New York Divorce Report - New York's Divorce and Family Law Blog

The holidays can be one of the most stressful times.  There are financial and familial demands.  The stress and pressure can become unbearable and lead to depression.   The Mayo Clinic offers ten tips into dealing with holiday stress.  1. Acknowledge your feelings. If someone close to you has recently died or you can't be with loved ones, realize that it's normal to feel sadness and grief. It's OK to take time to cry or express your feelings. You can't force yourself to be happy just because it's the holiday season. 2. Reach out. If you feel lonely or isolated, seek... More

In the spirit of the upcoming holidays, Newsweek offers guidance to divorced parents on how to make the holidays better for their children. Admittedly, the holidays are the most difficult and painful times for families broken apart by divorce. Both parents want to maximize their time with their children. Even the best intentioned parent may be tempted to play the game of one-upmanship by giving bigger and more expensive gifts to the children in an attempt to buy their love. All of this leads to increased stress and conflict at a time that should be joyous. But, there are things... More

After I posted 10 Tips to Help Children of Divorce Deal with the Holidays, I was interviewed by Lawyers USA about the issues that crop up around the holidays about holiday visitation. The article, written by Jason Rebello, can be viewed here, but a subscription is required.  Lawyers USA graciously granted me a reprint permission.   With the holiday season fast approaching, family lawyers may find an unexpected complication in their clients' post-divorce lives. Attorneys say that in many cases, both the husband and wife are in such a rush to finalize the separation that they may overlook how they... More

Divorce, visitation and holidays-three things, that when combined, raise divorced parents’ blood pressure and put a lot of stress on their children. There are some things you can do to  make the holidays a little more bearable. The Divorce Law Journal highlights ten tips to help children enjoy the holidays: Give your children permission to love the other parent. Help your child make a card for Dad or buy a gift for Mom. Encourage them to call the other parent. Set realistic expectations. To divide or share a holiday, each parent will have only half as much time with the... More