Health Insurance: Divorce Often Ends Coverage for Women

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How Effective Will The Affordable Care Act Be For Women Suffering Health Insurance Loss After Divorce?

health insuranceApproximately 115,000 women lose their private health insurance every year as a result of divorce, according to a recent University of Michigan study. “Given that approximately one million divorces occur each year in the U.S., and that many women get health insurance coverage through their husbands, the impact is quite substantial,” said Bridget Lavelle, a U-M doctoral candidate in public policy and sociology, and lead author of the study which appears in the December issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.

Many women who lost their health insurance coverage remained uninsured for more than two years following their splits, according to the researchers who analyzed data from women between the ages of 26 and 64 from 1996 through 2007.

Lavelle conducted the study, which analyzes nationally representative longitudinal data from 1996 through 2007 on women ages 26-64, with U-M sociologist Pamela Smock. Their research was supported by the U-M National Poverty Canter.

Among the other key findings of the study according to a University of Michigan press release:

  • Each
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Military: What Does “Residency” Really Mean for Those Who Serve?

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Military Members Must Meet The Residency Requirement To File For Divorce In Ohio

militaryThe Ohio Revised Code §3105.03 states that “[t]he plaintiff in actions for divorce and annulment shall have been a resident of the state at least six months immediately before filing the complaint.” That being said, many people are often confused as to what is meant by the term “resident.” When it comes to divorce, Ohio defines being a “resident” as being domiciled in Ohio. For one to be domiciled in a state, the person must have a home in the state, and he must have the intent on making Ohio his permanent home. He must have the intention of living and staying in the state of Ohio. When a person enters the military and is enlisted to service, his domicile remains where it was before his Military service unless he chooses to move to a new domicile where he intends to remain. Therefore, the real focus is a person’s intent to remain in a state.

The court has stated that “Every person must have a domicile somewhere, and that domicile is not lost until … Read More... “Military: What Does “Residency” Really Mean for Those Who Serve?”

International Custody: A Hague Convention Case Dispute

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Supreme Court Renders Decision in International Custody Case, Chafin v. Chafin

international custodyThe international custody case of Chafin v. Chafin was previously discussed in our Ohio Family Law Blog article of October 6, 2012. (“Child Custody Dispute to be Decided By the U.S. Supreme Court”)  The Father in this case is a citizen of the United States and an active duty member of the United States Army.  The Mother is a citizen of Scotland and she presently has custody of the parties’ minor daughter, Eris Chafin.  Mother and Daughter have been living in Scotland since October 2011.

The procedural/factual history of this international custody case is as follows:

  • The parties married in March 2006 while Sgt. Chafin was stationed in Germany.  Eris Chafin was born the following year in 2007.  While Sgt. Chafin was deployed to Afghanistan for 15 months in 2007-2008, Mother moved with the minor child to her native Scotland.
  • Father was subsequently reassigned to an Army base in Alabama in early 2009.  Later that same year, the parties decided to reconcile and Mother and Eris moved to Alabama to live with Father.
  • In
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Privacy: Should I Blog About My Child’s Life On The Internet?

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Consider Kids’ Privacy Before Posting Online

privacyThe genesis of the article evolved out of conflict I have seen over the past several years with divorced parents arguing about the scope of their child’s internet presence.  Typically, this comes up when one parent is freely posting pictures of their child all over the internet or blogging about their child’s personal foibles, which before the explosion of social media would have likely been kept quiet inside the family.  I decided to reach out to several psychologists to get their perspective on this controversial subject. I also sought their critique on the language I had drafted to include in Shared Parenting Plans  of divorcing parents designed to protect their child’s online privacy rights.

Dayton child psychologist Dr. Gregory Ramey, who has been a guest contributor to the Ohio Family Law Blog since 2007, was very enthusiastic about the topic.  Below is his article from the February 3, 2013, edition of the Dayton Daily News.

Do Mommy Bloggers Post Too Much?

Regular readers of this column know that I rarely relate incidents about my own three children. The reason is simple. … Read More... “Privacy: Should I Blog About My Child’s Life On The Internet?”

Guardian Ad Litem: The Difference Between Winning And Losing

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What To Do When The Guardian Ad Litem Is Not Doing A Thorough Job

Guardian ad LitemThose that have been involved in custody litigation are probably aware of the important role that a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) can play in the outcome.  In fact, when both parties otherwise appear suitable, the GAL’s report can sometimes be the tie-breaker for the Judge or Magistrate hearing the case.  The input from the Guardian ad Litem is usually taken very seriously by the Court due to the fact it is thought to come from someone that is in a neutral position, has only the best interests of the children in mind, and has almost unfettered access to relevant information, such as the home life of both parents, the children’s school teachers and counselors as well as other important persons.  In short, having a favorable Guardian ad Litem report can be the difference between winning and losing.

But, what is a party supposed to do when they do not feel the Guardian ad Litem put forth sufficient time and effort to make an informed recommendation to the Court?  Like every other profession, there … Read More... “Guardian Ad Litem: The Difference Between Winning And Losing”

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatments Effective?

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A New Study Suggests that Psychological Therapies Improve Life for Children with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

post-traumatic stress disorderPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highly prevalent in children and adolescents who have experienced traumatic events such as child abuse, violence, road accidents or natural disasters. In children, post-traumatic stress disorder can lead to delayed development and behavioral problems. More generally, it is associated with anxiety, depression and suicidal tendencies. The aim of this review was to examine the effectiveness of all psychological therapies for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents.

In this first systematic review of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in young people age three to eighteen, researchers found that children diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder showed signs of improvement up to three months following treatment.  The psychological therapies used in the review were cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure-based, psychodynamic, narrative, supportive counseling, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).

However, no systematic review analyzing the potential benefits of these therapies has been undertaken until now. This review published in The Cochrane Library focused on 14 studies that together involved 758 children aged 3-18 suffering from post-traumatic Read More... “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatments Effective?”

Tax: Effects of the “Fiscal Cliff” Legislation

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Compromise Reached, But How Does It Effect Tax Planning For 2013?

tax

In December, 2012, we addressed the looming “fiscal cliff” tax ramifications and potential last-minute tax planning.  With legislation finally passed in late December, in order to prevent widespread tax increases and steep spending cuts, it is a good time to look at the highlights of the legislation and how it affects taxpayers.

  1. Income tax rates.  A compromise was reached on income tax rates.  Although neither side attained its goals, tax cuts were extended on incomes up to $400,000 for individuals and $450,000 for couples.  Earnings above that are taxed at 39.6%, up from 35%.  Many liberals and conservatives were unhappy with this compromise that extends the tax cuts for most taxpayers.  Unless new legislation is passed, this extension is permanent.
  2. Estate taxes.  The federal estate tax exemption remains at $5 million (adjusted for inflation) and up to $10 million for family estates.  Without legislation, the exemption was set to return to $1 million for 2013.  The top estate tax rate is set at 40%, up from 35%.  This change is permanent.
  3. Capital gains and dividends.  Capital
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