Child Custody

Understanding Spousal Testimonial Privilege in Mississippi

Published on: October 28, 2024 | by Vic Carmody Jr., P.A.

When it comes to legal proceedings, the rules surrounding what can and cannot be disclosed often become complex. One important legal concept to understand is spousal testimonial privilege, especially in the context of Mississippi law. This privilege can significantly affect the outcomes of criminal and civil cases, so it’s crucial to grasp its implications.

What is Spousal Testimonial Privilege?

Spousal testimonial privilege is a legal principle that protects the confidentiality of communications between spouses. In essence, it allows one spouse to refuse to testify against the other in a court of law. This privilege is rooted in the idea that marriage should be a safe haven for open and honest communication, free from the fear of legal repercussions.

Tips for Coparenting During the Holidays

Published on: November 30, 2023 | by Vic Carmody Jr., P.A.

The holiday season can be an especially stressful time for nontraditional families and blended families. When partners split up and share custody or visitation of their children, this can mean double the holiday celebrations and splitting time between many different homes. Children who grew up with divorced parents are all too familiar with this situation – two Christmases, two Thanksgivings, double the presents, hours and hours of driving back and forth, and living out of a suitcase for weeks at a time. From a parent’s perspective, the holidays can come with many additional sources of stress – more communication with their ex and coparent, bearing the financial burden of buying gifts without assistance, planning drop off and pick up times, and the additional sadness of coping with the fact that you might not have your own child at home on Christmas morning. Here are our tips for reducing the stress of coparenting during the holidays.

Plan Ahead, but Be Flexible

It can be helpful for co-parents to sit down and put together a plan for how they want things to go. This will obviously be easier if you have a good relationship with your ex, but it can still be attempted even if you do not have a good relationship. If you have a custody order that dictates how holidays should be split up, use that as your starting point for making a plan. Planning ahead will help avoid any last-minute disputes over who gets to see the child. But no matter how much you plan ahead, you’ll still have to be flexible. No plan is perfect, and unexpected things can always happen last minute, but clear communication with your ex can reduce stress and manage expectations.

“I Want My Kid Back!” – How to Change Your Child Custody Arrangement

Published on: June 9, 2023 | by Vic Carmody Jr., P.A.

When a child custody arrangement is established, it is meant to provide stability and consistency for the child. However, as time passes, circumstances can change, and what once worked for the family may no longer be working. In those types of cases, it might be a good idea to ask the court to modify the custody arrangement.

In Mississippi, there are specific rules and procedures for child custody modifications. In this blog post, we will discuss the rules for custody modifications, how the process works, and the importance of hiring an experienced family law attorney to handle your custody modification case.

Rules for Custody Modifications in Mississippi

Co-parenting In The Summer Doesn’t Have To Be A Heated Discussion

Published on: May 31, 2023 | by Vic Carmody Jr., P.A.

Tips for Co-parenting During the Summer

Co-parenting can be a challenging task, especially during the summer when children are out of school and schedules may be less structured. However, with a little bit of planning and communication, co-parenting during the summer can be a fun and rewarding experience for everyone involved. Here are some tips to help you successfully co-parent during the summer months.

Plan ahead: Summer is a busy time for everyone, so it’s important to plan ahead as much as possible. Sit down with your co-parent and create a summer schedule that includes vacation time, camp schedules, and any other activities or events that you want to do with your child. Having a clear plan in place will help to minimize confusion and conflict.

Practical Tips for Sharing Child Custody

Published on: March 23, 2023 | by Vic Carmody Jr., P.A.

Sharing child custody can be a challenging process for parents who have separated or divorced. It is important to prioritize the well-being and best interests of the child while navigating this process. In this blog, we will discuss practical tips for sharing child custody that can help make the process smoother and less stressful for both parents and children.

Keep Essential Items at Both Homes – One way to make the transition between homes easier for your child is to keep essential items at both homes. This can include things like a toothbrush, pajamas, and school supplies. It can also be helpful to have a set of clothes and toys that stay at each home, so your child doesn’t have to pack a bag every time they switch homes.
Inform Your Child’s School – It’s important to inform your child’s school about the separation or divorce, so they know who is allowed to pick up your child from school. You should also provide the school with copies of any legal documents regarding custody and visitation rights. It might be helpful to tell your child’s teacher that you are in the process of getting a divorce or have recently gotten a divorce so that they can better deal with any behavioral problems that might come up.