WE ARE LOSING FAITH IN OUR LEADERS, BUSINESS OWNER JAMES SCHAEFER, #OPENTEXAS NOW
On Saturday, April 25, 2020, an #OpenTexas rally was held at Frisco City Hall in Frisco, Texas. Various speakers gave short …
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2024-03-29 11:39:44
On Saturday, April 25, 2020, an #OpenTexas rally was held at Frisco City Hall in Frisco, Texas. Various speakers gave short …
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Coronavirus is presenting a new set of challenges to parents who are frontline healthcare workers, and a recent court ruling in Miami has caused one mom in particular to lose custody of her four-year-old daughter due to her job as an emergency room doctor.
The doctor, Theresa Greene, previously shared custody with her ex husband, Eric Greene, for two years.
“I think it’s not fair, it’s cruel to ask me to choose between my child and the oath I took as a physician,” Greene told CNN. “I won’t abandon my team at work or the patients who will increasingly look to me to save their lives in the coming weeks, but it’s torture.”
The judge responsible for the ruling, Judge Bernard Shapiro of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, states that it is in the child’s best interests to stay with the father to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus:
“The Court finds in order to insure and protect the best interests and health of the minor child, this Order must be entered on a temporary basis,” the ruling states.
While some frontline healthcare workers like Greene have to face new challenges brought on by child custody issues, she states that employees in other fields aren’t facing the same fate:
“My brother works as an engineer, and he’s building the tent hospitals up in New York. He gets to come home to his two kids. No one is questioning that decision,” Greene told CNN.
Greene says that she has been wearing full PPE (personal protective equipment) while treating her patients, and states that healthcare workers who take the proper precautions are not at risk of spreading the virus.
“If I was married I’d be given the opportunity to go home to my child, no one could tell me I shouldn’t do that,” Greene says.
COVID-19 has led to increased issues related to child custody, including refusal of visitation orders, changes to custody orders, and temporary rulings. As new stay-at-home orders and lockdown procedures are set in place, many parents fear that their custody agreements may be affected.
Child custody is determined by a number of factors – the child’s best interest being the most paramount. That being said, child custody orders don’t take the events that occur during a global pandemic into account.
Parents and family law professionals alike are entering uncharted territory when it comes to child custody and visitation agreements.
Greene is appealing the order and will be eligible for future make-up time-sharing as well as video calls every day, but the question remains: when will she be able to see her daughter again?
As a mom, do you agree with a custody agreement being modified to protect a child from exposure to coronavirus? What would you do if you lost custody of your child because of your job?
If you’re a mom going through custody issues or trying to co-parent during these difficult times, there are resources you can seek. Although family courts are closed, check your court’s local website or consult with a family lawyer to find out what your options are. For more information on COVID-19 and divorce, click here.
The post Mom Loses Custody During Coronavirus Pandemic appeared first on Divorced Moms.
Originally published by Nacol Law Firm.
Dealing with a worldwide medical pandemic and personally trying to stay alive and healthy is mentally changeling, but for parents who are divorced or have separate custody agreements and co- parent, it can be a disaster for the entire family. Hopefully, this Coronavirus Pandemic will be a short-lived life-threatening situation, but how the Co-parents cope with the problem could deeply impact their children’s emotional life.
In Texas, on March 13, 2020, the Texas Supreme Court issued an emergency order that divorced /single parents should go by the originally published school and visitation schedule in their current decree. Since the last life-threatening pandemic in the United State was the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918, most divorce/ single parent agreements do not include a pandemic clause!
Do not be one of those parents who decides that they “are the decision maker” and drives away with the kids for an extended vacation to Grandma’s in Florida without telling the other parent. Or deciding that the family circle of trust does not include their Other Parent and refuses visitation or joint decision making. These hasty, irrational decisions may seem reasonable in this time of national panic but consider the legal ramifications of violating an order. Since all courts, in Texas, are now closed except for emergency litigation matters only, when the courts are fully operational again and the medical danger has passed, how will a violation of your current decree look to the Judge? Judges always look to the needs of the child versus the unreasonable expectations of the parent. There will be serious ramifications against the violating parent.
Let’s look at some ideas on how co-parenting during this pandemic season can work the best for all family members and by joint agreement will save your both money that would normally go to legal fees.
Just remember that as co-parents your children are most important. Your child has been told that they can’t see their grandparents because of their age and if infected by the coronavirus, may die. No school, no playing of sports, or playing with friends since they may be infected with a deadly virus and become very ill. Decide to cooperate as responsible co-parents to navigate the child to the new changes in their daily routines without a lot of stress and anxiety on the child. By keeping the child calm and showing “a united family circle” the child will know that Mom and Dad are there for him/her.
Some areas of agreement should be that the child will have regular email, phone calls, FaceTime, Zoom visits, and texting with the other parent. The child needs to know that both parents are safe and interested in their wellbeing. Regular visitations times must be made available for the child to see each parent. Remember the child’s core circle of trust are his/her parents and siblings.
Another very serious matter is the decision of what will happen to the child if one parent becomes ill and cannot care for the child. The joint decision must be made by both parents and must ultimately be in the best interest for the child.
Custody disputes and circumstances that have totally changed in the last month. Just remember, co-parent cooperation is the best choice. There is no doubt that judges will be happy to hear that parents have worked together to meet their child’s best interest, by taking steps to protect the child’s health and safety.
This is a time for mutual give and take from both parents. No one is always right nor always wrong. In this upside crazy pandemic world, jointly trying to navigate your family to a better place will have its own rewards.
If, however, one parent unilaterally refuses to make fair agreements for the children or violates your custody orders, avoid retaliation and follow your decree orders faithfully. This Pandemic will pass, and most Judges will not treat lightly intense misconduct when the courts reopen.
Mark A. Nacol
The Nacol Law Firm P.C.
Dallas, Texas
(972) 690-3333
Click to open Copy of Texas Supreme Court Emergency Order on Child Custody Schedules during Coronavirus Pandemic. (pdf)
Curated by Texas Bar Today. Follow us on Twitter @texasbartoday.
You won’t be able to get to the bulk of your divorce issues right now but you can still work on your divorce with video conferencing with your attorney, and other divorce professionals such as a divorce coach, financial analyst, and accountant.
The post Divorce During the Coronavirus Shut Down appeared first on Divorce Magazine.
During this unprecedented time of the Coronavirus and quarantines, many co-parents are finding themselves in un-charted territory with regards to their parenting plan and whether and how they should carry it out.
This is a time like no other, so we need to be open, we need to be flexible, and we need to get creative and think outside the box.
If you have a parenting plan that is requiring something that can’t be done (or can’t be done safely at this time, like air travel), get creative. But first, communicate!
Reach out to the other parent and brainstorm. Can the visit be delayed, or time added onto the next visit? Can you do virtual visits with Zoom, Facetime or Skype where the kids can eat a meal, play a game or just chat with the other parent?
If you have a parenting plan that can be carried out, but you question the safety, communicate your fears. Research suggests that the Coronavirus is not generally dangerous for children, but reach out to your pediatrician if you are unsure or if your child has immune compromising factors and then discuss with your parenting partner.
Once again, communicate, be flexible and get creative!
If it is not advised to make frequent visits, perhaps the visit duration is lengthened, and the frequency is lessened. Or maybe you do a mix of virtual and in person visits, or meet in a safe outdoor space to go hiking, play soccer or be in nature together.
There is a huge amount of panic and fear surrounding this situation, which is bringing up deeply buried fear from past circumstances and triggering internal and external defense mechanisms of all kinds. Notice the space you are operating and making decisions from. If you are operating out of fear, take a break to process your feelings before you move forward with decision making or discussing with your co-parent.
Take several deep breaths and re-center, releasing all of the fear you may have taken on from the media or others around you. Breathe through any personal fears that you have. Notice what fear or feelings are coming up for you that may not be related to the current issue. Be with all of your feelings and allow them to move through your body. Once you are more centered, make decisions from a grounded, clear space.
Be honest with them about what is happening. Let them know that Mom or Dad really wants to see them, but it isn’t safe right now, so you will do whatever you can to find ways for them to connect (see above with virtual visits, outdoor meetups, etc.) and then do it.
Find ways for your child to connect with them even if they can’t connect in real life. You can help them create a card, letter or other work of art to send in the mail, write a song or a poem, or teach them how to connect energetically. This can be done through an imaginary hug, a special prayer, or a dream meet-up where as they fall asleep they think of a place they want to meet their Mom, Dad or other loved one in their dream, and what they want to do together. We often use the beach or Disneyland for our dream meet-ups! They can also have imaginary visits where you would ask what they would want to do and what they would want to say to their other parent if they were there.
Keeping communication open and finding ways to connect helps your kiddo feel like the other parent is being included and is top of mind even though they can’t be together and it will help them feel more secure.
If you and your co-parent cannot agree, or you do not have a co-parent who is willing to be flexible and creative with you, do what you can on your side. If you have a written parenting plan as part of a divorce or other legal agreement, you will need to make reasonable efforts to carry it out if they are demanding that you do so.
Try to engage help in the form of a family counselor, pastor, mediator or co-parenting coach if you need help trying to reach an amended agreement for the short term.
And remember, as Wayne Dyer said, “Conflict cannot survive without your participation.” Don’t engage in anything other than a peaceful, direct discussion and process through any emotions or triggers on your side that come up as a result of something your co-parent is saying or doing.
The only thing you can ever control is yourself and how you react to others. In this time of fear and frenzy, don’t make it worse by adding to it.
Please Note: This should not be considered legal or medical advice. Please contact your attorney for guidance on required visits and your doctor for any medical questions regarding the safety of visits.
The post Co-Parenting During The Coronavirus Crisis appeared first on Divorced Moms.
As a parent, you want to spend as much time with your children as humanly possible. You want to watch them learn and grow, as the years pass. Even after a divorce, you still are able to enjoy precious moments with them during your parenting time.
However, with the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic that has swept the country, your parenting time may become part of the uncertainty.
While you want to maintain the World Health Organization recommendations regarding social distancing, hygiene, and sanitation, you still should be able to observe regular parenting time during this difficult time. However, your co-parent may be making that more difficult.
From a safety standpoint, it is understandable that your
co-parent is concerned over the prospect that your shared children may catch
the virus, or that you may while they are in your care. Additionally, many
areas of the country have shelter-in-place orders that prevent unnecessary
travel.
However, that does not extend to child custody drop-offs or
pick-ups.
According to Cordell & Cordell family law attorney Charles Hatley, residents are required to stay indoors except to perform certain necessary activities. These activities include buying food, seeking medical treatment, banking, and laundromat services. This also includes any travel necessary to enforce a court order and for purposes of caring for a child or family member.
Therefore, the shelter-in-place orders, or stay-at-home
orders, do not impact your right to parenting time, whether there is actually a
custody and parenting time order. However, that does not mean the other parent
will not misconstrue or try to abuse these orders in an attempt to block your
access to your child.
You may be like many parents during this coronavirus crisis who
are being forced to miss scheduled parenting time because of a co-parent who
feels honoring the court order is unsafe.
During a recent webinar, Cordell & Cordell CEO, Executive/Managing Partner Scott Trout and Partner Dan Cuneo discussed how the coronavirus has been impacting regularly scheduled parenting time, and they spoke about the challenges that fathers have been facing as they deal with the ramifications of existing and legally-binding custody schedules no longer being upheld.
“If you are being denied time, there still may be remedies
available to you,” Mr. Cuneo said. “We want you to reach out and contact an
attorney and discuss what are your options, what do we need to do. It could
depend upon the jurisdiction that you’re in. There are essential remedies
available to you, and we want to make sure that you’re not being taken
advantage of and that you’re not sitting back and missing out on time.”
Additionally, this webinar detailed how this type of situation is being handled in several areas of the country. For example, in California, where the shelter-in-place order has been in effect since March 19, family courts are emphasizing the use of common sense, according to Cordell & Cordell Lead Litigator Jason Hopper.
“The standing order from almost all of our courts are that
the existing orders are to be followed,” Mr. Hopper said. “Parenting time and
is deemed essential travel. It’s not within the confines of the shelter in
place rules.”
While there may be logistical issues involved in the family
court process during this shutdown associated with the coronavirus pandemic, you
and your family law attorney still are able to file in your state.
“In-person court is banned, so if you have a case, where you are supposed to be seeing your children and your ex-wife has cut you off, we can’t run full throttle into court to file anything and get in front of a judge immediately,” said Cordell & Cordell Litigation Partner Kristin Zurek. “But our courts are still open for filings, so it’s important to know that if something is going on and you want to bring it to the judge’s attention, go talk to your lawyer. You have the ability to upload pleadings to the court.”
While the court may be receiving filings, you may need more,
in order to incite action from the family courts under these circumstances. You
may need to illustrate that this is an emergency situation.
“The judge’s determination needs to be whether or not this
is an emergency that requires a phone conference or a video conference to deal
with it or if it’s something that’s going to have to wait until court reopens,”
Ms. Zurek said.
While the courts may find that the situation is not deemed
to be an emergency, it still is worthwhile to file, offering the court
documented evidence of how much you care about your children.
“It’s still important to get that on file as soon as possible, because you don’t want strategically, the court saying when court is back in session ‘Well, you must have not thought it was that important, because you didn’t file anything,’” said Cordell & Cordell Litigation Partner Kelly Burris. “It’s important to get things on file and see what options you have.”
Additionally, issues surrounding child support may arise
during the coronavirus pandemic that may require legal attention. Much of the
population is experiencing financial hardship, and many are expected to lose
their employment. If you do lose your job or find yourself with some sort of
wage reduction, how will you support your children and pay the court-ordered
child support during this challenging time?
“If you are facing a job loss or a wage reduction, one of
the first, most practical things you can do without involving an attorney is to
approach your employer and ask if they will be providing any qualified disaster
relief payments,” Mr. Hopper said. “Typically, when an employer provides any
type of compensation or benefit to an employee, that’s going to be a taxable
event. However, there are provisions within federal code and Internal Revenue
code, as well as in many states’ revenue codes that allow for employers to
provide to employees when there is a disaster declaration, like there is
currently nationwide, qualified disaster relief payments.”
While this may partially assist your financial situation,
you still must deal with the child support order itself. Given the
circumstance, seeking legal assistance may be the only way of navigating these
complex waters and avoiding the piling up of payments that you can no longer
afford.
“Consult with an attorney,” Mr. Hopper said. “You likely
have modification rights available to you.”
If you do not pursue modification, the child support
payments do not go away, just because you no longer have a job or because of
the coronavirus pandemic. You still can find yourself facing hefty child
support payments that if ignored, can become overwhelming, especially with your
children caught in the crossfires.
“You have to file your modification immediately,” said Cordell & Cordell Litigation Partner Rick Julius. “If things change and you don’t find it to be financially beneficial to you once the courts get open, you at least, have that decision down the road. Pennsylvania courts [Mr. Julius’ licensed state] are only going to go back as that modification filing date, in order to do that. It may end up that when it gets heard, that the financial situation has corrected itself and you may be entitled to retroactive modification of that time period.”
With all of the health and economic uncertainty caused by
the coronavirus pandemic, it is necessary for you to learn as much as possible
regarding your state’s family court system and how they handle emergency
situations. That way, if you find yourself facing unemployment with a large
monthly child support payment, or a co-parent who refuses to adhere to the
parenting time issued by the court, you know how to react.
It also is important to understand the perspective of your
children during this pandemic. They may be confused or scared, and as a parent,
it is necessary for you to take time for them, explaining to them the situation
in terms that they understand and monitor their wellness as much as possible.
If it is possible to remain amicable with your co-parent
during this time, do so. Communication and cooperation are necessary components
to co-parenting during normal situations, but with the coronavirus pandemic, it
becomes even more crucial that you put the needs of your children first, before
any animosity.
While this may be an instance of uncertainty, it is necessary for you to monitor the situation from a legal perspective and contact your family law attorney if you feel that changes need to be made.
Related coronavirus coverage:
Can I make up lost parenting time due to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Does a Shelter-in-Place Order Limit my Right to Parenting Time?
The post Coronavirus and child custody: Co-parenting during the pandemic appeared first on Dads Divorce.
There is no more pressing issue today than the Coronavirus pandemic that is sweeping the planet. And all of us are heartbroken by the ravages it is inflicting on our societies.
Most of us in every country in the world are now confined to our homes, with our families; doing everything we can to stay healthy and sane and not crumble from fear.
But what about those people who are stuck indoors long term with a narcissist, with nowhere to go, wondering if they will survive this catastrophe.
In today’s Thriver TV episode I want to show you the common threads between narcissism and the Coronavirus outbreak and how to help yourself get through this crisis.
And, of course, offer you my loving support through this unifying human ordeal.
Today I want to talk to you about the coronavirus pandemic.
Never before, in our lifetimes, have we experienced such a crisis. Most of us never believed such a situation could ever happen.
Individuals, entire communities and systems are crumbling.
I know many of you have lost your job and are now faced with all sorts of hardships.
You may be stuck with narcissists right now, in quarantine, not knowing how you can survive this.
And, there are many of you who have your children being kept away from you by narcissists because of the Coronavirus situation.
What does all this mean?
What is it showing us?
How can we respond?
I really hope I can share with you how I feel about the Coronavirus pandemic in today’s Thriver TV episode.
It’s incredible how many correlations there are between what is happening right now and experiencing narcissistic abuse.
I know that many of you are now going through both situations simultaneously.
All of it triggers fear.
Lots of fear.
Which brings up the feelings of being powerless, helpless and not having control in the situation. Here, just like with narcissistic abuse, you don’t have control. You have no idea of a timeline, outcome, where this will end up, and the state you will be in when it is finished.
Of course, this is terrifying.
The most important thing, now and always, when you don’t have any control over the outside, is to take your power back on the inside.
In times of overwhelm, horror, and literal survival programs being triggered, when your life and hopes for the future are being threatened, it may feel impossible to become fearless. Especially when horrible things have happened or are happening or could happen.
Regardless, the most important work is to lose the fear.
Before narcissistic abuse and Thriver Recovery, I would have said to you that it is impossible to lose the fear unless something on the outside changes so that there is nothing to fear anymore.
Now I know that this is not the way that Quantum Creation works.
I have seen it, so many times in my life and in other people’s lives, that regardless of how shocking things are, when you turn inside to lose the fear and start to value the state of your emotional soul health over and above everything else, that the most incredible synchronicity, solutions and support can appear.
As a profound shift.
Even when logically, no support seems possible.
You see, your superconscious self, teamed up with every available permutation that exists in “life”, has “a way”.
God/Source/Life is unlimited. There are no limits regarding what this Force can create.
In times of great crisis, we are being pushed to become extraordinary.
What is occurring is incredibly crippling, causing devastation to so many individuals and groups of people, in ways that we could never imagine previously.
I know this is huge. I know this is one of the biggest calls ever to lose the trauma and the fear of what is happening right now. And I know that you may have already been smashed by this. And my heart goes out to you in spades.
However, I know that this is what we are being pushed to do right now. We are being called to create an extraordinary emotional, empowered uprising that could not only change your life forever as a result of what you’re going through but also significantly up-level our world.
Those of you who are now Thriving after being narcissistically abused have already made the Quantum Switch.
Meaning, emotionally from the inside out, you created your own personal breakthrough into your values, truths and the health of your soul regardless of the insane, seemingly unstoppable brutal treatment you received from the narcissist.
Against all logical and “reality” odds, you then experienced your passage from the bowels of hell into the glory of your True Self and True Life.
Even when you were diagnosed with health conditions such as C-PTSD and other diminished realities, such as other devastating health conditions, financial annihilation and accumulated losses on horrific levels, that you were told you would never recover from.
You didn’t just recover, you burst forth into a Self and Life that was more buoyant, confident, healthier and expanded than the life you were experiencing even before you went through narcissistic abuse.
Why?
Because, rather than try to deal with the narcissistic environment that was out-of-control and uncontrollable, or stay focused on the devastation that it brought you, you turned inside to release all of your trauma that was inside you to come home to a solidness, power and faith within yourself that was unshakeable, and literally unstoppable.
This was the dedication, to resurrect your inner world, even when your outer world lay in tatters at your feet.
As you stepped into your soul graduation of Who You Really Are, the narcissist lost all power over you, and a whole new world of possibility, synchronicity and miracle came into view.
Then you understood the truth, that within the experience that you know as your life every permutation is available, regardless of how circumstances seem. What presents in your experience, as your experience, is the match of the inner experience that you consciously cultivate.
When you lose your fear and become emotionally solid, even before anything shifted outside of you changes, even when there is no way … a way must appear.
It’s Quantum Law – so within, so without.
From every cell within my being, know that the same truth exists here within this pandemic, regardless of outer evidence.
This is how we discover just how powerful we are.
The incredible irony is, in non-extraordinary times we are never pushed to find this gear. Often, we just cruise along because there are too many distractions keeping us away from shifting into our true power, and quite frankly there is no urgent necessity to.
The greatest evolution is usually brought on by the times when we are the most powerless, terrified and helpless. It’s by overcoming our inner deepest fears, that we mine our most spectacular gold.
Narcissists push us to do that.
So do global pandemics.
I want to share with you something that was sent to me just recently. Its origin is from Jeff Vander Clute who is CEO of “Sourcing the Way”. Jeff is a visionary and channel for World-Changing Times.
This is what Jeff shared:
“After listening to people talk about the Coronavirus for weeks, I had the inspiration to tune into this novel life form and ask it to tell me about itself. What came through was a list of its top-five gifts, followed by a message for humanity. I will admit to being somewhat surprised by the information. My hope is that these words will help people to trust that life is acting with benevolent wisdom.
The gifts of the virus:
1) Slowing down humanity’s frenetic activities
2) Activating networks of cooperation
3) Spreading helpful DNA
4) Upgrading humanity’s immune system
5) Creating the conditions for peace and well-being
Here is the message that the Coronavirus had to share:
My friends, it is true that I am here to bring closure to the inharmonious ways of being that are causing harm to humans and the whole web of life. All the same, I am not a vengeful being or anything that is intended to be destructive. I am simply the rebalancing agent in the overall equation of life’s evolutionary process. By fighting me with fear in your hearts, you oppose the larger natural systems and cause me to take other forms.
What I am, and my fundamental purpose, will not be deterred, for I am life itself acting through the available forms of distribution. The virus that you see me as is one of an endless series of permutations. This kind of process is one of the ways I innovate life forms and deliver new DNA sequences that will eventually be shown to be helpful. The back and forth between humanity’s collective immune system and the virus is raising consciousness as humans examine their interactions, and it is literally increasing the intelligence of the superorganism that is the species as a whole.
These tests are normal. I repeat: These tests are normal. For those who can hear this message and embrace me easily, you already know that fear is a much more lethal poison. For those who will not be comforted by these words, one day you will know that I come as an act of love. When you can open to the love that is at the very heart of this situation, the crisis that your media and governments decry will transform into a flower of life, spreading new consciousness and multiplying circles of cooperation. Pay attention to your thoughts and see if you can identify the benefits of redirecting humanity’s attention from incessant wars and violence to the common “enemy” that I am willing to be perceived as.
Love will go this far, and farther, to bring healing to the mind of a young species that is still in the process of remembering itself as a divine incarnation. Yes, you are a divine incarnation capable of fabricating realities based on goodness and beauty and compassionate understandings, actions, and beliefs. Believe me when I say that I, too, am here as an act of compassion. Accepting me in this way will lighten your heavy burden for the divine sends only love your way. Sometimes this love takes curious forms in order to circumvent your intricate defenses against waking up to your own glory. I can assure you that the most functional strategy will be to embrace me as a friend of the human family.”
I truly hope that Jeff’s message has been able to bring some love and relief to you.
When being narcissistically abused you may have felt like you were going through this alone. That is why this community is so incredible because we have, or are, all going through this together.
And now, we really are all in this together.
As humanity itself.
And, as Jeff so beautifully channelled, rather than distrust and fight and war with each other, we now have the opportunity to come together.
We can anchor into love, kindness and the recognition of what is really important.
We have the ability to reach out and assist in this situation. We can offer a helping hand, an act of benevolence, the sharing of our resources and our loving support.
We can be kind. We can demonstrate Love itself.
And, we can sign up to our most important mission that we ever have as a human being in our time on this planet. Which is overcoming the fear and pain within the only person who we have the power to do that with, ourselves, to become and lead the way as a loving, empowered solution for ourselves and others.
When our personal life can no longer go on as normal, we can no longer avoid, ignore or make excuses for the parts of ourselves which are not working, that we didn’t want to confront. Or the patterns and people in our life who are not representative of our values and health, and any false trajectories that we are living that are not true for us.
These times signal a season of profound personal catharsis, as an incredible growth and evolutionary opportunity.
In this time of deep incubation and unavoidable triggered emotional trauma, our Inner Beings deeply need our attention to emotionally integrate and heal.
I know that these times are tough. Hard beyond measure, and terrifying in ways that we’ve never had to experience before.
Yet, I also know that in the greatest fear lies the brightest gold and that so many of us, myself and every other activated Thriver in this community, is deeply dedicated to going for gold.
There is nothing else to do if we want to save our own lives emotionally, and possibly literally, as well as enhance everyone we love and everything we touch.
Losing our fear and becoming peace and power is the only thing to do, to help birth, through us, a brand-new world.
I know that we have the power to do this, one person at a time.
If this deeply resonates with you, and you know you have to find another way to get through this, I want to help you achieve your powerful passage through this.
Please come into my free webinar.
In this webinar, I take you through how to recover from the fear and pain of narcissistic abuse, and I want you to understand that what I’m sharing is exactly relevant to overcoming the fear and powerlessness with the Coronavirus pandemic as well.
It’s exactly the same healing that’s required.
It’s all about purging the fear and taking back your power.
I really hope that this has helped, and my heart and love go out to you in spades.
And I can’t wait to connect with you with my love and support in your comments and questions below.
With the world turned upside down, and Covid-19 disrupting every facet and sector of life as we have known it, one ongoing and soon to be a repetitive problem is how to try cases when the courtrooms are closed.
Every week (and possibly month that passes) compounds the problem because it will take even longer to resolve matters like spousal support, the division of assets, and custody arrangements when divorcing parents can’t agree.
So, now what? The longer the courts are closed, the longer the delay in having matters adjudicated.
The courts could be backed up for not only weeks, but months, and possibly years.
Many attorneys are urging their clients to opt for audio and visual face-to-face platforms to resolve their issues. With the rapid advancements in technology these days, a virtual courtroom could possibly take the place of an actual courtroom, as we have known it.
The use of technology may also save divorcing couples money as they proceed with their divorce process with little or no interruption. And, with the advent of even more human connectability online, it is even easier to get the judicial job done in most cases.
The following are a few suggestions to help you fast-track your divorce process if your case is one that was headed for the courtroom. In many cases, these recommendations could save you from having to endure that uncomfortable and nerve-wracking public courtroom trial, which at best is unpredictable.
There are no guarantees that your case will be heard as scheduled, as you matter may be continued or delayed due to the court’s schedule. These suggestions might also help you get on with your new life much more quickly.
1. Mediation and Arbitration: You may have already tried mediation or arbitration, but if you haven’t gone that route yet, consider it. There are plenty of agencies that offer these services, and with the stressful times we are living in, this approach could hasten a resolution and help you get to the finish line.
Five of the major organizations that provide these services in the Los Angeles area include: ADR (Alternate Dispute Resolution); JAMS (Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services); ARC (Alternative Resolution Centers); AAA (the American Arbitration Association); and the Signature Resolution Panel. The latter was founded by a retired judge. Most retired judges are highly qualified and seasoned.
2. Consider reaching out to others: Your family therapist, a clergy person, a trusted advisor—someone you both respect and admire, or let your attorney and your soon-to-be ex’s, sit down at the table and see if they can resolve your case outside the courtroom in light of these trying times.
3. Don’t get caught up in the petty stuff: Sure, you’re mad, angry, sad and likely experiencing tremendous trauma and distress, but do you want to prolong your divorce and battle over little things? Is it really worth it to you? Do you want to wait for what might be months to have your case heard/resolved?
4. Consider the drastic changes and times we now live in: If you have been in litigation for months or even years, reassess your priorities and ask if waiting even longer than you anticipated will further impact your wallet or peace of mind. The Covid-19 virus has been a wake-up call for many. Perhaps you have a new perspective on getting through your divorce, now; maybe it’s not sensible to wait for a re-opened courtroom
5. Hire a retired judge: This is my highest recommendation. There are many seasoned judges since retired, who work for many couples to adjudicate —preside over divorce trials—who are more than capable to try your case.
While this is often the choice you hear about when celebrities want privacy in their divorce proceedings (they don’t want their trials going public), it can work for you as well. This choice will also save time, reduce emotional headaches, and afford you ultimate privacy. You may think that hiring a retired judge might cost a fortune, not so. In total, fees and costs may be less than what you might spend if you wait for your trial to be continued in these uncertain times.
As I mentioned, your place in line is likely to be further delayed. Not only might your case be delayed, it may take weeks for you to get a date from the court. In sum, allowing a private judge to preside over your trial might be the smartest and more prudent thing you can do. And, you can do this via video conferencing. An added bonus: You won’t have to be in the same room as your ex. Video conferencing creates a presence for all, but eliminates the close proximity of being in the same space as your ex. This arrangement helps to subdue a sense of intimidation.
6. No choice but the courts, immediately: Naturally, there are caveats to everything, and needing a restraining order for events such a domestic violence incident, lack of child support, and a parent not returning the child to the other, are examples that will need to be heard immediately.
While the courts may not be in session inside the courthouse, they are still taking ex-party filings and hearing those emergency cases. If you’re in immediate danger (violation of restraining order(s) or domestic violence, your ex absconding with your child(ren)), you can always call your local police department or fire department. They are trained to handle emergency situations.
My final thoughts are these: The welfare and safety, and the recovery of economic losses due to Covid-19, is where the focus will be in the coming days, weeks and months. Your divorce will likely take a back seat in terms of priority for you and your ex.
Confer with your attorney. Ask him/her to further explain these options listed above. Ultimately, together you and your attorney will need to choose the most sensible course of action according to the issues in your matter.
The post Closed Courts Due To Coronavirus? How To Fast Track Your Divorce appeared first on Divorced Moms.
We are dealing with a time of global crisis. Your personal lifestyle has been affected by school closings, business closings and court closings. And, if you’re in a divorce, this is affecting that too! But, there is something you can do.
The post Is the Coronavirus Affecting Your Divorce? How You Should Handle It appeared first on Divorce Magazine.