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Swanson O’Dell

From The blog

“Evidence To Save For Custody Hearings”

“Evidence To Save For Custody Hearings” If you have a custody hearing, either scheduled currently, or to be scheduled in the future, you need to save certain evidence to present to the judge. Basically, anything that supports your position or shows the behavior of the other party is important. Here is a list of items to think about saving, although you can have other types of documents that...

“Can Psychiatric Records Be Used In Custody and Visitation Hearings?”

“Can Psychiatric Records Be Used In Custody and Visitation Hearings?” Mental health can often be a real issue in custody and visitation cases, with one side accusing the other of having mental problems which affect their ability to parent. The conditions can range from simple things like depression, up through bi-polar disorder and more serious psychological conditions. Since this often devolves...

“How Can Truancy Affect Custody?”

“How Can Truancy Affect Custody?” All minors are late to school on occasion or miss days. However, this can be a real problem if the minor is missing multiple days, has many tardies, and it begins to affect school performance. In addition, when it reaches the point of getting truancy notices, you have a real problem on your hands. Generally, if there is a serious school attendance problem, the...

“What Documents Should I Gather For My Family Law Case?”

“What Documents Should I Gather For My Family Law Case?” For the most part, the documents you are going to need are going to be financial in nature, with a few exceptions. While what you need can vary from case to case, here are some that you should make sure you copy and save. *Bank account statements. You particularly need statements from around the date of marriage and the date of separation....

“Preparing Yourself For Family Law Court”

“Preparing Yourself For Family Law Court” So you’ve got a court date and you’re heading to talk to a family law judge. How should you prepare? What do you need to know? First, some practical details. Know where you are going. Know where the parking is. (Many courthouses are in crowded downtown areas where parking is difficult.) Leave yourself some extra time. Be on time. Second, dress for the...

“Do’s and Don’t’s of Texting in Family Law Cases”

“Do’s and Don’t’s of Texting in Family Law Cases” Texting is rapidly becoming the most common form of modern communication. It is used extensively in cases where custody and visitation schedules are being discussed, followed, or changed. They often end up in evidence in a contested court hearing. Here are some do’s and don’t’s to keep in mind: DO make sure your communications are polite, despite...

“Homeschool, Independent Studies, and Court Orders”

“Homeschool, Independent Studies, and Court Orders” One of the most difficult issues to work through after a separation are disagreements about schooling. Parents can disagree about whether or not to use public school, private school, a charter school, independent study through a county school, or an independent home schooling program. The options have increased greatly in the last 10 years, and...

“What Is A Hardship Deduction?”

“What Is A Hardship Deduction?” In child support matters, a term that is often heard is a “hardship deduction.” Many times people think that this is a general reduction of child support due to the fact that they have a lot of debts or bills or a high mortgage. However, none of those things are what is being referenced. A hardship deduction is a deduction to your income for support purposes based...