If ever there were a Christmas to dwell upon Dickens’ timeless offering to tradition, this is it. This is it for a host of reasons, “Are there no workhouses?” is one. But another is the three Ghosts, creating chapters of Scrooge’s life for him to analyze where he has...
Michael Manely
Clandestine
"All is fair in love and war." In divorce, both apply. Most of the time, clandestine actions aren't required, aren't even contemplated in divorce. They just don't apply. Most of the time, the soon-to-be exes are sufficiently straightforward with each other that...
Five details to consider before adopting a stepchild
Most stepparents have a unique role in the family unit because they must take on parental responsibilities while balancing the pre-existing relationships of their partner and their partner's children. Each stepparent offers their personal approach to parenting, but...
“What is wrong with you?!”
"I thought we were on the same page. I thought we were working for the same things. But you just keep trying to gaslight me. You require me to follow rules though you are making them up as you go, but then you say those rules don't apply to you. How does that work?...
A House Divided Against Itself…
They hadn't gotten along in a long while. He was quick at name calling, disparaging everything she tried to do. They were both supposed to be in charge of the family finances but it didn't work that way. If he wanted something, he just went out and bought it. If she...
Your Day in Court?
Suppose you could accomplish your objectives without having to have a hearing, without having to go to Court to get it resolved. Wouldn't you want to do that?Most people feel that way. Most people don't want the stress, the cost and the uncertainty of putting on the...
Mental Health and Family Law I
At some point, everyone in a relationship thinks their significant other is somewhat crazy. But what if they really are?I know that crazy is a loaded term and highly disfavored. But if you are in the middle of your significant other's breakdown, "crazy" is the most...
The World Turned Upside Down, Part II
"You can't wait until ... this thing blows over because that might not happen for quite some time." (The World Turned Upside Down, Part I)Suppose you are not in a physically abusive relationship. Suppose that you aren't succumbing to an addiction. The duration of the...
The World Turned Upside Down
Six months. We've lived in this alternate universe now for six months. And what's more, there is no end in sight. Some big companies are telling their employees to plan to work remotely through the summer of 2021. Of course, that's still a whole year away.As some...
Conducting the People’s Legal Business During Covid-19 and Beyond
There is no dispute that Covid-19 has affected everything. Conducting the people's legal business is no exception.Court houses shut down hard in March. No hearings. No trials. No status conferences. In April, a few court houses and a few court rooms started to try to...