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This is a disturbing new twist.  We previously reported how Christian adoption agencies have refused to grant their services to the LGBTQ Community, but in this article, it exposes how a Tennessee adoption agency sued the federal government seeking to discriminate and deny services to a straight Jewish couple. The Jewish couple is now suing the Tennessee Department of Children Services in State Court, arguing that the adoption agency is state sponsored and therefore should not be allowed to discriminate against them based upon their religion. 

I have never understood adoption agencies that would deny a child the opportunity to have a loving family!

Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Bill Browning, lgbtqnation(dot)com
Royalty-free photo courtesy of UnSplash

Concetta Spirio.  A Compassionate Collaborative Divorce Attorney, Mediator & Peacemaker Providing The Highest Level of Legal Representation For Over 34 Years.

#Concetta #ConcettaSpirio #ConcettaLaw #SpirioLaw #Marriage #Divorce #RealEstate #Litigation #Wills #Trusts #Estates #Mediation #CollaborativeDivorce #LongIsland #Suffolk #Nassau #Islip #Sayville #LGBT

This article may be simplistic for attorneys, but for the common person who may not necessarily understand or know how the legal system works, this is a good article that explains, for instance that the Family Court is for family matters and can handle Custody and Visitation and other issues with people who are in a family or primary relationship that may involve children.

However, Family Court has NO jurisdiction to grant a divorce. A divorce can only be granted by a Supreme Court Justice in a Supreme Court Action in the State of New York.

That said, there are also specific grounds for which a divorce can be granted. For a very long time there were only six (6) grounds to obtain a divorce in New York.  If you do not establish one of these grounds you could not get divorced.  Fortunately, New York finally caught up with the times and now includes a ground for any couple where their relationship has “irretrievably broken down” and wishes to obtain a divorce.

This is a great article that explains the different grounds and what is required.

Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Yasmin Young, wyrk(dot)com
Royalty-free photo courtesy of UnSplash

Concetta Spirio.  A Compassionate Collaborative Divorce Attorney, Mediator & Peacemaker Providing The Highest Level of Legal Representation For Over 34 Years.

#Concetta #ConcettaSpirio #ConcettaLaw #SpirioLaw #Marriage #Divorce #RealEstate #Litigation #Wills #Trusts #Estates #Mediation #CollaborativeDivorce #LongIsland #Suffolk #Nassau #Islip #Sayville #LGBT

This article looks at different issues, including the small things in life, that can get under someone’s skin, and how to look past some of those things. One item to consider: spending time apart to give each other space which may actually improve your relationship.

I personally like, “chose happiness over winning”.  Is it more important to be right and cause damage to a relationship, or be able to be magnanimous, apologize or even better, give room for both people to be right.

This principal works well, whether to maintain a good relationship or applied to other conflicts in life.  When a person is in conflict with another party, this principal can help resolution.  You have to ask yourself “Is it more important to be right in a particular situation, or for the overall goal would it be better to move forward with a solution rather than to hang on to who is right?”

This is a good read and some of the items are humorous as well as innovative. 😊

Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Chaunie Brusie, YourTango(dot)com
Royalty-free photo courtesy of UnSplash

Concetta Spirio.  A Compassionate Collaborative Divorce Attorney, Mediator & Peacemaker Providing The Highest Level of Legal Representation For Over 34 Years.

#Concetta #ConcettaSpirio #ConcettaLaw #SpirioLaw #Marriage #Divorce #RealEstate #Litigation #Wills #Trusts #Estates #Mediation #CollaborativeDivorce #LongIsland #Suffolk #Nassau #Islip #Sayville #LGBT

Most people don’t know, but this past January 10^th was “Divorce Day”.  Typically, January sees an increase in divorce because most people decided to wait for the holidays to be over and to start the new year off by moving forward in a different direction.  In 2021, we saw two big celebrity divorces:  Adele, whose comeback album’s major theme was about the dissolution of her marriage, and Kim & Kanye's mega public dissolution of their relationship.

Although divorce is often depicted as something tragic and life altering, and while the pain of the dissolution of a primary relationship is usually evident for most couples, it appears that it's clear that leaving behind a relationship that isn’t good for you can only be a positive thing.  It is a chance for someone to reclaim time and reach better emotional and mental health. 

The landscape of relationships and marriage and divorce has changed.  Studies have shown that the “Millennials” are more cautious and are less likely to get married in the first place compared to other generations.  This article cites a 2018 US Study that suggested 46% of people from 25 to 37 were married, compared to 57% of “Gen X” and 67% of early “Boomers” at that same age.  According to this article, the Millennials have changed attitudes about marriage and divorce.  It is almost as if the younger generation has accepted divorce as a more than possible outcome.  They don’t look at a person who is divorced in such a negative fashion, but rather that they are free of something that wasn’t good for them.  They are also more easily and frequently supportive, offer words of encouragement, and believe that love can be found again.

Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Megan Wallace, Cosmopolitan(dot)com
Royalty-free photo courtesy of UnSplash

Concetta Spirio.  A Compassionate Collaborative Divorce Attorney, Mediator & Peacemaker Providing The Highest Level of Legal Representation For Over 34 Years.

#Concetta #ConcettaSpirio #ConcettaLaw #SpirioLaw #Marriage #Divorce #RealEstate #Litigation #Wills #Trusts #Estates #Mediation #CollaborativeDivorce #LongIsland #Suffolk #Nassau #Islip #Sayville #LGBT

Tomorrow, February 1st, starts the beginning of LGBTQ history month. LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈 is the initialization for Lesbian Gay Bisexual, Transgender and Queer. The month of February provides a time to celebrate and reflect on the accomplishments and history of our community as well as to honor those trailblazers who came before us, and also to look to the future to protect and expand our rights.

Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Molly Swamy, latestly(dot)com
Royalty-free photo courtesy of UnSplash

Concetta Spirio.  A Compassionate Collaborative Divorce Attorney, Mediator & Peacemaker Providing The Highest Level of Legal Representation For Over 34 Years.

#Concetta #ConcettaSpirio #ConcettaLaw #SpirioLaw #Marriage #Divorce #RealEstate #Litigation #Wills #Trusts #Estates #Mediation #CollaborativeDivorce #LongIsland #Suffolk #Nassau #Islip #Sayville #LGBT #LGBTQHistoryMonth

So many times we look at the negative in life and fail to recognize the positive - and praise the positive!  I have always been a person who feels it's important to tell someone when they have done a good job and also take stock of all the good things we should be grateful for.

This article explores the 8 big signs your marriage is NOT in trouble.  What a wonderful thing to look at your relationship and see all the positives of what is working well.  This is not to say that a relationship is not work.  It's important to realize the things that are going well and the things you are doing to keep it working that are important. 

One point that I want to add to this list is that laughter truly is the best medicine for everyone.  So have fun, find joy and laugh!

Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Jeremy Brown, fatherly(dot)com
Royalty-free photo courtesy of UnSplash

Concetta Spirio.  A Compassionate Collaborative Divorce Attorney, Mediator & Peacemaker Providing The Highest Level of Legal Representation For Over 34 Years.

#Concetta #ConcettaSpirio #ConcettaLaw #SpirioLaw #Marriage #Divorce #RealEstate #Litigation #Wills #Trusts #Estates #Mediation #CollaborativeDivorce #LongIsland #Suffolk #Nassau #Islip #Sayville #LGBT

Divorce can be difficult for everyone, but sometimes parents lose sight of how truly difficult it is for children of divorce.  We all say things that we may regret, but it is critical if you are going thorough a divorce to be cautious and intentional with how you speak with your children. 

For parents who don’t mind their words, not only can it come back to haunt them in divorce court, but they can do real harm to their children and the people around them.  Especially when you are angry, frustrated and fed up, it is important to try to take a breath, reflect and think before you speak, and in some instances, truly bite your tongue.  There are certain things you should never say and once said are never truly taken back. 

This article gives some clear examples from a few different experts on things definitely not to say to your children.  Some of these are simple that you might not even think of, like “I’ll be lonely until you get back”.  In that statement you are now burdening your child with your wellbeing and happiness.

This is a good read for all parents, whether or not you are going through a divorce...but especially if you are. 

Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Jeremy Brown, Fatherly & YourTango(dot)com
Royalty-free photo courtesy of UnSplash

Concetta Spirio.  A Compassionate Collaborative Divorce Attorney, Mediator & Peacemaker Providing The Highest Level of Legal Representation For Over 34 Years.

#Concetta #ConcettaSpirio #ConcettaLaw #SpirioLaw #Marriage #Divorce #RealEstate #Litigation #Wills #Trusts #Estates #Mediation #CollaborativeDivorce #LongIsland #Suffolk #Nassau #Islip #Sayville #LGBT

As the Pandemic changed things for married people (spending more time with one another than they previously did working outside the home), likewise, the onset of retirement often creates the same situation.  When couples have had somewhat independent lives through their work life and being away from home, they find that spending 24/7 with one another creates difficulties in a marriage, whether it be retirement or as a result of a pandemic.

This article discusses a recipe for success to keep a marriage healthy after you have retired.  One of the important things cited by this article, is making sure you give each other time and the space to have independent time alone. Another key is to respect one another and openly communicate. 

Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Louisa Rogers, travelawaits(dot)com
Royalty-free photo courtesy of UnSplash

Concetta Spirio.  A Compassionate Collaborative Divorce Attorney, Mediator & Peacemaker Providing The Highest Level of Legal Representation For Over 34 Years.

#Concetta #ConcettaSpirio #ConcettaLaw #SpirioLaw #Marriage #Divorce #RealEstate #Litigation #Wills #Trusts #Estates #Mediation #CollaborativeDivorce #LongIsland #Suffolk #Nassau #Islip #Sayville #LGBT