Connecticut Family Law Blog

There are a million things to remember, figure out and deal with when going through a divorce. One of the things that should be on that list is to take precautions when it comes to technology. Technological advances have improved human lives significantly in Connecticut and across the globe, but technology can also lead to trouble, especially for someone going through a divorce. Here are a few steps to take to keep technology as an asset instead of a liability during divorce.

The most obvious and crucially important first step is to change all passwords. Couples that have been married and know even the most obscure facts about each other's lives may know what each other's go-to passwords are. This bit of information can be highly detrimental in the long run. With that information a former spouse may have access to banking information, shopping accounts, social media and even online dating sites. To avoid the mountainous list of ways a vengeful ex can use this information, change all passwords -- even for sites that weren't shared -- to unique passwords that don't involve family member names, pet names or other subjects easy for a former spouse to guess.

When considering a child custody arrangement, Connecticut family courts always try to determine what is in the child's best interest. What really does "in the child's best interest" mean? There are several factors that are considered when determining the best child custody arrangement for a child.

The first consideration is whether a parent has the ability to raise a child. This includes providing both physical and emotional needs. In addition to being able to provide basic human needs such as food and clothing, a judge is more likely to approve the custody by a parent who has been an uninterrupted active participant in the child's life and has shown an interest in the child's activities and development. The parent's physical and mental abilities will also be considered.

The common practice in Connecticut family courts these days is to work toward joint physical custody when parents are divorcing. That doesn't mean, however, that joint custody is what is always wanted by the parents or what is best for the children. Sole physical child custody is highly sought-after and frequently requested by parents. With any custody arrangements, including sole physical custody, there are pros and cons. Parents should consider all the consequences of the arrangement when they are determining what is best for their family.

Sole physical custody refers to an arrangement in which the children live with one parent all of the time or at least more than with the other parent. The children still usually have a considerable amount of visitation time with the noncustodial parent. In the United States one quarter of children are in a sole custody situation.

When the time to determine child custody arises, there are two aspects that must be agreed upon: physical and legal custody. Physical custody deals with whose home the children live in. Legal custody, however, deals with which parent has the legal right to make major decisions about the child. Some divorcing parents in Connecticut automatically assume they want to have sole legal custody of their children, but there are pros and cons to this type of child custody arrangement to consider.

When a parent wants sole legal custody, he or she is assuming the complete responsibility of making major decisions for the child. This may include subjects such as health care, religion and education. There are times this ability would be beneficial, especially if the second parent lives some distance away.