A Friendship the Child Isn’t Emotionally Equipped to Handle Children are not emotionally equipped to be a parent’s best friend. A friendship involves a mutual give and take; both parties invest equally into the relationship. When your best friend is a child, the child is emotionally incapable of investing as…
Medical Neglect Defined Parents are obligated to provide adequate care to their children in order to keep them physically and emotionally healthy. Parents are expected to provide adequate medical care to children in the same way they’re expected to provide basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing. Failure to…
You’ve probably heard of the woman who was arrested after her 10-year-old son was seen walking a whole mile away from the home while the mother and her other son were out of the home. Many parents are wondering if it’s now illegal for them to allow their children to…
Who Is the Custodial Parent? Generally speaking, the custodial parent is the parent that has the majority of the custody. Even if you and your spouse share joint custody, there will still be a custodial parent, even if you have “50/50.” 50/50 custody is a bit of a misnomer since…
Are Children Involved? If you and your spouse do not have children together, there is no reason to maintain contact with each other. There are no laws prohibiting it, and if you want to re-connect with your spouse, you’re certainly welcome to. However, if you don’t have any children, and…
What Happens When an Absent Parent Returns? Do You Have to Give them Parent-Time? If your ex shows up after five years of being absent, and your five-year-old has had no meaningful relationship with them, do you have to allow them to have parent time? The answer may surprise you,…
Do I Have to Be Involved with My Kids? The Short Answer: No No, you do not have to be involved in your child’s life, even if you have been proven to be the biological parent via DNA test. There is a difference between a person who’s not involved in…
Who Makes the Rules about Parental Controls What Does Your Custody Order (Decree) Say? When it comes to disputes that you and your ex cannot reach an agreement upon, you’ll need to get out your divorce decree and look over that. In the case where two parents cannot decide upon…
What Is Contributing to Delinquency of a Minor? The Basic Definition In simple terms, contributing to delinquency of a minor is a criminal charge that’s filed when a parent (or parents) allows or encourages their child to engage in an illegal activity. For example, if you purchase alcohol for your…
How Long Can You Leave a Child Alone For? Where Do You Live? Some states do have laws about how old your child has to be before they can legally be left home alone. While other states do not have a set age limit, you could still get in trouble…
How to Survive and Thrive When Your Marriage Ends