There may be limitations on international travel involving your children. You’ll usually need the other parent’s signed authorization just to get a passport for your child if your child is under the age of 16. There is a specific state department form that has to be filled out, signed, and notarized. The form, DS30-53, is only valid for three months. A written court order may sometimes substitute for the other parent’s permission. These are domestic rules. Some countries require additional documentation at the border. Specifically, many will require a notarized statement with the other parent that you have permission to travel out of the country with the child. This statement often has to have additional information, like the specific dates that the other parent is authorizing you to be out of the country. You will not, for example, be able to simply decide to extend your vacation after the fact. These rules are in place to prevent parental kidnapping across international lines. They may seem cumbersome, but they protect you as well. You should also check with your airline to see if they have rules of their own. If you can’t get permission from either your spouse or a judge then there’s little that can be done. You’ll have to resign yourself to…
Read MoreMany parts of your life will seem to go “on hold” when you are getting a divorce. It’s important to understand when a divorce is final so that you don’t start engaging in activities (like dating) that should really be avoided until the process is complete. It’s common for clients to “feel divorced” when they begin the divorce. Then they discover that divorce is a process, one that can go on for a very long time and feel never-ending. This is frustrating, but until that process is complete you are still legally married in the eyes of the state. There are different types of paperwork that are involved in a divorce that can help you understand when a divorce is final. The first is the “Summons and Petition.” The spouse who initiates the divorce has this document “served” on the other spouse. This means that someone is hired to physically walk up to your spouse and deliver the documents. They cannot be mailed. However, one could agree to accept service by signing an Admission of Service. What’s in the Summons and Petition? The information includes general information like the names of both parties, the address of both parties, the names of all children, and information about employment, assets, and debts. It also includes…
Read MoreMany people want to know if they can date during their divorce. You can date. There’s certainly no law against dating during your divorce. However, that doesn’t mean you should date. One reason why you should not date is that it may inspire your spouse to fight you harder than ever before. Divorce has a strong emotional element, and that element can impact how your divorce proceeds. Issues that may have been resolved quickly could suddenly become long, drawn out, protracted battles. This can happen even if your spouse is already dating. Even if perhaps your spouse may have initiated the divorce by leaving you for someone else. This does not mean that your spouse will be reasonable about you dating. In his or her own mind they’re the injured party. They may feel like you’re wronging them further by dating and may try to “seek justice.” Second, dating before your divorce is finalized could have an impact on custody proceedings. Focusing on a new sweetheart instead of your children does not look good to a judge, even if you take pains not to expose your children to the new love interest. Exposing your children to the new love interest is bad parenting. Your children are going through enough life change – they…
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