As you know, we fight for the best interests of our clients and their children, working to create custody arrangements that fit the circumstances of each family situation. While parents sometimes agree to sole or joint custody, they less often agree to split up their children, but a recent celebrity custody battle ended just that way.
Celebrity wedding planner David Tutera and his partner Ryan Jurica were joined in a commitment ceremony in Vermont in 2003, and that state later legalized same-sex marriage in 2009. On January 1st, Mr. Tutera and Mr. Jurica broke up, resulting in the filing of divorce proceedings by both parties in April. If you don’t know about this wedding planner, don’t worry, there is good information here about child custody.
The proceedings were complicated by the long-time desire of the men to have children. Having failed a number of times, the couple was finally blessed with twins – fraternal twins with different fathers. Points of the temporary custody arrangement worked out between the two include – Mr. Tutera parents his biological daughter Cielo in Los Angeles. Mr. Jurica parents his biological son Cedric in Connecticut. Both fathers say they would like their children to know each other as they grow up.
In Utah, courts generally honor custody arrangements worked out between parents. In this unusual case with twins, psychologist and author Nancy Segal notes about the split, “I would also be opposed to separating half siblings, [u]sually, there is regret about all the childhood years spent apart.”
By report of both men, starting a family was intended to help save their relationship. As it turns out, the relationship broke up before the children were born. After the split, Mr. Tutera stated, “there wasn’t time to mourn the loss of a second child.”
When a court believes it is in his or her best interests, your child may be appointed a legal representative. Understanding the different personnel who deal with your child in a legal setting is confusing but critical for you to know.
While family law matters concerning child welfare give rise to appointment of legal representation, these appointments also occur during high conflict divorce matters. For many reasons a judge may appoint personnel to provide the court guidance, or provide your child with the opportunity for a courtroom advocate during legal proceedings.
Possible legal appointments that can be made during a protracted custody battle include an attorney for your child and a guardian ad litem. There are essential differences between the services offered by these personnel, including the following – Guardian ad litem (GAL): Not necessarily a lawyer, a guardian ad litem evaluates current and past custodial history, prepares a report and makes a recommendation to the court as to their thoughts on the best interests of your children. A GAL acts in an advisory role to assist the court in making a ruling on custody.
Attorney for the child: An attorney for your child is an advocate for his or her desires in the custody matter. As the voice of your child in courtroom proceedings, an attorney is not expected to act as a social worker or psychologist, but a firm legal advocate to assert the voice of your child in a contested custodial case.
Child Custody Attorney Free Consultation
When you need legal help with a child custody matter, please call Ascent Law at (801) 676-5506. We will help you.
8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C
West Jordan, Utah
84088 United States
Telephone: (801) 676-5506
Recent Posts
Do You Need to Report Child Abuse?
Personal Representative of the Estate
