Rhode Island child custody attorney, David Slepkow provides 7 tips for litigants in Providence Family Court. David Slepkow is an experienced Family Court practitioner with 27 years of experience fighting the battles in Providence Family Court.
Custody and domestic relations TIPS!
1. Never get in a feud with opposing counsel in a divorce or custody cause of action. It is okay to be firm and have aggressive positions in family court. It is okay to disagree and make your points to the opposing counsel but these disagreements should never get personal.
Remember, the opposing Rhode Island child custody lawyer is just doing his job and representing your spouse or ex boyfriend’s positions. Also, in order to get your case resolved in a fair and meaningful manner, you need an open line of communications between you and opposing counsel. Brouhaha’s tend to waste time and could give additional motivation to your wife’s lawyer or husband’s divorce attorney.
Do not talk bad about the other parent in front of your child
2. Never directly or indirectly disparage the other parent in front of the minor child or allow others to do so. Even indirect negative comments such as “if your dad paid his support we could go to the amusement park today” can be damaging to your child. Negative comments are emotionally damaging to children and can lead to depression, criminal activity, delinquency, alcohol abuse or mental health problems.
Children are not delivery persons for your support obligation
3. Never use your child as a messenger to negotiate visitation or act as a delivery person for your child support payments. It is the adults responsibility to arrange visitation and the adults should never get children in the middle of these feuds. (however, older children 15 years old plus can often work out their own schedule, if both parents agree.)
4. Be careful, what you say in your communications with your ex partner. Phone conversations are often being taped by the opposing party. Text messages may be printed out and used against the other party in Providence Family Court.
Never act like an irrational moron in RI Family Court
5. Never act irrationally or make decisions based on emotions especially in a divorce case in Providence Family Court. If you are angry or infuriated, step back and wait so that you can make a rational decision in your best interests.
6. Do not make cash payments of child support without a receipt. If you have no written receipt and your ex-girlfriend claims she never received the support payments then you will not get credit for the payment.
Child support garnishment
7. If you were ordered to make child support payments to the RI Family Court or your order was previously garnished then all payments of support must be made through the RI family Court. If you make a direct payment to the child’s mother then the computer will not be aware of the payment to give you credit and the computer will run an arrears in the system.