Family Law Issues

By Brad McElhinny – WV MetroNews, 03/11/2022 “…The House of Delegates passed a bill that would presume equal custody of children at the outset of divorce cases. That could change through decisions in Family Court, but the presumption of 50-50 custody would be the starting point in most cases…” Read the entire article: https://wvmetronews.com/2022/03/11/delegates-pass-bill-that-presumes-50-50-custody-at-the-start-of-divorce-cases/  

By Peter Schorsch – Florida Politics, 02/25/2022 “…Today, the Florida House passed a bill with profound meaning for Florida children and grandparents who become estranged from one another after a tragedy…” Read the entire article: https://floridapolitics.com/archives/500533-house-passes-markel-grandparent-visitation-bill/

By Brad McElhinny – WV MetroNews, 02/24/2022 “…The state Senate has passed a bill establishing a presumption of equal custody in divorce cases. The “Best Interests of Child Protection Act of 2022” passed by a 25-9 vote. The bill now goes to the House of Delegates, which has passed bills with the same concept over the

By Janet Stewart Scalley – jdsupra, 02/24/2022 “…Although to date, HB 508 has not progressed beyond the initial stages of the legislative process, the bill has already seen some level of bipartisan support, thus signaling that a possible substantial change in Ohio child custody laws might be on the horizon…” Read the entire article: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/ohio-house-bill-508-a-potentially-5157210/

By Lacie Pierson – The Logan Banner, 02/19/2022 “…The West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday advanced a bill that would require family court judges to order that children split their time equally between their separated parents in the event that a custody agreement doesn’t already exist…” Read the entire article: https://www.loganbanner.com/news/w-va-senate-advances-50-50-child-custody-bill/article_9f195118-f5f3-568a-a617-c631d7128eb5.html

By David S. Carton and Lynne Strober – New Jersey Law Journal, 01/13/2022 “…There has been a dramatic increase in courts awarding fathers more parenting time than historically allocated to them. The debate over shared parenting, and whether or not a presumption of same is appropriate, is a hot-button issue to watch for in 2022

By Brigitte Pellerin – National Magazine, 02/03/2022 “…In situations where one parent has primary residence with the children, that parent is eligible to claim the dependent tax credit. But what to do when the separated parents are in a shared parenting arrangement?…” Read the entire article: http://www.nationalmagazine.ca/en-ca/articles/cba-influence/submissions/2022/treat-families-equally

By The Altamonte Enterprise, 01/16/2022 “…His organization is pushing for changes in state law that would make it more likely, after parents divorce or separate, to have their children spend half their time with each of their parents as long as those parents are fit and loving…” Read the entire article: https://altamontenterprise.com/01162022/personal-pain-has-inspired-houck-fight-laws-would-favor-shared-parenting

By Jeffery M. Leving – Chicago Sun Times, 02/01/2022 “… For far too long, gender bias in custody cases has existed at the expense of too many fathers and their children. It’s time to put both parents on an equal playing field and allow the focus to be solely on the child’s interests…” Read the

By KSL, 02/03/2022 “… A new Utah bill would require divorced couples with children to attend an educational course when they need to change their parenting plan. The course would remind parents of the stress high conflict post-divorce situations can have on children, said HB86 sponsor Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay…” Read the entire article: https://www.ksl.com/article/50340544/utah-bill-would-mandate-course-for-divorcees-who-want-to-change-parenting-plan