The mother of a 1-year-old child is terminally ill with stage 4 cancer and is insisting on a 50/50 custody arrangement between her family and the child's father after her passing. Currently, there are no existing custody agreements, and the child primarily lives with the mother while the... View More

My mother's estate in Washington is being handled through probate without a will. She had seven children, two of whom, including my brother, passed away before her. My brother has a child, who is my mother's grandson. Does he qualify as an heir and receive my deceased brother's share... View More

Janta Steele
answered on Mar 11, 2025

Yes, if your mother's estate is being probated without a will and any of her children passed away before her but leaving their own children (i.e. if your brother died before your mother but had kids), then any grandchild by a pre-deceased child inherits under RCW 11.04.015(2)(a).

A... View More

I am my mother's only living child, and she is currently married to a man from Denmark who has a green card. My mother resides in Maine, and there is no will or trust. We are trying to determine who is considered the next of kin, especially since there are assets, property, and a house... View More

I am the uncle of a vulnerable adult whose mother recently passed away. His brother established guardianship and conservatorship and has placed protection orders on anyone trying to assist my nephew. There have been patterns of mistreatment, documented by my temporary guardianship and a protection... View More

I have had sole custody of my 16-year-old daughter since my divorce in 2014, with her father receiving state guideline visitation. My daughter was sensually abused by his girlfriend's son when she was 6, yet he is still with her. Recently, my daughter decided to live with her father, possibly... View More

I am currently in Arizona and grappling with the safety concerns surrounding my unborn son's father, who is involved in drugs and street life. I don't trust him or his mother (the grandmother) to care for my child. I am considering adoption to ensure my son's well-being. There are no... View More

I am concerned about the status of my marriage. My cousin and I, both first cousins, got married in Tennessee after obtaining a marriage license in 2021. Recently, a new law was introduced stating that first-cousin marriages are not allowed after April 2024. Will this new law void our existing... View More

I live in Florida and am the primary caregiver for my child. My child's father, who signed the birth certificate, is requesting our child's birth certificate and social security card. We have no formal custody or visitation agreements, and he visits on Sundays. He hasn't provided a... View More

Rand Scott Lieber
answered on Mar 11, 2025

If you have never been to court for paternity or child support then you have no obligation to provide documents to him. Speak with a local family lawyer for more specific advice.

My father recently passed away in Ohio, and he was contacted about a settlement related to his father's land with oil rights. There was no will, and my mother has a marriage certificate as his widow. My father had children from a previous relationship, and they are claiming they should split... View More

Todd B. Kotler
answered on Mar 10, 2025

The actual answer is within Ohio's Statute of Descent and Distribution R.C. 2105.06 (C) states that if the person dies the property passes as follows:

"If there is a spouse and one child of the decedent or the child's lineal descendants surviving and the surviving spouse is... View More

I have a personal protection hearing scheduled for the 17th, where I am defending against claims of child abuse. I have been served with an emergency order, but I don't have any witnesses for the hearing. There is also an ongoing custody case related to this matter. How should I prepare to... View More

Timothy Denison
answered on Mar 10, 2025

All you can do is testify as to your side of the story and I produce documentary evidence if you fo not have any witnesses to refute the allegations.

In Georgia, my ex has sole custody of our 5-year-old daughter, and I have only 3 hours a month of supervised visitation, which has been ongoing for over 2 years. The order states that I can talk to my daughter before 8 PM anytime, but my ex has never brought her to visits. My daughter tells me she... View More

I recently remarried, and I want to update the deed to my property to reflect my new last name and add my new husband's name. My previous husband is no longer present, and there are legal challenges in obtaining a death certificate. How can I proceed with changing the name on the deed under... View More

John Michael Frick
answered on Mar 10, 2025

If the property is your separate property (i.e. it was not acquired by you during your previous marriage) and the deed is currently in your sole name (i.e. your previous husband's name is not on the deed), you can sign a new deed in your to yourself in your new name before a notary public.... View More

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I have full-time custody of our child, but there are no formal court orders for child support. The other parent picks and chooses when he wants to see our child. I've tried discussing child support with him, and he paid one time but then regularly has excuses for not being able to contribute... View More

In a family matter case at the Hartford court, I, the plaintiff, requested the defendant's financial records and tax returns as part of discovery. The defendant failed to object or respond to my discovery requests, leading me to file a motion to compel, which the court granted. Subsequently,... View More

I am in the middle of a custody battle and feel that I did not get a fair trial.

I'm a father involved in a criminal child abuse case in California where the defendant is the mother of my child. Despite the case being open in court, the police consider it closed. I have evidence, including a CPS report, that I believe is crucial to the case and the safety of my child. The... View More

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James L. Arrasmith Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Mar 12, 2025

Since you're appearing in court without an attorney, your goal should be to clearly explain to the judge why your evidence matters for your child's safety. At tomorrow’s hearing, request permission to speak directly to the judge and politely ask that your evidence—including the CPS... View More

My husband and I want to dissolve our prenuptial agreement, which was signed in March 2009 in Louisiana. We both agree to dissolve it but cannot find the original document, and the attorney who helped us has retired. Both parties are willing to sign a specific document to dissolve the prenup. What... View More

Randy Bryan Ligh
answered on Mar 10, 2025

Short version is that I highly recommend that you hire an attorney to prepare the paperwork to make sure it is done correctly as at some point in time in the future you do not want to have someone go back and say the agreement is void or not enforceable because it was not done correctly. If I... View More

How can I obtain a paternity test when my ex-girlfriend, who is pregnant, refuses to cooperate? I've tried discussing it, but both she and her current boyfriend are combative. There are no court orders in place yet, and I haven't consulted a family law attorney.

Sharita Blacknall Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Mar 10, 2025

In Texas, you can file a Petition to Adjudicate Parentage before the child is born, but the court will not order a paternity test until after birth. Texas law does not allow courts to compel prenatal genetic testing.

Filing the petition early can help establish your legal interest in the... View More

I have 50-50 custody of my son, but the mother is refusing to surrender him despite past threats against the children and CPS involvement. She has not shown up at the designated drop-off location—the sheriff’s department—for two years. I've documented these instances and called the... View More

I am a single mother, and my baby's father, who lives in another state, and I had a verbal agreement for child support payments, but he is no longer fulfilling it. We have never had a formal child support order through the court, but his name is on the birth certificate. What documents do I... View More