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This recent decision is very scary and demonstrates one of the reasons I advise clients, notwithstanding, that they may both be on the birth certificate; a second parent adoption is really necessary to protect your rights to the child and your child’s rights to you in any State in the Union.  This poor woman had her rights to her child and even her name on the birth certificate stripped simply because that is what the Judge thought should be done, and rationalized it by stating there was “no proof of a second parent adoption”.

This decision is horrific for the mother who has lost all rights to her child! 

It also sets an extremely bad precedent for the LGBTQ community and same sex married parents who still technically lack the same rights guaranteed to heterosexual married couples.

Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Sara Luterman, Kate Sosin, 19thnews(dot)org
Royalty-free photo courtesy of UnSplash

Concetta Spirio.  A Compassionate Collaborative Divorce Attorney, Mediator & Peacemaker Providing The Highest Level of Legal Representation For Over 35 Years.

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

Wow, I can hardly believe it has been 35 years since I was admitted to the Bar to practice law! 😊 I can still remember appearing in the prestigious Second Department Court House to take my oath, seems like yesterday. 

Looking back it has been an amazing 35 years.  Yes, there have been difficult times and difficult cases, but what I remember most are those amazing cases where I was able to help a client through a difficult time or achieve what I thought was an impossible result.  The most rewarding feeling is knowing that I have been able to make an impact in my clients’ lives and sometimes in the lives of their families.

Concetta Spirio.  A Compassionate Collaborative Divorce Attorney, Mediator & Peacemaker Providing The Highest Level of Legal Representation For Over 35 Years.

#Concetta #ConcettaSpirio #ConcettaLaw #SpirioLaw #Marriage #Divorce #RealEstate #Litigation #Wills #Trusts #Estates #Mediation #CollaborativeDivorce #LongIsland #Suffolk #Nassau #Islip #Sayville #LGBT #35thAnniversary

Most people know that keeping a relationship healthy and alive is truly hard work.  But if you're not happy in that relationship and not sure whether it is time to let go, here are some telltale signs that demonstrate that the relationship is probably not healthy and it may be time to move on.  This shows at least seven factors you should look at. 

Do you truly want the same things in a relationship?  Every couple will disagree about things, but the difference is if your life goals are different, then that may be unsurmountable.  For instance, if one of you wants children and the other one absolutely hates the idea.  This could be a deal breaker.  Further, you should never go into this situation thinking you are going to change the other person’s mind.  That is a recipe for disaster. 

You are the one who is constantly trying to make your partner happy and they don’t reciprocate.  If you are the one doing the heavy lifting in a relationship, maybe you should ask the question why or have a real heart to heart discussion to see whether this is someone who has gotten lazy or complacent or there truly isn’t a desire to keep this relationship going. 

The rest of this article demonstrates several other items you should look out for.  If you feel that you are in this place or that you are not sure, maybe it's time to have a discussion with a family specialist or a therapist to see whether this is where you should be. 

The family specialists that are part of the collaborative process are amazing individuals.  They can truly help people work through conflict and identify problems and help them to seek resolution to continue their relationship or an amicable dissolution if necessary. 

If you or someone you know is going through a difficult time or a conflict within their primary relationship, please feel free to contact my offices to learn about the collaborative process and our team of professionals who are here to help you. 

Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Beth El Fattal, 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 35 Years.

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

Not getting divorced under the belief that parents should stay together for the sake of their children has been challenged by many.  The idea of a child living in a war torn home can have its own effects, regardless of a couple’s desire to stay together for their benefit.  This article highlights one mother who found divorce and shared custody to be an absolute salvation, not only for herself but actually extremely beneficial for her children.  Having two separate homes and two separate parents being responsible for their children can relieve the totality of the burden of one parent being 100% responsible for their children all the time. 

Working out positive results such as those mentioned requires cooperative parties/parents. 

If you are facing a divorce, the Collaborative Divorce process often helps couples navigate through the toxic parts of the dissolution and provides support and tools to move forward in a more positive way for themselves and for their co-parenting. 

Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Stephanie Portell, 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

The University paid a professor it disciplined for failing to use proper pronouns for a transgender youth student $400,000. Although the university did not change its position regarding the professor's violation of their code of treatment of students, they felt it was in their best interest to make this economic decision for the University and settle the case.

The university stated:  Since the lawsuit was filed, the school said, “it became clear that the case was being used to advance divisive social and political agendas at a cost to the university and its students.” 

“That cost is better spent on fulfilling Shawnee State’s mission of service to our students, families and community.”

Hopefully this is not a trend to use economics to sort the rights of the LGBTQI community.

Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Amir Vera, Jenn Selva and Claudia Dominguez, CNN
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

Many people don’t realize that in the Orthodox Jewish religion, although a person can obtain a divorce from the Civil Court system, unless they are granted a “Get” from their husband, they cannot get divorced in their religion.  This means that their religious community can ostracize them.  In fact, Jewish women whose husbands refuse to divorce them are known as “Agunot” meaning “chained”, because they are still tied to their estranged husband and unable to remarry under Jewish law.  For these men who choose not to grant a Jewish divorce to their ex-wives, they are asserting a type of control over their life that is equivalent to domestic violence. 

The United Kingdom recently expanded their domestic abuse legislation to make withholding a “Get” a potential crime. 

In this article, Orthodox activists are pushing New York State to adopt a broader domestic violence legislation. 

It's time that all woman are “unchained”.

Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Jacob Henry, Forward(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 is a lovely article about how an evening out can change your life.  It's romantic and “mushy”😊.  It’s so nice to see when something good comes from a chance meeting, especially when neither party was “looking for a relationship”.  It romantically ties in with Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s. What began a whirlwind weekend continued as a long distance relationship that became a committed relationship living together in San Francisco.  The couple married in 2004 in Canada when it was legal and have been together for 25 years. 

Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Francesca Street, cnn(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