New Hampshire Family Law Blog : New Hampshire Divorce Lawyer & Attorney : Crusco Law Firm : Family Law, Custody, Child Support : Manchester, New Hampshire, Massachusetts

There is a lot of talk about the H1N1 flu and the vaccines, and rightly so. 46 states are reporting widespread flu activity, and some New Hampshire schools are reporting absence rates of up to 30% . New Hampshire has activated the 2-1-1 state info line to answer questions about the flu and the vaccine. New Hampshire’s Department of Health and Human Services has also published a FAQ about the seasonal flu and H1N1 flu.

Many parents have concerns about the H1N1 vaccine and its safety and efficacy. If you and your co-parent have joint decision making responsibilities, this is an issue that you need to discuss together. Joint decision-making responsibility is defined as equal participation in the major decisions of the children’s life regarding health, safety and welfare, including but not limited to matters pertaining to medical and psychological care, discipline, education, daycare and extracurricular activities.

Whether to vaccinate your children is a major decision, and therefore should be agreed upon by both parents. Speak together with your pediatrician, and consider his or her opinion about the matter. Listen to what your co-parent has to say, and talk over the pros and cons of vaccinating your children. Make every attempt to come to a decision together, taking into account the best interests of your children.

In the meantime while either discussing the issue with your co-parent or waiting for the vaccine to become available, take the everyday steps recommended by doctors and health care officials to keep your child flu-free:

 

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds (long enough to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice) especially after coughing or sneezing. Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself.

 

• Cough and sneeze into a sleeve or tissue. (If a tissue is used, throw the tissue away immediately). Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself.

 

• Stay at least six feet away from people who are sick.

 

• Stay home from school if sick, and stay away from sick people until they are better.

 

• Keep surfaces like bedside tables, bathroom surfaces, kitchen counters and toys for children clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.

 

Sources:

·         While state awaits more vaccine, 2-1-1 answers H1N1 questions, The Union Leader

·         Frequently asked questions from parents about seasonal flu and H1N1 influenza, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

·         School reports more than 30 percent of students out sick, WMUR

·         Officials tout safety, efficacy of H1N1 vaccine, Meg Haskell, The Bangor Daily News

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Governor Lynch has nominated four new superior court judges, including Hillsborough County Attorney Marguerite Wageling, Richard McNamara, a civil litigator from Wiggin & Nourie, PA,  David Garfunkel of Gallagher, Callahan & Gartrell, PC,  and Jacalyn Colburn of the New Hampshire Public Defender. Each nominee must be confirmed by the Judicial Counsel.

Source: Union Leader Hillsborough County Attorney prosecutor among four new judges.

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Following up on my post earlier this week regarding the New Hampshire Supreme Court's recent decision in Guy, the Union Leader published an article titled "Email fall short for fault-based divorce." The article includes interesting statistics on divorce in New Hampshire based on records from the New Hampshire Division of Vital Statistics Records Administration that shows that 98% of divorces are granted for "no-fault."

As the statistics show, most cases are based on "no-fault" or irreconcilable differences. In 2008, out of 4,913 divorces, only 66 were based on fault grounds (the top three being adultery, extreme cruelty, abandonment). One cause of the low rate of fault ground divorces is that most cases settle before trial and the parties agree to divorce based on irreconcilable differences. 

Additionally, even where fault grounds exist, some parties choose not to pursue them for several factors. Alleging fault grounds can dramatically increase the cost, length, and stress involved in a divorce. When deciding whether to file for fault grounds, it is important to consider the reason for seeking the fault grounds, what the fault grounds will accomplish and whether it will damage a co-parenting relationship.

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The Union Leader's Kathryn Marchocki reports that included in Governor Lynch's budget are plans to close eight district courts across New Hampshire. Governor Lynch hopes to save 2 million dollars by closing the courthouses. However, the savings come at the cost of making access to the judicial system more difficult for families. As the Union Leader's article points out, families who would have gone to the Colebrook District Court for relief would have to drive 37 miles to the Lancaster District Court if the plan goes through.

The courts that could close are as follows:

• Colebrook to merge with Lancaster
• New London to merge with Newport
• Claremont transfer operations to the Sullivan County facility in Newport
• Plaistow to merge with Salem
• Milford to merge with Merrimack
• Hooksett to merge with Concord
• Keene to transfer operations to Cheshire County facility in Keene
• Hillsborough to merge with Henniker.

New Hampshire district courts have jurisdiction to hear domestic violence petitions, small claims, landlord tenant matters, minor crimes and violations and civil cases in which the disputed amount does not exceed $25,000. In counties that do not yet have family divisions, the district courts also hear juvenile matters. In addition, in the counties that have formed family divisions, many of the district courts house the family divisions that hear divorces, parenting petitions, child support, guardianships, termination of parental rights, abuse/neglect cases, juvenile matters, and some adoptions.

The family divisions that will be affected under Governor Lynch's plan are located in the Colebrook, Claremont and Hooksett District Courts, who will all transfer operations to other county courthouses. Additionally, families in need of a domestic violence protective order would have to travel to other courthouses to gain access to the judicial system.  

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An article caught my attention today in the Union Leader titled "Recession can lead to depression" by Jason Schreiber.  The article discusses the increased rate of domestic violence during tough economic times. Money is often the biggest stressor in a relationship, so it follows that during tough economic times, domestic violence will increase.

Local health experts say the tough economic times are taking a heavy physical toll as people struggle to cope with job losses, foreclosures and their own personal financial turmoil. Police are also seeing a jump in domestic violence.

"We're going to homes where we haven't been in the past for that issue," Plaistow Deputy Police Chief Kathleen Jones said.

She said police have seen a 10 percent increase in domestic cases over the past year.

Added financial pressures are causing tempers to flare and fights to break out, Epping police Lt. Michael Wallace said.

"I don't think there are any social boundaries," he said. "I think it affects everyone. People we've never dealt with before are now all of a sudden experiencing emotions that they've never had before."

If you have are in danger from domestic violence, get help:

• Call 911
• Call your local crisis center
• Call the New Hampshire Statewide Hotline at 1-866-644-3574
• Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE

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