Book of the Week

This week's BOOK OF THE WEEK: Custody for Fathers: A Practical Guide Through the Combat Zone of a Brutal Custody Battle (Paperback)by Michael Brennan and Carleen Brennan.



One of the highest rated books when it comes to showing fathers "how to" win custody of their children, or at least how to better understand the system and improve their chances. The book touches on emotional issues as well as courtroom bias. It is highly recommended to fathers facing custody challenges.

BeAFather.com

Introducing: BeAFather.com
Specially designed for single and unwed fathers!!!

BeAFather.com will be a resource for single and unwed fathers who want to be more involved in the lives of their children. The focus is on urban communities, but the advice is for all!

In coming months, this section of the LouisianaDivorceCourt.com website will provide information especially designed for single/unwed fathers. LDC will provide forms for answering and challenging divorce petitions and obtaining custody, as well as detailed information on the calculation and modification of Louisiana child support obligations. In addition, LDC will provide links to studies and various statistics on the importance of fathers in the lives of children, as well as background on the history and trends of custody decisions in America.

Stay Tuned! LDC Staff

Prove Up Divorce

No matter how it happens, be it by "Confirmation of Default" (two or more days after entry of "Preliminary Default") or, after an Answer has been filed and you or your spouse files a "Motion to Set for Trial", at some point you will be before the judge to get your divorce finalized.

You will have to APPEAR in open court on date of the hearing with at least one witness, though two are better, who can testify that you and your spouse have lived separate and apart without ever reconciling for the required length of time (180 days or 365 days, depending on the facts of your case). You and your witness(es) will have to testify to certain facts - when you do, you "prove up" your divorce. After that, you SUBMIT your Judgment to the judge for signing.

LouisianaDivorceCourt.com offers a prove-up script for Only $9.99!

Hurricane Gustav!!

Due to Hurricane Gustav, we will be down until September 8, 2008! Stay safe!

Book of the Week

This week's BOOK OF THE WEEK: The Co-Parenting Survival Guide: Letting Go of Conflict after a Difficult Divorce (Paperback)by Elizabeth Thayer Ph.D. and Jeffrey Zimmerman Ph.D.

In The Co-Parenting Survival Guide, psychologists Thayer and Zimmerman, cofounders of the P.E.A.C.E. program (Parents Allied to Co-Parent Effectively), present straightforward advice to parents in high-conflict divorces. Their aim is to help ex-spouses reduce strife and concentrate on their children's needs. After explaining the concept of conflict in early chapters, the authors go on to offer specific guidelines for defusing common confrontations, such as parenting plans, transitions, special events, and new relationships. Thayer and Zimmerman insist that even one parent acting alone can lessen conflict. References for further research are included. Editorial Review by Kay Brodie, Chesapeake Coll., Wye Mills, MD

Serving Out-of-State Defendants

If you don't know where your out-of-state spouse lives, then you might want to check our post on "Locating Spouses, Finding Defendants" among the August, 2008 topics. Otherwise, if you do know where he/she lives and you have a service address, then service is simply by mail:

Service on a spouse who lives outside Louisiana is governed under the Long Arm Statute, La. R.S. 13:3201 and following statutes, which state that the Petitioner must:

• SERVE the other spouse by registered or certified mail (or other enumerated means, see the statute for more information), and
• FILE the Affidavit of the person who sent the mailing, along with the return receipt.
• WAIT thirty (30) days from service before requesting entry of a preliminary default judgment against the Defendant.

NO judgment can be rendered until after that 30-day time period is passed.

Grandparents Rights

In Louisiana, if one of the parties to a marriage dies, is interdicted, or incarcerated, the parents of that party may have "reasonable visitation rights" to the child(ren), if such would be in their "best interest". Visitation may also be had when the parents live together in concubinage and one dies or is incarcerated; or, when parties to the marriage have been apart for six months.

To learn more about the louisiana law regarding Grandparents Rights to visit their grandchildren as well as the rights of siblings, visit LouisianaDivorceCourt.com and click "more forms" on the left of the page. LDC offers a Rule to Establish Grandparent Visitation, complete with instructions and outline of factors the court will consider for Only $39.99!