Pro Se PROS

Motions for Contempt

“Hello, I’m looking to hold my ex in contempt for not following certain parts of our Decree and can’t find the right complaint to file. Can you help?” 

By far, this is one of the most common questions we receive.  It is also something that we are very good at assisting people with, as we have done these in our own personal cases.

As litigants ourselves, we know that there is nothing more frustrating than having Court Orders in place that aren’t followed — or blatantly ignored —  by the other side.  Those orders become useless if they aren’t enforced, but there is a very SPECIFIC protocol you need to follow, in order to make that happen.

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Child Custody Challenges in a COVID-19 Climate

by Mark DiCiero

“My ex is refusing to exchange our child because of ‘safety concerns’ related to COVID-19, what do I do? Can my ex withhold our child without a Court Order??”

Hands down, this has been the most-asked question I have received from pro se litigants as COVID-19 protocols continue to change, sometimes creating more questions than answers.

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Getting Ready for Your Family Court Appearance

by Mark DiCiero

Most of our clients have never appeared in Family Court without an attorney (some have never appeared in Family Court at all) and the thought of going at it alone can be daunting and intimidating. We promise, it doesn’t need to be.

We say this all the time; nothing impresses a judge (and frustrates an opposing attorney) more than a well-informed and thoroughly prepared pro se litigant.  Your confidence will get noticed.

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The Importance of Doing the Right Thing on Mother's Day

by Mark DiCiero

This one is for the guys.  

It’s short and sweet,  but it needs to be said.

I’m surprised how often problems come up regarding Mother’s Day and Father’ Day in high conflict custody cases (even in this midst of litigation, which is even more surprising), but sometimes common sense has a habit of “vanishing” when we get caught up in the ongoing “battle.”

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Choosing Your Battles in Family Court:  When to Fight and When to Compromise

by Sean Abid

People often divorce because they no longer compromise and argue frequently. The initial foray into the family court arena is replete with stress, unfettered emotion, and anger which can lead to perpetual conflict. However, carefully picking your battles and learning to respond diplomatically can save your mental health, your money, and, ultimately, your litigation. Not every hill is a hill to die on. Here are some ideas to assist you so you can decipher when to fight back and when to compromise with your ex-spouse.

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Representing Yourself in a High Conflict Child Custody Case

by Alexander Falconi

Virtually all child custody litigation involves a tremendous amount of conflict which is driven by general animosity and possibly even a visceral hatred depending on how bad the breakup was. Typically, this anger and resentment fades over time, and Parties learn how to work together and focus on what’s best for the children. There can still be some conflict in these cases, but it tends to arise out of emotional immaturity and insecurity, which is something that can be communicated through and managed over time.

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Navigating Through the Emotional Turmoil of the Family Court Process

by Sean Abid

When relationships end, it is normal to feel a myriad of emotions: hurt, anger, sadness, resentment, guilt, etc. We all have a constant flow of feelings percolating within us. Generally, particularly under the extreme stress of family court litigation, we do not choose how to feel these raw emotions, but we do have a choice in how we respond to them. If we act out of emotion then we will certainly regret it. Each of us has said something we did not mean when we were upset, so we know how emotions can affect our behavior and decision-making.

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Which Joint Custodial Schedule is Best for You

by Mark DiCiero

As we begin to populate our web site and social media platforms with blogs, articles, and other content that we think you may find useful, please understand that we are not lawyers. We don’t pretend to be. Never will.

Our perspectives are simply those of dads that continue to learn, and try to be the best parents we can possibly be. Collectively, the three of us (Sean, Alex, and myself) have been involved in high conflict custodial litigation for well over twenty years. Needless to say, we have learned a great deal about the family court process, our kids, and ourselves.

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Dealing with Addiction in Family Court Litigation

by Mark DiCiero

This one is a little personal, and is something that I have never talked about publicly, so bear with me.  As I see this exact issue coming up more and more in Family Court litigation, I hope my story can help someone.

I recently celebrated an anniversary that I never thought would appear on my “life” calendar … something I never thought I would need to “celebrate” in the first place:  my two year anniversary of complete sobriety.

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