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In Episode 22 of the Family Matters podcast, Kate Reese said, "Even though I work for the parents, I am always mindful of the children in my case: how old are they, what do they need, how are things going at home for them." Throughout this informative and insightful episode, Kate and her guest, mental health counselor, Phyllis Palombi, shared their professional experience and insights into the parties least likely to be represented in a divorce - the children. And yet, these are the ones most likely to suffer repeated traumas, long-term because of the divorce. Together, Kate and Phyllis offered some important considerations for divorced parents.

When school lets out, the regular schedule for the kids goes out the window, and managing their summer schedule presents a co-parenting challenge. Camps, playdates, vacations, and even day-to-day childcare all require planning and often have an associated expense. While some custodial arrangements will go into detail about how to handle the basics of summer break, it is unlikely that every eventuality will be covered. Here are some tips for avoiding conflict in the dog days of summer.

High school graduation is a significant rite of passage for young people, but it also signals a transition for parents, especially when they are not together. As the graduate prepares to enter the next phase of their life, parents should be aware of the many ways that adulthood can impact their rights and obligations concerning their children

Children can bring out the best and worst in parents, and when that child has special needs, it can be a struggle to address those needs unless the parents are aligned. A change in the family system should not interfere with the care of a child, but in the real world, this can be a challenge that many families face,

A prenuptial agreement or "prenup" is a written agreement between two people who are contemplating marriage. If done properly, it is a valid, enforceable alternative to the provisions thatf family law makes for married and divorcing couples. While the scope of a prenup can be as narrow or broad as a couple chooses, the conversations around the agreement bring up fundamental issues about marriage and relationships that all couples should be having before they get married. Even if a couple chooses to forgo a prenup, having the discussions can be a loving, healthy way to enter into marriage with clarity and joint purpose. 

At Reese Law, we work closely with families in transition. In past posts, we have talked about helping children adapt to a new normal by keeping some traditions and starting new ones. We know every family is different, so there are many ways to go about establishing a new tradition. We thought it would be worth sharing some of the range of activities our team finds fulfilling and fun for their holidays. We asked the team, and here are some great ideas to add to the mix of possibilities for your holidays.

When a family dynamic is heading for a change, communicating about what is happening can be difficult and stressful for all involved. In the latest episode of the podcast Family Matters With Reese Law, Kate had an enlightening conversation with Jennifer Dalton, the founder, and CEO of BrandMirror, and author of the book Listen: How to Embrace the Difficult Conversations Life Throws at You. They talked about the important findings in the book and some of Kate's insights from 25 years as a Family Law attorney, and they shared best practices for planning, holding, and surviving the most challenging conversations.

It's natural for adolescent development and parent-child conflict to go hand in hand. Le-Ann Solmonson, a licensed professional counselor (LPC) who owns a private practice in Nacogdoches, Texas, has worked with children and adolescents in school and clinical settings throughout her career. Time and time again, she's seen families fall into a pattern as children reach adolescence: The youth wants more autonomy - a normal aspect of adolescent development - and begins to push against their parent's rules and boundaries. In response, the parents tighten their control or inflict punishment, only to have the adolescent push back harder, break more rules and chafe against their parents' preferences. Thus begins a repeating spiral of friction, frustration and misunderstanding - on the part of both the teenager and the parents.

As Family Law practitioners, we see people at an incredibly emotional and transitional time. We need to understand what is going on with our clients, offer appropriate support, and be able to take care of ourselves as well. In the latest episode of Family Law Matters, Kate Reese and Christal Benton, both attorneys with the firm who happen to have Master's degrees in the counseling field, engaged in a lively exchange about emotional intelligence that covered some important aspects of this important skill to develop for ourselves and in relation to others.

The "sandwich generation" refers to adults who are caring for aging parents and minor children at the same time. According to the Pew Research Center, as of 2022, 23% of separated or divorced spouses are part of the sandwich generation. For them, planning and celebrating holidays can have an extra layer of challenge, particularly for people who share custody of their children. Fostering togetherness and honoring the traditions associated with the holidays can feel overwhelming, with two generations of family needing support and attention. Here are some tips for navigating the complex family dynamics and demands while still celebrating the holidays.