New York City

Published on: February 3, 2012

Court Rules of Visitation in Light of Parent Promiscuity

by Stephen Bilkis

Children are especially receptive to issues of infidelity committed by one parent against another. More so if the child actually experienced and witnessed first-hand the act of one parent being unfaithful to another. Usually, it takes a long time for a child to forget and forgive a parent’s unfaithfulness. Most of the time, parents don’t think that children are as affected when either of them becomes unfaithful – that they easily forget and carry on with their lives but in truth, it is the other way around. Psychological impact is great among children who think that they have been betrayed, deserted and intentionally harmed by a parent and it will not only take a very long time for them to forget, but might forever cut the ties and relationship that they have with the unfaithful one. This case, as discussed by a New York Family Lawyer, is an example where one of the children witnessed first-hand an inappropriate and hurtful conduct made by their Father.

William and Kathryn French had three children when they divorced 21 years after their marriage. The Father was a stockbroker had an income of over $100,000 in 1980. During that time, this was a lot of money. The Mother, on the other hand, had previously worked in the fashion industry and even as an assistant editor to a fashion magazine. She had two college degrees but by the time of the dissolution of marriage, she was out of work. In May 1981, the Father left the home and his eleven-year-old son moved onto a boat. After a month, the son told the mother about how frequently he observed promiscuous activities that the Father and his girlfriend were doing on the boat. This prompted the mother to file a divorce or dissolution of their marriage.

At the trial court, the Father admitted that he and his girlfriend had performed lovemaking sessions in the boat but he argued that except for one time, they were very careful not to be seen by the children. Apparently, the girlfriend’s two other children were on the boat, too. The Father claimed that he was not aware that the children saw them perform sexual activities. Upon hearing this, the trial court ruled in favor of Mrs. French and she was granted petition for the marriage dissolution, she was also granted the custody of their three minor children and that the Father was prohibited to visit them. However, the trial court based its decision on the fact that the Father seemed insensitive to the pain that he subjected one of his children to and that he seemed unaware that the child felt betrayed and disillusioned by what happened. According to a Nassau County Family Lawyer, the Mother was further awarded with the full title and ownership of their house with equity given as lump sum alimony and rehabilitative alimony for $2000 monthly for 12 years. In addition, the court ordered the Father to deposit in an IRA or a similar account the sum of $2,000 as permanent alimony. This sum is to be increased to $4000 when the Mother gets employed.

Published on: February 1, 2012

Court Rules on Grandparent Visitation

by Stephen Bilkis

Many families truly honor the presence of grandparents who play a large role too in influencing the younger ones in each family. Besides, there would not be any grandparents day if there are not important, right? However, it might surprise you that there are lots of child visitation rights tackled by a reliable New York family lawyer which include grandparents fighting for their rights to see their grandchildren especially if one of the parents have already passed away. In this case, both parents have not died but are separated instead. This involved the appeal of the maternal grandmother of the child by the name of Mona Chapin against the father Jason Forbes.

The grandmother was first allowed to visit her grandchild of one week during the summer season and about five weekends in a year. But according to a Nassau County Child Support Lawyer everything changed when the father of the child started to remarry. After this second wedding, the court found out that he and his new wife are depriving already the visitation rights of the grandmother in the middle part of 2002. In 2003, the mother of the child agreed to give full parental rights and even allowed the stepmother to adopt her own son. But all these decisions were not relayed to the grandmother involved.

When the grandmother knew about the adoption plan, she filed contempt against the father for the shortcoming of not informing her and this according to a Nassau County Family Lawyer. When the general master reviewed the role of the grandmother, they discovered that she was consistent then of fulfilling her visitation rights and that the father truly had a mistake in that point of not informing her. This case then was decided to base it all on whichever would be for the best interest of the child.

Published on: January 16, 2012

Questions of Abuse Close Courtroom During Sheen-Mueller Custody Hearing

by Stephen Bilkis

Media were thrown out of the courtroom at a recent custody hearing involving actor Charlie Sheen and his estranged wife, Brooke Mueller. The judge cited “questions of abuse.” A New York Family Lawyer reveals that it is usual practice for a judge to close the courtroom when there are abuse allegations to hear. The origin and nature of the sensitive questions were not explained before the media was exiled.

The recent life of actor Charlie Sheen has been riddled with a mess of struggles. The latest rebuff came when his petition to take custody of his 2-year-old twin sons from his estranged wife, Brooke Mueller, was shot down in court. Each parent is seeking sole custody of the boys. The court ruled that custody is to remain as an earlier custody agreement outlines.

Sheen and Mueller, who have both struggled with sobriety, were seen in attendance at the hearing. Mueller recently returned to rehab.

Published on: September 26, 2011

Paul McCartney’s Wife Acting As Own Lawyer-Don’t Imitate Her, Get A New York Divorce Lawyer

by Stephen Bilkis

Miss Mills is ending her two year relationship for financial reasons, or so it seems. The x-Beatle has been able to hold her off and avoid the long and winding road which will lead to a big pay day for Heather. Paul believes in yesterday. She is thought to have received only a relatively small interim payment. Child abuse and neglect are not at issue here so, no order of protection has been put into effect. Being her own council will enable Mills to question McCartney. This should be very interesting and throw off some high powered fire works.

New York City Family Lawyers as well as those in Manhattan handle these high profile divorces all the time. McCartney seems to be in this situation every few years. Fortunately for him the royalties keep coming in so he can afford the alimony and legal fees.

The firm of Stephen Bilkis & Associates with convenient locations thorughout the Metropolitan Area, including servicing Greenwich Village, can be of invaluable assistance to you if you find yourself a party to a case. Facing the Court without professional representation could lead to disastrous results. If you are embroiled in a family dispute like divorce, it is very important to consult with N.Y. Family Lawyer. He will explain the issues of visitation, joint custody and full custody which will likely be involved. A well qualified attorney increases the chances of your coming to a fair resolution to the difficulties you and your family are facing.

Published on: June 7, 2011

A new law would require counseling before be granted a divorce

by Stephen Bilkis

There has been a lot of debate concerning this new law that would require couples to get professional counseling before being allowed a legal divorce. There would be a few exceptions to this new rule. Domestic abuse would be one of the exceptions, according to a New York Family Lawyer. People are upset and they don’t want the government to have the right to get that involved in their marriages.

About half of all marriages end in divorce and some law makers are doing their best to lower that number. Once divorced, if you remarry that percentage of divorce goes well over fifty percent.

Vince Lindgren stated, “Coming to a marriage counselor can give them some ideas about things that they haven’t thought about that they can start thinking about breaking some patterns that might be destructive.”

Published on: February 20, 2011

Abortion Rates Slowed in 2008

by Stephen Bilkis

The data is in for the 2008 year regarding abortions, said a New York Family Lawyer. If you are a pro-life believer, the news is good for you. If you are pro-choice, you might wonder if the data is good news or bad, since it could mean two different things. But no matter which way the data is interpreted, there was not a significant increase in the amount of abortions performed in the US from 2005 – 2008.

There were 1.21 million abortions in the year 2008. That averaged out to 19.6 per 1,000 women. During the year 2005, the other year when data was gathered, the rate was 19.4. Those numbers are down significantly from the peak in the year 1981 when the average was 29.3 abortions per 1,000 women. However, those numbers were surgical abortions. Nowadays, there are also medical abortions available by drugs that induce it.

A New York Custody Lawyer said that pro-choice people are saying the numbers are good in the fact that there are less teen pregnancies where women are faced with the abortion choice. Pro-life people claim that more people are choosing life, whether they go with adoption after the birth or keep the baby, alleges a New York Family Lawyer. Both groups say that women are being educated more and studying their options before they make any type of choice regarding an abortion. Neither side really claims a victory in the number, nor do they claim a loss.

Published on: February 11, 2011

Pamela Anderson files $1 million lawsuit against former boyfriend

by Stephen Bilkis

According to a New York Custody Lawyer, Pamela Anderson thought she had a struck a real deal in Las Vegas in 2006 when she promised to promote her then boyfriend Laurence Hallier’s luxurious tower resort.

Las Vegas Panorama Towers boasts luxurious condos with spectacular views of the Las Vegas strip expanding from 700 square feet to nearly 2,000 square feet. Anderson claims to have participated in multiple promotional activities for advertising and promoting the newer venture back in 2006.

According to New York City Family Lawyers, Anderson was promised either a unit in the third of three towers to be built or $1 million in exchange for her promotional assistance.

Published on: February 10, 2011

Gold Alert Issued for Frankford Woman

by Stephen Bilkis

A New York Family Lawyer says a Gold Alert has been issued for a missing woman from Frankford. She had been missing from her home for a few days before her absence was reported say police. The woman is only 23 years old and was last seen in her home. She is still believed to be missing and in the area.

The Gold Alert is something new that is issued when an adult goes missing. The Gold Alert is similar to the process that is used when an Amber Alert goes out for a child. The only difference is in the name and what it refers to. The Gold Alerts are issued when the safety of the adult might be or is suspected to be in jeopardy. They do not usually issue a Gold Alert if a person has just left or went away on their own.

The family of the missing woman says they fear for her safety because of her mental status. The New York Criminal Lawyer reported that they have no evidence or any leads to where the woman may have gone or if she went with another person. All parties involved believe the woman left voluntarily, and there were no signs of a struggle or an intruder in the home before she left. There was no mention if any valuables or personal items were left behind. Police who think they might have seen the woman are encouraged to call the police with information.

Published on: September 6, 2010

Ted Kennedy “Love Child” before Divorce

by Stephen Bilkis

The National Enquirer is being sued because it published stories about Ted Kennedy and a woman named Caroline Bilodeau-Allen which she claims are completely inaccurate and false. The stories report that Kennedy fathered a “love child” with Ms. Bilodeau-Allen.

The stories were published and alleged that Bilodeau became pregnant by the Senator while he was still married to his wife, Joan.

The moment one becomes embroiled in divorce proceeding, it is truly a must to have a New York Family Lawyer to rely on. Visitation rights and custody issues could be on the table if children are involved. An expert attorney who will advise you gives you a great opportunity of finding a fair minded solution to your marriage and family problems. Only complaints of child neglect or abuse will generate a protection order.