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Grex Consumer Item 87: Child-custody type lawyers
Entered by valerie on Sun Sep 7 01:49:14 UTC 1997:

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9 responses total.

#1 of 9 by omni on Sun Sep 7 02:45:37 1997:

 Try Shirley Burgoyne on Miller. 

  I don't have her phone number but I am sure it's in the book.

#2 of 9 by valerie on Sun Sep 7 11:36:27 1997:

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#3 of 9 by mary on Sun Sep 7 12:34:26 1997:

I'd recommend Peter Darrow.  He is not a hand-holding type of
attorney but he is very good at cutting through the emotional
baggage and addressing the issues.

#4 of 9 by omni on Sun Sep 7 14:38:13 1997:

  evil1 used her for a divorce, which was settled quickly and decently.
even though I was only an observer, I felt that she did a good job for what
she charged Marlene.

#5 of 9 by e4808mc on Sun Sep 7 23:58:19 1997:

When I was a legal secretary for a local lawyer I saw Burgoyne really mess
up several cases.  However if the couple involved has a good lawyer working
for one o f the members, Burgoyne could serve as the "pro forma" lawyer for
the other member.  The Mediation Center could help the couple draw up the
custody agreement, but each parent *must* have a competent lawyer explain the
short and long term consequences of the document before they sign it.  

Dont forget that future children and spouses of each of the parents may not
have as cooperative an attitude about these children as these parents do. 
Agreements need to cover what happens if people disagree, even more than if
they do agree.

#6 of 9 by mta on Tue Sep 9 00:31:54 1997:

Wendy Woodworth handled my divorce and custody arrangements.  She'll 
encourage you if you want to go for the throat, but she won't push too 
hard.

I thought she did a good job.

#7 of 9 by valerie on Tue Sep 9 16:47:35 1997:

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#8 of 9 by e4808mc on Wed Sep 10 23:14:53 1997:

Tom Darton is top-notch in terms of family law.  He is a mediator as well,
and is always willing to try to resolve things by agreement rather than by
going to court.  But he is also a very experienced trial lawyer and can handle
your interests well if it comes to that.

However: I have talked to Tom about this issue and he had a couple things that
are different from what I posted above.
1) While it would be useful to have an attorney look over an agreement to see
that it clearly stated the parties intentions, it is not necessary for each
side to be represented.
His point was that no one can make a private agreement that binds the courts.
Thus, if things got so nasty that the parties were in court, the agreement
would be documentation that the judge would consider, but it would not be the
only thing.  At that point each side would have an attorney, and the case or
settlement agreement would have to be agreed to by the judge, with the
attorneys and their clients having input.  So for now, clearly stating your
intent and your processes would be sufficient.  

2) This being Ann Arbor in 1990s (grin) he had two other questions for me:
   a) are the parties the same sex or opposite sex
   b) are the parties both interested in parenting the child or is one merely
      biological donor?
Apparently my answer only applies to issues for parents of opposite sexes who
both want to be involved with raising the child.  Whole different set of
issues if it is same sex parents, and/or only one parent wants to raise the
child.

#9 of 9 by valerie on Fri Sep 12 21:02:42 1997:

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