When parents are going through a contentious divorce or separation, they often use their children against the other parent. One way in which a parent can try and hurt the other parent is by accusing them of substance abuse. Of course, there are cases where a parent...
Family Law
How child custody factors are used in child custody disputes
Child custody disputes can be acrimonious which is why it is helpful for parents to understand the factors that influence child custody decisions. Parents can then use the knowledge of those factors to advocate for a child custody arrangement that is best for their...
Recognize the signs of a narcissistic parent
Parenting is hard, but so is being the child of battling parents. Across Michigan and throughout the Midwest, many children struggle with finding peace and stability within their homes because of their parents’ narcissistic and pathological behavior. In some cases,...
How maternal gatekeeping affects familial connections
Although gatekeeping is a relatively benign word, in the context of the role it plays in creating dysfunctional or toxic family relationships, it is worth exploring when examining the options open to parents who are fighting for their parental rights during a divorce...
Upcoming panel discussion to highlight parental alienation
Parental alienation affects more families than you may realize. So if you’ve been erroneously accused of substance abuse, physical or sexual abuse, or neglect, then you need to know that you’re not alone in pushing back against the parent who is trying to distance you...
Is maternal gatekeeping hurting your relationship with your kid?
Manipulation is a very sad reality in many child custody disputes. Some parents are dedicated to psychologically abusing their children in hopes of distancing them from their other parent and securing as much time with their child as they can. There are many...
What to do if you’re falsely accused of domestic violence
There are many parents in the Ann Arbor area who feel like they are being treated unfairly. Not every couple is able to split in an amicable way and when children are part of a relationship it can make it all the more complicated. Sometimes one parent is seriously...
Attorney Joshi interviewed about ‘weaponized divorce’
Family law attorney Dennis Beaver has been writing a syndicated newspaper column called "You and the Law" for more than 30 years. The veteran Bakersfield, California, barrister recently wrote about "weaponized divorce," in which he shared a reader's letter. "My...
Michigan Court of Appeals clarifies attorney-client privilege
It is likely that all of our Ann Arbor blog readers have seen at least one courtroom drama on TV or in movies in which attorney-client privilege played a prominent role. While the concept is a familiar one, details of what is and is not privileged communication...
Part V: Understanding parental alienation
In our previous post, we pointed out Attorney Ashish S. Joshi wrote in his article on no-contact orders that courts dealing with high-conflict child custody disputes featuring parental alienation are sometimes warned that an order temporarily preventing contact...
