It’s the most wonderful time of the year…or is it? Families who are going through a divorce or share custody often lament about how the holidays bring new stressors that don’t come up throughout the rest of the year. It makes sense. Stress is at an all time high anyway, what with gift giving, budgeting, and a slew of activities and holiday parties that all need your attention.
If you find disputes with your ex peak around the holidays, you aren’t alone. Custody and spousal disputes are one of the most common issues we see this time of year.
Disputes over payment (or non-payment) of child support
When financial stresses are high it’s natural to get even more frustrated if your spouse is late or simply not paying child support. Remember, child support isn’t optional. Talk with your lawyer about figuring out the best option for getting the money that is owed to your children. Sometimes, the courts will garnish your spouse’s wages. Whatever the option, we can help guide you through the process.
Arguing through social media or text messages
This is probably one of the most common and frustrating issues we see pop up not just around the holidays, but also year round. Unfortunately, social media and texting makes harassing individuals and picking fights super easy. The good news is, that these methods of communication also give you a record of what was being said and when it was being said.
Keep every text and Facebook conversation you have with your ex. Additionally, be sure to take screenshots of any conversations that happen on your Facebook wall or that are public, as they can be removed.
Parental kidnapping
Parental kidnapping is every parent’s worst fear when going through a custody battle. Unfortunately, parental kidnapping as a crime isn’t often as clear as other crimes. In general, however, “a person is guilty of kidnapping if they take away, entices away, detains, or conceals any child under the age of 18 with an intent to detain or conceal such child from a parent, guardian, or other person having lawful physical custody of such child.” (uslegal.com)
False child abuse accusations made by an ex
When one parent isn’t satisfied with the current custody arrangement, they can resort to spiteful and desperate measures. Sadly, this includes falsely reporting child abuse to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. If this happens to you, it’s important that you have a team on your side to get to the bottom of the issue.
In New Hampshire, falsely reporting child abuse is a misdemeanor and something that can influence the courts in how they split custody in the future.
Remember, if you’re facing any of these issues you aren’t alone. Unfortunately, we see a peak in family law issues during the holidays. Get in touch with our New Hampshire family law attorneys for help figuring out a solution to your problem. We’ve seen and heard it all and are here to serve and guide you through this season.
