Novi Family Law Blog

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The often quoted statistics would suggest this month is devoted, primarily if not entirely, to drawing attention to violence against women: According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in every four women will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime; 85% of reported domestic violence entails a woman as the victim; and, every year, at least 1.3 million women are assaulted by their significant other. Certainly, this violence, or any for that matter, against women is unacceptable.

Settling into the school routine is tough enough. When you are a newly separated family, settling in can be - and usually is - even tougher. You have new homes, new bus routes, new morning and bedtime routines - we could go on and on. This, on top of new teachers, new classmates and new school parents to deal with, many of them judgey.

Jack Smith's ex-wife sent him a ranting letter every month -- asking why their house had not sold -- and every month sealed the letter with the same address label, one of those free labels that come in droves with holiday themes and "Mr. and Mrs." so-and-so -- Joselyn Smith. It was annoying enough that she sent the letter. He wanted to keep the house, but the judge ordered them sell it and split the profits or debt. It was an extra kick that she still used her married name on those address labels. They had been divorced and trying to sell their home for a year, and she clung to that last name as if out of spite. She used it on her driver's license, her stationery, her e-mail signature, her credit cards, her online profile, everywhere. And she was not what you would call a wholesome ex-wife -- she had a reputation for fighting, for gossiping, for spending, for partying. But Jack could not force her to change her name.