Family Law Articles

Every child deserves a safe and nurturing environment. While most people would echo this philosophy, exercising this in child custody and alcohol cases can be a steep battle. Add a global pandemic, a tumultuous co-parenting relationship, and false-positive results to the equation, and what constitutes “in the best interest of the child” becomes far less defined.

Much has been said of the generation born between 1981 and 1996. Millennials dethroned Baby Boomers as America’s largest generation in recent years, and compared to Boomers and Gen Xers, they’ve thoroughly embraced a digital footprint from a young age. Many Millennials own smartphones and use them to stay connected to the world and its many inhabitants. Millennials are active on social media and utilize apps for everything from productivity to guided meditation and exercise regimens.

Technology has impacted nearly every area of our lives. As telecommunications continue to advance and change, they can improve relationships between children and their parents in explicit and ancillary ways. Families can benefit from broader communication styles and new activities through the use of technology and embracing it as a solution for challenging issues.

Child custody can be a contentious issue in even the most amicable of divorces. The problem only worsens when alcohol abuse or misuse is involved. Generally, these issues manifest in one of three ways...

Alcohol abuse affects more than just the individual — It impacts their loved ones as well. The children of parents dealing with alcohol abuse are more at risk for behavioral problems and developing difficulties themselves. Children are very perceptive and quick to pick up on their caregivers’ unhealthy behaviors, whether they are biological parents or not. For this reason, both parents and step-parents suffering from alcohol abuse should take all measures necessary to prevent relapse and rebuild trust.

No matter the circumstances surrounding the end of a marriage, separating is often difficult, and tensions and emotions usually run high. When allegations of alcohol use arise, it can be particularly challenging to differentiate truth and hearsay without concrete evidence.

Keith Grossman, a mediator who has been resolving family and marital issues for over 20 years, talks about Collaborative Practice and how Soberlink can be used in cases involving alcohol. As someone who consults and educates clients about fair options to share and enhance time with their children, he discusses how Soberlink can help protect kids and give peace of mind.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, everyday life has drastically changed. Remote work has gained momentum as social distancing is a key measure for preventing and slowing the spread of the virus. While this work style comes with some specific benefits, this transition also brings some serious limitations and difficulties as routines and boundaries are disrupted. 

More often than not, Family Law cases are strenuous and emotional for all parties involved. When children are involved, and one parent has a demonstrated or accused history of alcohol abuse, proving sobriety is imperative for the safety and assurance of the entire family.

Blood alcohol content (BAC) is the measure of alcohol present in your blood at a given moment. Technically speaking, the measure tells how many milligrams of alcohol are contained in 100 milligrams of your blood. For most people, it’s easiest to understand as a raw percentage: a BAC of 0.08% would mean every 10,000 mg of your blood contains 8 mg of alcohol.