Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Court Records Shed Light on Holzer Murders: Nicolas and Ex-Wife Juana Exchanged Accusations of Sexual Abuse Against Sons

Goleta, California: "Nicolas Holzer, accused of killing his mother and father and two sons last week, made his first court appearance less than 48 hours after police responded to the bloody scene. The 45-year-old man, who allegedly fatally stabbed his family and their dog using two kitchen knives, was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of animal cruelty."

"The incident raises questions of how a man who apparently stabbed his parents and two young sons was able to gain full custody of his children from ex-wife Juana Holzer seven years earlier. “It was a case of money and power that took the kids away from Juana,” said Juana’s current boyfriend, Charles Sirois, in an email."

What is really shocking is that a therapist was assigned to work with both children and made reports to Child Welfare Services.   Sadly, no one involved in the custody battle, not the courts, not the therapist and not social services, picked up on the danger to the children.

These parties were making allegations of domestic violence of abuse against each other, all too easy to do, and no one was able to sort out who was telling the truth until it was too late.

Holzer case demonstrates holes in the child custody process


By: Robert R. Beauchamp
Law Office of Robert R Beauchamp
bob@ocdlaw.com
23120 Alicia Pkwy
Second Floor
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Tel:  949-370-8000
Fax: 855-370-8100
orangecountydivorceattorney.lawyer


Tuesday, August 26, 2014

** Neil Young files for divorce from his wife Pegi Young after more than 36 years of marriage




According to the website Eonline this afternoon, Neil Young filed for divorce from his wife Pegi Young after more than 36 years of marriage.

According to Eonline, “the Canadian-born "Harvest" singer has filed for divorce from wife and Bridge School founder Pegi Young after more than 36 years of marriage, according to public records. His petition for dissolution of marriage not involving a minor child was entered July 29 in Superior Court of San Mateo County.

The duo have maintained a home in La Honda, in northern California, for years.

A hearing is scheduled for Dec. 12. A rep for Young hasn't yet returned a request for comment.”


By: Robert R. Beauchamp www.ocdlaw.com
Law Office of Robert R Beauchamp
bob@ocdlaw.com
23120 Alicia Pkwy
Second Floor
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Tel:  949-370-8000
Fax: 855-370-8100
www.ocdlaw.com
www.southorangecountydivorcelawyers.com

Divorces rise as economy recovers, study finds

The Los Angeles Times has reported that studies are showing that as the economy has started to recover, the number of divorces has risen.  Divorces Rise as Economy Improves

"Divorces plunged when the recession struck and slowly started to rise as the recovery began, according to a study to be published in Population Research and Policy Review."

This isn't a surprise to Orange County divorce attorneys.  Sadly, business is picking up.

By: Robert R. Beauchamp
Robert Beauchamp
Law Office of Robert R Beauchamp
bob@ocdlaw.com
23120 Alicia Pkwy
Second Floor
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Tel:  949-370-8000
Fax: 855-370-8100
orangecountydivorceattorney.lawyer

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon Split: Custody Battle Over the Twins?


It doesn't matter how rich you are, how famous you are or who you are.  Divorce happens and child custody litigation can be tough on your kids and on you.  You need the right divorce attorney with experience in child custody litigation.

By: Robert R. Beauchamp
Robert Beauchamp
Law Office of Robert R Beauchamp
bob@ocdlaw.com
23120 Alicia Pkwy
Second Floor
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Tel:  949-370-8000
Fax: 855-370-8100
orangecountydivorceattorney.lawyer

Friday, August 22, 2014

Making Joint Custody Work In Real Life

As a divorce and child custody attorney in Orange County, I have two types of cases: Those in which the parents divorce amicably and focus primarily on how they can work together for the best interests of the children and those in which the parties can’t stand each other and, consciously or unconsciously, interact with the children in a way that undermines the other parent.  Unfortunately, the latter outnumber the former 100 to 1.  

Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be posting some thoughts on ways in which two parents can become parents who can overcome their own differences in order to minimize the impact of divorce on the children and, hopefully, find a way to at least learn to get along well enough to mutually enjoy their children’s activities and life events (birthdays, graduations, weddings and the like).

Sharing child custody is rarely easy, in large part because you're trying to coordinate with someone you couldn't stand being married to.  Nevertheless, studies show that shared-custody works best when both parents are cooperative, respectful, agree on shared custody, and manage their emotions.

Believe me, I know what you are going through, because I have been there myself.  Some might say that sharing my personal experiences violates some boundary or other, but as a child custody and divorce attorney, I will do all that I can to help others see that a peaceful arrangement can be reached. 

When there are problems in co-parenting, in my experience at least, the problem almost always results from one or both parents attempting to exert control over the other parent through the children.  Both in my practice and in my own divorce, I have seen this repeatedly.  

Extracurricular Activities:

Extracurricular Activities are a fertile source of conflict, particularly in the early stages of co-parenting during and after divorce.  For example, one parent schedules activities that conflict with the custody time of the other parent OR the custody order says that both parents must agree on any extra-curricular activities and one parent always, or almost always, refuses to consent to, or participate in, such activities.

Both as a parent sharing custody and as an Orange County divorce and child custody attorney, I ask myself, and my clients this question: “is this an activity in which the child participated, or in which the child would have participated, if you and your ex were still married?”  To me, the answer to that question is the deciding factor.  

If, being as objective as possible, you conclude that this is an activity in which you would have allowed, or encouraged, your child to participate during your marriage, you need to set aside whatever reluctance you have and agree to, and participate in, the activity.  The goal here is to minimize the impact of your divorce on the children.  You can despise your ex as much as you want, though you’ll later see that there is a better way.  Still, however much you hate your ex, if you love your children, you’ll set aside your own issues and those of your ex for the benefit of your children.

Another issue that can be tough is attending the children’s activities that occur during the other parent’s custody time.  If, for example, your child is in little league, attend all the games and practices that you would have attended if you were still married to your ex - err even on the side of attending more.  And, don’t be offended or resistant if your ex attends activities during your custody time.  The goal is happy children, not happy parents, although the latter is more likely if you follow these principles.  

Neither my ex nor I would deny that there was a time during which we could not stand the site of each other.  Even a brief perusal of our respective declarations in support of this or that OSC or Request for Order would show that, even as attorneys, we were people first and lawyers second.  We had, and have, every one of the same feelings and emotions as any other couple going through a divorce and custody battle.  We both made mistakes arising out of our own unhealthy emotions at the expense of our children.  With time, however, following the principles in this post, we have reached the point at which we actually like each other again.  Though I have remarried, my ex and I now have a relationship that is akin to adult siblings.  We have re-discovered the things we liked about each other and have gotten beyond the things we couldn’t stand about each other.

And, we didn’t get there because we worked on our relationship as ex’s, but because each of us independently awoke to the fact that we only had one thing worthy of leaving behind when we are dead and gone, and that one thing our children, damaged as little as possible by our conflicts and divorce and as emotionally healthy as possible despite our divorce.  


As a result, my new wife and I often meet my ex and the kids, regardless of who’s custody time it is, to attend the kid’s activities, to have dinner together, either at a restaurant or at one of our homes.  We allow our dog, whom I got after the divorce, to spend time with my ex while she had the children - not always, but whenever the kids ask.

Many of you are reading this now, saying to yourselves: "This would never work with my ex!"  I know that because I was one of you.  You may be right at any given moment in time.  But, your children will suffer more than necessary if you and your ex cannot put the children ahead of your own conflicts.  Keep an open mind and watch for any sign that your ex would be receptive to an opening to discuss cooperation.  Sometimes that receptivity arises when one parent begins to lose control of the behavior of one or more of the children as they get older, more advanced in their own preferences, etc.  In almost all cases, this will eventually occur.


By: Robert R. Beauchamp
Law Office of Robert R Beauchamp
bob@ocdlaw.com
23120 Alicia Pkwy
Second Floor
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Tel:  949-370-8000
Fax: 855-370-8100
orangecountydivorceattorney.lawyer