Skip to Main Content

Family and Parenting

Conscious co-parenting – from the eyes of a 19 year old (Child of divorce)

Conscious co-parenting – from the eyes of a 19 year old (Child of divorce)

July 10, 2016

Co-parenting, much like essentially everything in our world, has been thoroughly over analyzed and picked apart. There are even cute alliterations to describe your specific type of dysfunction, so take a moment and do some introspection. Are you and your ex cooperative colleagues, angry associate...

City of Seattle hopes to set precedent on paid family leave

City of Seattle hopes to set precedent on paid family leave

July 7, 2016

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray has proposed an extension to Seattle's parental leave permitted to city employees. He plans to replace the current four-week policy with a new eight week paid leave for employees with infants or ill family members. This eight-week period would effectively be a minimum; the...

Deeply Broken System

Deeply Broken System

July 6, 2016

The Huffington Post recently interviewed Rafael López, President Obama's appointed Commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. López sees the child welfare system as “deeply broken” with the chief problem being tha...

Read The Co-Parents’ Handbook if you are parents getting a divorce…..

Read The Co-Parents’ Handbook if you are parents getting a divorce…..

June 7, 2016

Given the inherent nature of divorce and separation it should be no surprise that family law can often be high-conflict, stressful and litigious. While successful co-parenting during and after can be difficult and at times seemingly impossible, it is most often doable with hard work and a willing...

High Society: Washington State’s Recreational Cannabis Law and Its Effects on Child Custody and Visitation  Rights by Dana Petersen

High Society: Washington State’s Recreational Cannabis Law and Its Effects on Child Custody and Visitation Rights by Dana Petersen

May 22, 2016

Cannabis use and its effects on Child Custody and Visitation Rights

Kids and Electronics by Randall Enlow

Kids and Electronics by Randall Enlow

May 22, 2016

Smartphones and tablets are simply ubiquitous. As a consequence, children are using them more often and at increasingly young ages, whether the actual versions or toys designed to imitate adult devices. Many if not most of us have likely witnessed a young child in our life seemingly addicted to u...

Each State Terminates Parental Rights Differently

Each State Terminates Parental Rights Differently

May 3, 2016

The Associated Press recently highlighted the varied standards and outcomes nationwide for termination of parental rights.[1] According to the data provided there from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington State in 2014 had 10,630 children in out-of-home care, with 1,733 of...

Dependency and Incarcerated Parents by Randall Enlow

Dependency and Incarcerated Parents by Randall Enlow

April 27, 2016

Incarcerated parents have an especially difficult time maintaining a meaningful role in their dependency cases for many reasons, including: ·             DSHS often has little to no information on the parent, including their name and basic whereabouts. They often rely on the other parent for t...

Paternity leave – diapers, bonding and being a good husband…..

Paternity leave – diapers, bonding and being a good husband…..

April 4, 2016

If you don't already know anecdotally, cursory Googling will show how working parents in the U.S. face a bleak picture for parental leave. While new mothers generally don't get enough time off, new fathers get even less so, if any. When my son was born last year most of my family and friends had ...

What Does a Box Of Chocolate Have to Do with Relocation?

What Does a Box Of Chocolate Have to Do with Relocation?

March 25, 2016

Your Box of Chocolates – Choose wisely It's not all a matter of law and presumptions – relocation that actually serves the child's best interest is also a matter of sacrifice, selflessness, sharing and doing what is right for the children without regard to what might be “fair” or “reasonable.”...