Even though the petitioner-Father’s counsel used an outdated summons form when serving process on the respondent-Mother, the summons nonetheless included all statutorily required information. Although Mother’s provisional counsel’s name was not listed on the summons (counsel had not been appointed ...

Tagged with: Domestic Relations

The respondent-Father argues that he did not abandon his child because, shortly before the petitioner-Mother filed the petition to terminate his parental rights, he sent his attorney an email inquiring about reinstating his visitation rights. However, that email is not ...

Tagged with: Domestic Relations

Even though the respondent-Father has engaged in therapeutic services to address his mental health needs, he still has difficulty regulating his anger, blames others for his actions, and abuses alcohol and marijuana. Clear, cogent and convincing evidence supports the trial ...

Tagged with: Domestic Relations

After “Michael” and “Kevin” were removed from her care, the respondent-Mother failed to make progress on her case plan, especially the parts designed to address her substance abuse. Mother belatedly obtained several psychological and substance abuse evaluations, but she was ...

Tagged with: Domestic Relations

Even though plaintiff did not seek a domestic violence protective order (DVPO) until July, when defendant’s report to her employer that she had released his medical information caused her to lose her job, since there was no dispute that defendant ...

Tagged with: Domestic Relations

The defendant-Father’s contacts with Switzerland were limited to short trips consisting of visiting with the plaintiff-Mother and their children and some light tourism, plus calls with the children and coordination with Mother to arrange his informal support for the children. ...

Tagged with: Domestic Relations

Over the years since the parties first agreed that the defendant-Mother would have primary physical custody of their three daughters, the plaintiff-Father has been transferred by the Marines to a location outside the 100-mile radius contemplated by the agreement, but ...

Tagged with: Domestic Relations

Even if the trial court erroneously distributed $5,000 of debt on the marital home – found to be the defendant-Wife’s separate property – to the plaintiff-Husband, this did not prejudice him since it effectively lowered the distributive award to Wife. ...

Tagged with: Domestic Relations

Where the trial court’s written orders do not recite any standard of proof, and where the trial court also did not announce the standard of proof in open court when making its ruling at the adjudicatory portion of the hearing, ...

Tagged with: Domestic Relations

When our Supreme Court remanded the order terminating respondent’s parental rights, the trial court was permitted, but not required, to hear from the parties on remand. Once the trial court determined to hear from the guardian ad litem and the ...

Tagged with: Domestic Relations