As some of our Oklahoma readers may be familiar with, paternity testing can be a tough situation to deal with once a baby is born. To avoid such a heavy situation once a child is born, mothers can opt to have a prenatal paternity test taken. In the past, this procedure is one that is seen as extremely invasive and carries the risk of miscarriage.
Recently, a new, noninvasive type of prenatal paternity test has been introduced. The old form of testing use to involved inserting a needle into the amniotic sac and was mostly only used for testing for chromosomal abnormalities. This new procedure requires only a blood draw from the mother and a cheek swab from the (potential) father.
This procedure may costs as much as three times more than the other method, the results can arrive in as little as one week. In a study done regarding this particular test’s accuracy, out of 30 cases, the test correctly identified the father 100 percent of the time.
This new type of testing is especially interesting in that if it gains legal credibility, the possibilities of child support before birth could be something courts look into. Establishing the child’s father early on could help him and his family to support the mother emotionally as well, which could possibly lead to healthier babies.
This new technology is something prosecutors may be able to use in rape cases as well. Women who have become pregnant as a result of rape will now be able to know before the child is born if the father of the fetus is or is not her attacker.
While most of these tests are processed outside of your local lab, it is becoming a test more and more doctors are performing.
Parents who come to the decision to go their separate ways have the unenviable task of telling their children about the divorce. This isn’t an easy conversation for any family, but particularly when children may be too young to grasp why divorce happens and what it means for them.
Recently some famous early childhood experts have decided to tackle the subject. The producers of “Sesame Street” plan have developed a video that addresses divorce in a way they hope young children will be able to understand. The 13-minute segment features Muppet character Abby Cadabby talking about her parents’ divorce by holding up pictures of their separate homes. By explaining that sometimes Abby lives with her mom and other times with her dad, the people at Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the show, hope to make it easier for parents to approach the subject themselves.
On TV, divorces typically end in dramatic courtroom battles. In real life, most divorces are resolved out of court, through agreed settlements.
The reasons for doing this are simple: Divorces settled in negotiations almost always take less time, cost less money, and result in less emotional strain on both parties than divorces that are contested in court.
Without a judge calling the shots, parties retain control of their destinies and can decide what is best for them. This often results in greater long-term satisfaction for both parties than that yielded by the results of a trial.
Settlements When Possible, Litigation When Necessary | Collaborative Law Attorneys
Sometimes divorcing spouses prefer a settlement, but are unable to agree on important issues concerning division of assets, child custody and visitation schedules, alimony, and other issues.
This is where a mediation or collaborative process facilitated by Attorneys can be of great benefit. From our offices in Owasso and Tulsa, Oklahoma, we help divorcing spouses throughout the Tulsa metro to resolve difficult issues through alternative dispute resolution instead of divorce trials.
Our attorneys are trained in mediation and collaborative law techniques. They are also seasoned family law lawyers with many years of experience in litigation, negotiation, and working in the family court system. We are qualified to mediate family law disputes in Oklahoma, and we have helped many clients to save money, time and heartache by reaching mutually satisfying settlements.
How Do Mediation And Collaborative Law Work?
Mediation is different from traditional negotiations in that an impartial third party oversees the discussions. This third party, known as a mediator, has been specially trained to help opposing parties find common ground. Mediations usually end with the mediator making recommendations that can form the basis for a settlement.
By contrast, collaborative law involves attorneys for each spouse working together to negotiate a settlement instead of opposing each other as adversaries, as would happen in a normal divorce lawsuit.
Our attorneys can use either method – independently or in concert with your spouse’s attorney – to seek a divorce settlement that serves your needs and those of your children.
