In 1989 People magazine reported about a network called “Children of the Underground.” Faye Yager emerged as the movement’s leader. This movement helped men and women hide their kids as a way of escaping partners they alleged were abusive, but to whom the courts granted custody.
Newsweek reported that the United States Department of Justice estimates family members abducted 203,900 children in 1999, which is the most recent year for records estimating child abduction. By comparison, this is more than triple the number of stranger abductions. In family abduction cases, 21 percent of the time, children are gone for a month or longer. However, only 28 percent of children abducted by family members are reported as missing to law officials.
In a New York Times interview in 1992, Yager said she assisted some 2,000 families in hiding children. Reports describe the network as consisting of ministers, homemakers, people involved in domestic violence shelters, women’s groups and everyday people. They have used birth certificates of deceased people for new names to hide the runaways. The underground network’s purpose was to disclose the fact that courts had failed to protect abused children and running became the last resort. The movement forged ahead as child abuse became increasingly an issue during the late 20th century. As lawsuits mounted against Yager, she disappeared.
Even so, the network still exists, only Yager flies under the radar more evasively today and the movement isn’t publicized.
In the Minnesota case where the Rucki girls disappeared, the couple that harbored the girls at their ranch face felony charges of parental alienation for helping hide the girls for two and a half years. The couple’s lawyers deny their involvement in any formal network.
In September 2016, Dede Evavold was prosecuted for deprivation of child custody in the Sandra Rucki Teenager Family Abduction Case and found guilty. She was associated with the underground network.
Whether you feel the courts ruled unfairly about abuse or your child has been abducted, going the legal route and hiring a competent attorney is your best recourse for the issues involved.
Attorney Chris Palermo is diligent about providing you with sound legal help and protecting your rights.
The decision to divorce is life changing, and unanswered questions can linger in the back of your mind, making you uncertain or insecure about your decisions.
Scientific American reported about research that could be helpful to know.
Should you stay in an unhappy marriage to protect your kids from the harmful effects of divorce?
Every year about 1.5 million children live in families where their parents divorce. According to one research study, only a small percentage of children suffer from serious problems related to divorce. On the short term, the divorce may seem traumatic. Your children may react with anger, anxiety, sadness or shock. However, kids overall recover quickly, and usually by the end of the second year after divorce, such negative emotions disappear. Studies showed that children from intact families and divorced families didn’t differ significantly.
What effects do high levels of parental conflict have on children?
Children subjected to high parental conflict had a more difficult time adjusting in life. This is true whether within a marriage or during or after divorce. Despite this fact, children in high conflict families experienced less shock when learning their parents were getting a divorce. Children were more prepared to hear about the divorce and were less surprised or terrified by the news. Some even experienced relief.
How can you reduce the factors that would adversely affect your children?
You can limit your conflict associated with the divorce process or avoid exposing your child to the conflict. The better you adjust to life changes after divorce, the more likely your child is to adjust well too. Open communication with your children and answering their questions helps them. Good parenting that provides warmth and support and economic stability are also positive influences. Socially supporting your kids and social support from other adults like teachers and the children’s peers can also help them bounce back from the divorce.
Work with a Divorce Lawyer You Can Trust
If you’re contemplating divorce and have questions Attorney Chris Palermo is glad to provide you with experienced legal guidance. He can help you make the right decisions.
The divorce between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie has become high profile in today’s news. It’s not often that a celebrity divorce earns its own nickname. In this case, the press is calling it the “Brangelina Split.”
Even though each parent is worth many millions, the main contested divorce issue is child custody of their six children.
As in many divorces, if the couple can reach a settlement outside of court, they have better chances of making their divorce more amicable. It remains to be seen how they will resolve the custody issue, but here are some benchmarks along the road of their divorce.
Angelina Jolie filed for divorce at the end of September 2016 and sought sole child custody. Allegations of abuse emerged against Brad Pitt shortly after she filed.
In October, USA Today published an article that disclosed the temporary custody arrangement was for Angelina to have sole custody and Brad to have visitation. They worked out the agreement through the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). The agreement included terms of Brad submitting to random drug/alcohol testing and both parents undergoing separate and family counseling. Brad’s first visit with the children was to be monitored by a therapist, but that stipulation was not necessary an ongoing requirement for later visits.
On November 9, USA Today reported that the LA County DCFS cleared Brad Pitt after exhaustively investigating charges of Pitt’s alleged abuse against his 15 year old son. Brad Pitt subsequently has filed for joint custody of the children.
Their divorce case is being heard in California, and under state law, courts favor awarding joint custody whenever possible. Generally, parents enjoy a 50/50 parenting time arrangement so both parents can spend time with their children. Children over 14 years of age typically can state their preference during custody proceedings and the court takes their view into consideration.
Attorney Chris Palermo offers compassionate legal help for individuals seeking divorce to help protect their rights.
Whether you call it joint child custody, co-parenting, or shared parental responsibility, when parents can raise their children together without a high degree of conflict, statistics show this type of parenting is best for the children.
Or course, parents divorce because they are unable to resolve issues in their marital relationship. Naturally, barriers exist in getting along with each other that they must overcome for joint child custody to work.
What Children Prefer
An article in Psychology Today lists reasons why co-parenting is the preferred arrangement. The article promotes considering what is in the child’s best interests from a child’s perspective. It offers arguments for shared responsibility, stating that shared responsibility does the following:
When violence and high conflict aren’t an issue, children typically want both parents in their lives and want to have meaningful relationships with both parents.
New York courts weigh a child’s preference on custody more heavily when the child is 13 years or older, and this is true even when they do not rule as a child would want. Courts also try not to separate siblings from each other whenever possible.
Do You Have Questions about Child Custody?
Attorney Chris Palermo is glad to answer your questions, help you consider all the aspects of child custody and to protect your rights as a parent.
Because breaking divorce news may be one of the most important conversations you ever have with your children, it’s worth the time to plan the best approach.
Parents.com recommends the following guidelines:
Both parents should tell the children together. Both parents should put their children’s well being first when telling them about the decision to divorce. You should present divorce as a joint decision and set your reactions about it aside — resentment, blame, etc. Your children need reassurance that you will still work together as parents to provide what’s best for them.
Tell all of your children at the same time. Generally it’s better for all the kids to find out at the same time. An exception may be if you know an older child will react badly and upset a younger child, in which case, tell them individually.
Figure out what to say in advance. Telling your children in a way that addresses their concerns is extremely important. It is important for your kids to understand that:
Kids often get angry, cry, shout or run to their rooms. Let them express their feelings without having your own reactions to their behavior. You may need to give them time alone. You also may feel like they need affection and to be held or hugged. Many children respond by being concerned about how their immediate life will be affected. Will they still be able to go to the same school, see their friends or go to a party they’ve been invited to attend? While that type of response may seem superficial to you, it is typical for kids to respond this way.
Answer their questions and continue to have talks with them about their concerns over your divorce. If you don’t know the answer to a question, it is important to be honest and tell them so, rather than make promises you may not be able to keep.
Divorce can be complicated because there are many facets to consider. Attorney Chris Palermo can provide you with experienced legal guidance and help you make the right decisions.
In 2009, Eric Stevens filed to divorce his wife Tiffany Stevens. Since then, close to 180 motions (filed by both parties) and rulings have gone into in the divorce and custody cases.
According to the Daily News, three years after filing for divorce, Tiffany allegedly tried to hire a maintenance man to kill her husband for a fee of $5,000. She was arrested in July 2012 and has been out of jail on a million dollar bail while her criminal case is still pending.
As a result of the 2011 divorce agreement, Tiffany had sole custody and Eric had supervised visits. After Tiffany’s arrest, her parents filed a motion for temporary custody of their only grandchild. The court later reduced the father’s initially court approved supervised visits to weeknight phone calls.
Evidence from the wife’s lawyers included a psychological examination of her ex-husband that indicated a personality disorder of depression with psychotic characteristics. She had obtained restraining order against Eric, which he violated. He denied her claims about the exam. He accuses his ex-wife of being a long-time drug addict.
Eric’s latest legal strategy was filing a complaint against the court appointed guardian ad litem for his daughter. He alleges attorney corruption and perjury and filed the complaint with the Statewide Grievance Committee in Connecticut, which handles lawyer discipline cases.
The above divorce and child custody cases are far from the norm, and most cases resolve much sooner and without this degree of complexity.
Find about your legal rights and discuss the actions you should take or not take with an experienced divorce attorney early on in your divorce. Following effective legal advice can make a significant difference in how your divorce unfolds.
Chris Palermo is a Suffolk County divorce attorney who has compassion for his clients and works closely with them to resolve issues effectively and protect their interests.
So often we hear about celebrity divorces that end horrifically, whether in legal battles over one spouse getting his/her lion’s share of the wealth, battling over child custody or tragic tales of drug abuse that translate into wild dramatic scenes. Consequently, when celebrity couples end a marriage amicably and have prenups in place so legal settlements are easily reached, it’s wise to also take note.
The New York Daily News reported that Rapper Wiz Khalifa and model Amber Rose reached a divorce settlement on June 7, 2016. They actually celebrated their heartfelt feelings for each other instead of the fact of their divorce.
The couple were married for 14 months and signed a prenup before marrying. Rose will receive a total of $1 million and has already received $356,000. Khalifa will pay $14,800 per month in child support and the couple will share joint custody of their three-year old son.
The couple filed for divorce in 2014 and the divorce proceedings took a far different turn from how it first began with Rose alleging Khalifa cheated on her. She now tweets that he was the only man she ever loved and they “still really, really love each other but just can’t be together.”
Unfortunately, the messiest celebrity divorces are often the ones that garner the most media attention. Even so, other celebrities have split amicably. According to ET, some other friendly divorces include:
It’s never too early to find out about your legal rights and discuss the actions you should take and not take when considering divorce. Being legally informed and receiving effective legal advice can make a huge difference in the type of divorce you experience.
Suffolk County divorce attorney Chris Palermo is a compassionate attorney who works closely with clients to resolve issues and protect their interests.
Johnny Depp’s claimed net worth according to Celebrity Net Worth is $350 million but actual worth may be closer to $400 million. After two years of marriage, his wife Amber Heard filed for divorce in a Los Angeles court last week. They married without a prenuptial agreement, and she requested spousal support but Depp denied the demand International Business Times reports.
Depp was paid $61.1 million for his role in Alice Through the Looking Glass and averages a yearly income of $41.1 million.
Prior to marrying Amber Heard, Depp had been with French model Vanessa Paradis for 14 years. They never married, but had two children together. When their relationship ended, according to hollywoodlife.com, the spit was amicable. He was worth $300 million at that time, and in a settlement, he awarded $150 million to Vanessa.
Romance is blissful and when you fall in love, the idea of breakup is not real. Perhaps the idea of ever splitting up is too painful to entertain. Yet, in today’s society and especially among celebrities, marriage often does not last.
Johnny Depp’s previous relationship did not require a prenuptial agreement, and he willingly gave half his wealth to his partner.
Because California is a community property state, a spouse is legally entitled to half of the community property. Yet the recent breakup does not appear to be so amicable. The divorce began with Amber Heard filing for a restraining order for alleged domestic abuse. At this point, the characteristics of this breakup are more like a battle, in contrast to the much longer partnership that ended with such grace.
If you have considerable wealth, for practical reasons, consider consulting with an attorney about creating a prenuptial agreement.
Suffolk County divorce attorney Chris Palermo can discuss prenuptial agreements with you and the benefits of creating one prior to marriage.
A father recorded a conversation between his son and his ex-wife’s live-in boyfriend. Later on, when he turned in the recording as evidence, the boyfriend’s attorney challenged the admissibility of the recording, calling it illegal eavesdropping.
According to ABC News, the boy was five years old and the father decided in good faith that recording the violent conversation he was overhearing was necessary for his son’s protection. Months later, on when neighbors called the police because they heard screaming and crying, the father turned in the evidence. Authorities arrested the live-in boyfriend, Anthony Badalamenti, and he was convicted of child endangerment, assault and weapon possession.
The ruling set a precedent for parents being able to eavesdrop on their children when it is done in good faith for the child’s protection.
However, the judge in the case cautioned about certain limitations, including:
The ruling does not establish whether a parent can eavesdrop when an older child explicitly refuses to allow it during conversations with the other parent.
This case appears to set a broader precedent about parental eavesdropping than a similar earlier case. An earlier court ruling from a Brooklyn judge allowed evidence from a mother who placed a recorder in her autistic son’s backpack due to suspected abuse by his bus matron.
It will be interesting to see how New York case law develops regarding parents who eavesdrop on children.
If you have questions about whether to record events involving your child, discuss your concerns with attorney Chris Palermo.He will be glad to answer your questions and provide you with effective legal guidance.
Music producer Phil Spector, currently serving a 19-year-sentence in a state prison facility in California, has filed for divorce from wife number three, Rachelle, claiming that she’s spending the couple’s money as fast as she can get her hands on it. Spector, 76, is believed to be worth more than $35 million.
According to Spector, his wife, a 35-year-old former singer, has purchased two homes for her mother, as well as a Ferrari, an Aston Martin, a $350,000 plane and other items. He says she’s now in the market to purchase her own private jet. Lamenting that he’s only getting about $300 each month while incarcerated, Spector has asked the court to appoint his daughter, Nicole Audrey Spector, to handle his finances.
Inside sources say that Spector, known for creating the famed “wall of sound” that characterized such hits as the Ronettes’ 1964 classic “Be My Baby,” has been in declining health over the last few years. He was sentenced to serve time after he was convicted in 2009 of killing actress Lana Clarkston at his home nearly a decade earlier.
Rachelle Spector, who has consistently maintained that Spector is innocent of the murder charges, says it makes no sense that she would now be trying to fleece Spector. “Gold diggers don’t hang around for 10 years, ” Mrs. Spector told reporters.
Spector Files for Divorce from Third Wife
Contact an Experienced New York Divorce and Family Law Attorney
At the law office of Chris Palermo, Esq., we bring more than 13 years of experience to men and women in divorce and family law matters, representing clients across Long Island. To learn more about our practice, see our divorce and family law page. For an appointment, send us an e-mail or call us toll free at 1-800-483-1527. We have offices located in Huntington, Hauppauge, Garden City, Babylon and New York City.