one, get yourself a good lawyer.

If you're reading this post, you probably have a custody or divorce case and you're likely asking 1 of 2 questions:

1: Can I move? 

or

2: Can my ex-spouse move?

In custody cases, moving away from the other parent has a serious impact on the family dynamic. But in the age we live in, it's important for people to have the freedom and flexibility to follow opportunities that may come their way. The court tries to balance these two competing interests. However, I would say that it has given slightly more weight to the second consideration. Allow me to explain.

The law in Arkansas says that a custodial parent's decision to relocate (or move) is presumed to be in the best interests of the child. It will be up to the non-custodial parent (the parent with visitation) to show otherwise. There are 5 considerations that the judge will look at:

• (1) the reason for relocation;

• (2) the educational, health, and leisure opportunities available in the new location;

• (3) the visitation and communication schedule for the noncustodial parent;

• (4) the effect of the move on the child’s extended family relationships; and

• (5) the preference of the child, including the age, maturity, and the reasons given by the child as to his or her preference.

If a parent is moving away solely out of spite, or without any job prospects, or is just trying to take the child away from the other parent or from family, then they can probably be prevented from moving. If, however, they are moving to be with family or moving for a good job, the court will likely allow it. The judge will look at the opportunities in the new location, the prospects for visitation, the family the child is moving to or leaving behind, and in some cases, what the child wants. He or she will take all of these things, and more, in consideration in order to determine if the move is in the child's best interest, and what the new visitation schedule should be.

Note: If you have joint custody and are wanting to move, it's a whole new ballgame. Even if you don’t have “joint custody” per se, but have the child close to half the time, then the court uses a different standard and it is more difficult to move.

If you want to relocate, or you would like to prevent your spouse from relocating, a good attorney can make a big difference. Call Leslie today for a consultation to discuss your particular situation.

Grandparent visitation is a thing. If you are a grandparent and your grandkids are being withheld from you, then you may have a legal avenue to enforce your right to see your grandkids and have a relationship with them. However, there are some complicated requirements to get there.

First, in order to petition for grandparent visitation, you have to be a grandparent or great-grandparent to the child, and the relationship of the child's parents has to have been severed by death, divorce or separation.

Second, if the custodial parent is withholding visitation from you, then the law presumes that what they are doing is in the child's best interests. It is up to you, the grandparent, to overcome that presumption.

You have to show two primary things: that you have had a significant relationship with the child, and that visitation with you is in the child's best interests. Here's how you do that: 

1. To show that you have had a significant relationship with the child, you have to show one of these three things: that the child lived with you without the custodial parent for at least six months; that you were the regular caregiver to the child for at least six months; or, that you had regular or frequent contact with the child for at least 12 months.
2. To show that visitation with you is in the child's best interests, you must show that you have the capacity to give the child love, affection and guidance; that the loss of their relationship with you will be harmful to them; and that you are willing to cooperate with the custodial parent if visitation is allowed.

As an example, let's say you are the paternal grandparent of little Grace. Before her dad passed away, you saw Grace all the time. You babysat her, picked her up from preschool, took her to the zoo, and participated in holidays with her. You love her very much. But since her dad passed away, you don't see her much anymore. In fact, her mother has decided that you remind her too much of Grace's dad and she doesn't want you to see Grace at all. You are devastated, and after months of asking to see her and being denied, you finally decide it's time to talk to a lawyer.

Your lawyer (me) helps you file a petition for grandparent visitation. You show that you have a significant relationship with Grace because you had frequent contact with her for over a year. You state that the relationship of her parents was severed by her dad's death. You prove to the judge that you can give Grace love, affection and guidance, and that the loss of her relationship with you will harm her in the long run. But you agree that you will work with her mother if visitation is allowed. In this case, your petition is likely to be granted.

A significant case came down in 2015 called Drinkwitz v. Drinkwitz that illustrates how complicated some of these factors can be. In that case, the grandparents had seen the grandchildren quite a bit before the parents' divorce. After the divorce, they saw them less but the mother still allowed them to see the children. They sued for visitation because they wanted a specific schedule that would guarantee them a minimum about of time with the kids. The court held that grandparent visitation was not appropriate in this situation because the mother was still allowing them to see the grandchildren. You have to have each and every factor required

Grandparent visitation can be even more complicated than your average custody case. If you are a grandparent who would like to enforce your right to visitation, schedule a consultation with Leslie so that she can assess your specific situation. 

If you're reading this post, you may have a child with someone who has a drug problem. Maybe you haven't divorced them yet, or maybe you divorced them and are sharing custody and visitation rights. Either way, it's not an easy situation.

But I want to share with you a couple of points of law that may help. There are two important Arkansas statutes that can help folks in your situation. The first is Arkansas Code § 9-13-109, which states, "In a proceeding concerning child custody, child visitation, or the welfare of a child, the court may order drug testing of a party." Furthermore, "[t]he court may assess the cost of drug testing to a party or parties."

What does this mean for you? It means that if you are involved in any case involving a child, you can ask the court to order drug tests of the relevant parties. This may include the parent, their spouse or a grandparent or other relative that lives in the home. Often, the court will have the party that is asking for the drug test (you) pay for the cost upfront. But if the party being tested fails the drug test, then they will be ordered to reimburse you.

The other statute that is sometimes helpful in these circumstances is  Arkansas Code § 9-15-105, which says that "[a]ny parent of a minor child in a circuit court case may petition the court to order a criminal records check of the other parent of the minor child or other adult member of the household." This will included a check of the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC), and a check of the Sex Offender registry. The court will order the party requesting the background check (you) to pay for it.

It's important to note that sometimes misdemeanor offenses will not show up on an ACIC records check. Small offenses, like traffic or shoplifting, may not be in their system. In those cases, you'll have to do the legwork yourself by going to the records department of the police department where the person was arrested and submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for that information.

An attorney can help you do all these things are more. There are statutes and case law that an attorney can use to help you win your case. Come talk to Leslie and find out more. 

What is a Restraining Order? How is that different from an Order of Protection or a No Contact Order? My clients are often confused by these differences, and the differences are important. Allow me to explain.

A Standing Restraining Order is typically automatically issued at the beginning of every domestic relations case, like a divorce. It restrains both parties from harassing each other, from selling or disposing of property, and from removing the children from the jurisdiction of the Court, if there are children involved. This kind of order is not particular to you and does not prevent you from contacting the other party. Here is an example of a Standing Restraining Order from Washington County, Arkansas. 

An Order of Protection is a court order that is issued when there has been an allegation of abuse that threatens the safety and security of the petitioner. The Order prevents communication between the parties and restrains the alleged abuser from going to the home or workplace of the petitioner. The Court will often enter an "Ex Parte" Order of Protection first, which will be temporary and will last until there is a court hearing where everyone can be heard. If the Court finds that the alleged abuser is a continuing threat to the petitioner, then the Court will issue an Order of Protection for a longer period of time, such a one year or even up to ten years.

If you are the victim of domestic abuse and believe that there is a threat to you or your children, here is a step by step guide on how to file for an Order of Protection.

Lastly, a No Contact Order is entered in criminal cases and prevents the alleged perpetrator of a crime from contacting the alleged victim. These are routinely issued in domestic violence, assault and battery cases. There can be no contact whatsoever. This includes text messages, and also includes sending messages through third parties. If either party violates the Order, they can be charged with an independent crime.

If you have a question about a restraining order, contact Leslie so that she can advise you on your rights and responsibilities under that order. Better safe than sorry!