Thinking of getting engaged this Valentine’s Day? You are not alone! Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular days to pop the question. Love often makes us see the world through rose-colored glasses with romantic notions and…
As a family law attorney, one of the most common questions I get asked from my friends and family is, “Do you have to have an attorney for a divorce or custody case?” And the answer is: it depends!…
Often the most stressful aspects of divorce for people who have children is custody and visitation. Here are some general principles to keep in mind if you find yourself in this type of situation. New Mexico law presumes…
As a family law attorney, a common question clients ask is, “How will the divorce affect my credit score?” The answer is: it depends. Below I discuss some factors in which divorce may affect your credit score. The Marital Settlement…
On May 7, 2020, the attorneys of PBWS presented an update on Special Needs Planning, with a focus on: The ABLE Act IEPs special education Medicaid/Medicare the SECURE Act family law If you missed the Webinar,…
If you are involved in a custody proceeding in New Mexico, you will most likely hear the terms “legal custody” and “physical custody”. These two terms mean completely different things, are not interchangeable, and are often…
Grandparents who care for their grandchildren on a full-time basis are able to obtain custody of their grandchildren under New Mexico law. The term for this type of custody is Kinship Guardianship and allows for grandparents…
Wesley L. Enns, Associate Attorney at PBWS, recently spoke with KRQE News in Albuquerque regarding tips on co-parenting during the coronavirus pandemic. You can watch the clip below.
Co-parenting with your child’s other parent can be stressful on a good day. Add in a worldwide pandemic, and the concept of co-parenting seems overwhelming and impossible. The most important thing you can do for your child right…
Co-parenting is when two parents, who are not in a relationship, share the parenting duties for their child. Joint legal custody is very common in New Mexico, and this means both parents must communicate and work together to make joint…
Break-ups are hard, even more so if children are involved. Maybe you and your husband or wife of 15 years just separated, or you and your long-term partner just broke up, or you just got out of a volatile relationship.
You were just served divorce papers. You were most likely served with a Summons, Temporary Domestic Order, and the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. First – take a deep breath and try not to panic. The divorce process is stressful,…
The short answer is no, with one exception. Common Law Marriage is defined as a couple living together for a period of time and holding themselves out to friends and family as “being married,” but not having actually obtained a…
Congratulations! Your divorce is final! You have made it through one of the most stressful times of your life. What do you do next? The divorce process lays out how the marital assets are divided and…
You or your spouse may have decided to initiate divorce and now you are getting ready to meet with your divorce attorney. It can be a daunting process and it certainly can…
People often wonder if they have to return the diamond ring if the engagement is called off. The answer in New Mexico, as in most other states, is a resounding “it depends”. However, it is usually a pretty…
This is the third and final installation of the 3-part series: Alternative Dispute Resolution for Seniors and Their Families. Taking into account the previous questions addressed in this series, we will be discussing how to work through disputes with family…
Continuing on in the 3-part series: Alternative Dispute Resolution for Seniors and Their Families, we are building off the first part where we discussed why a family would need to resolve a dispute and the common disputes that arise when…
This is the first part of a 3-part series dealing with common questions when it comes to issues with seniors, their families, and alternative dispute resolutions. This first part we will discuss why a family might need to go down…
The Ugly There are many unflattering descriptions of the divorce process: “Knock down/drag out”, “scorched earth”, fight to the death”, “battle” and so on. Sadly, many divorces live up to these pejorative terms. Former partners fight for months or years.
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