Latest news with #visitation
Globe and Mail
03-07-2025
- General
- Globe and Mail
Manhattan Family Law Attorney Richard Roman Shum Clarifies Grandparents' Rights in New York
In a detailed new article, Manhattan family law attorney Richard Roman Shum ( explores the legal avenues available to grandparents seeking visitation or custody of their grandchildren under New York law. The article highlights how the legal system recognizes the vital role grandparents can play in a child's emotional development and stability, particularly when access is restricted or denied by parents. Grandparents facing barriers to maintaining their relationships with grandchildren often turn to a Manhattan family law attorney for legal guidance. According to Richard Roman Shum of the Law Office of Richard Roman Shum, Esq., New York law permits grandparents to petition for visitation or custody under certain conditions. This legal path requires demonstrating that continued contact supports the child's best interests, especially when family circumstances have changed due to death, divorce, or estrangement. A Manhattan family law attorney can help navigate these issues, especially in light of the protections parents are afforded under the U.S. Constitution. The article cites the influence of the Supreme Court case Troxel v. Granville, which affirmed the rights of parents to control their children's upbringing. As a result, New York courts place a high burden of proof on grandparents who seek to override a parent's decision and must show that denying visitation would be detrimental to the child. 'Grandparents often play a meaningful role in a child's life, offering emotional support, family traditions, and a strong sense of identity,' states the article. 'New York law recognizes the potential value of these relationships and offers grandparents the opportunity to petition the court for visitation or custody under certain conditions.' New York's Domestic Relations Law § 72 provides a legal route for grandparents to request visitation. The statute outlines the circumstances under which a grandparent may be eligible, starting with establishing legal standing. If one or both of the child's parents are deceased, divorced, or missing, grandparents may qualify to file a petition more easily. In situations where both parents are alive and oppose visitation, the grandparent must establish 'equitable circumstances' that justify the court's involvement. Courts evaluating these cases weigh the nature and history of the grandparent-grandchild relationship, the reasons for the parents' objection, and whether denying contact would negatively affect the child's well-being. The article explains that grandparents must also demonstrate that the child resides in New York State and that a significant relationship already exists or efforts were made to build one. When visitation is not appropriate or sufficient, grandparents may also seek custody under more stringent legal standards. Richard Roman Shum outlines that to do so, grandparents must show 'extraordinary circumstances,' such as parental unfitness, abandonment, or neglect. Courts require a strong showing that awarding custody to a grandparent is in the child's best interest and necessary for their safety and stability. The article also details the process for filing a visitation petition in Manhattan's Family Court. Grandparents must gather documents supporting the depth of the relationship, serve notice to the child's legal guardians, and prepare for court hearings where the petition's merits are reviewed. The court may appoint a legal representative for the child and consider all evidence to make a decision focused entirely on the child's welfare. To build a compelling case, grandparents are encouraged to document their involvement in the child's life, such as participation in school events, healthcare, and daily routines. The use of mental health evaluations or witness testimony from teachers or coaches can further strengthen the case. Courts may also recommend mediation to resolve disagreements before issuing a ruling. In his explanation, Richard Roman Shum emphasizes that a thoughtful legal approach is key to preserving grandparent-grandchild bonds. While courts begin with a presumption that parents are acting in their child's best interests, they remain open to evaluating evidence that continued contact with a grandparent serves the child's needs. The Law Office of Richard Roman Shum, Esq provides legal support to grandparents navigating these family law challenges. Based in Manhattan, the firm assists clients in presenting thorough legal petitions, negotiating visitation terms, and, when necessary, pursuing custody to protect the child's welfare. Understanding the rights of grandparents in New York involves a careful balance between respecting parental authority and recognizing the emotional support that grandparents can offer. For grandparents seeking legal ways to maintain a meaningful role in their grandchildren's lives, New York law provides a framework to pursue visitation or custody when justified by the circumstances. Those concerned about maintaining contact with a grandchild due to divorce, estrangement, or other family changes can explore available legal options. A properly prepared case supported by credible documentation can make a difference in the outcome of a visitation or custody request. About Law Office of Richard Roman Shum, Esq: The Law Office of Richard Roman Shum, Esq. is a Manhattan-based legal practice focusing on family law matters. Led by attorney Richard Roman Shum, the firm assists clients with matters involving divorce, custody, and visitation. The practice is committed to helping individuals and families navigate legal challenges with a focus on the child's well-being and long-term stability. Embeds: GMB: Email and website Email: richard@ Website:
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Yahoo
Travis Decker's Neighbor Reveals 'Weird' Encounter Before His 3 Daughters Died
By all accounts, Travis Decker was an enthusiastic 'girl dad' to his trio of daughters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5, whom he shared with his ex-wife Whitney. The family's longtime next-door neighbor Binh Nguyen recalls Travis taking the girls on camping trips in the Cascade Mountains near their home in Wenatchee, Wash. And when the Deckers' marriage crumbled in 2022, Travis, 32, moved out of the house but still regularly stopped by with his dog to pick up the girls for visits. 'They loved him a lot, and he loved them too,' Nguyen tells PEOPLE in this week's issue, on newsstands Friday. Yet when Travis — a formerly clean-cut U.S. Army veteran who went on to work in construction — arrived for a pickup on Friday, May 30, Nguyen, who was watering his lawn at the time, was struck by how different his former neighbor looked. 'He was skinny. He had long hair and a beard. I said, 'Is that you, Travis?' ' Nguyen recalls. As the two men chatted for 10 minutes, Travis, while polite, seemed distracted, absentmindedly asking how he'd been three times. 'It was kind of weird,' says Nguyen. 'He had a sad face.' According to the Deckers' court-approved parenting plan, Travis was to have a three-hour visitation with his daughters that evening, beginning at 5 p.m. But when the scheduled drop-off time of 8 p.m. came and went, Whitney's initial concern turned into fear for her daughters' safety. Her calls to Travis went straight to voicemail even though her ex-husband had always been reachable, as she would later tell investigators. At 9:34 p.m. Whitney, 35, went to the Wenatchee Police Department to report Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia missing, setting off a frantic search for the girls, as well as their father, led by local police. Three days later, on June 2, investigators with the Chelan County Sheriff's Office found the girls' bodies — with plastic bags over their heads and at least one with zip ties around her wrists — near Travis's abandoned pickup truck at the remote Rock Island Campground. A medical examiner determined they had died of asphyxiation. Now Travis — a combat veteran trained in survival skills who federal authorities claim searched online for 'how to relocate to Canada' days before he disappeared — is the subject of a massive ongoing manhunt, wanted on suspicion of first-degree murder and kidnapping. Born into a family that valued military service, Travis, whose father and brother were also soldiers, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2013. When he met Whitney the following year, he had recently completed an Army Rangers deployment in Afghanistan. The couple fell in love and married in 2015; they were stationed in Italy for three years and then in Georgia for three years before settling with their girls in Washington state, where both have family. Almost from the beginning of the marriage, Travis' mental health was a challenge, according to Whitney's attorney, Arianna Cozart. 'He seemed to suffer from PTSD as a result of combat,' she says. 'Whitney struggled to help Travis through severe paranoia, nightmares and insomnia.' Family life became more difficult for Travis after he left the Army and joined the Washington National Guard in 2021, Cozart says: 'His issues seemed to spiral once he was out of what Whitney calls the bumpers of the military that kept him in line. He tried to get help — he went to the VA, he called the Veterans Crisis Line.' But nothing seemed to change, Cozart adds. Two years after the Deckers legally separated, Whitney went to court to rewrite the couple's custody agreement. Travis, who by then was living in his RV and spending nights at shelters, would no longer have overnight stays with the girls. Instead, Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia spent days with their father every other weekend, and they seemed to enjoy it. Meanwhile, Travis was reportedly having trouble at work and was even considering rehoming his beloved husky. But until their daughters were found on June 2, Whitney never suspected him of causing harm. 'This man never laid a hand on those girls,' says Cozart. As the hunt for the fugitive entered its fourth week, Whitney — who says she regrets that authorities never issued an Amber Alert about her missing daughters — will advocate to improve the alert system and provide more mental health services for veterans. But first, as Cozart says, she must 'say goodbye to her babies.' At a memorial service in a Wenatchee park on June 20 — where mourners were asked to wear purple, pink and green — Whitney told the crowd that Evelyn would have 'oohed and aahed' over their colorful outfits, and Paityn would have sought out something to compliment about each attendee. 'I'm so thankful for the time that I had with the girls,' she said. 'They were incredible.' If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People
CTV News
24-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Downtown Halifax visitation surpasses pre-COVID numbers: report
People are pictured on the Halifax waterfront on July 31, 2023. A report released by Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) is showing total visitation to downtown Halifax over the past year surpassed pre-pandemic numbers. This year is the third year the DHBC has released a State of the Downtown report, which covers a number of metrics they say are crucial to understanding the current state of Halifax's urban core. The report shows total visitation to Downtown Halifax over the past year was 19,217,332, which is an 18.4 per cent increase from last year, and a 3.1 per cent increase from pre-pandemic numbers. Downtown Halifax also earned a revenue of $9.4 billion which accounts for around 20.5 per cent of revenue in the HRM, and around 9.4 per cent in Nova Scotia, according to the report. Office vacancies in the city also saw a decrease from 16 per cent last year to 12.4 per cent this year. The total employee base in downtown Halifax is now 24,642 with office workers accounting for 20,476 of the total. The report highlighted how Downtown Halifax's commercial property assessment is currently the highest it's been since 2021, but it has only increased by 1.08 per cent while all of HRM's increased by 25.4 per cent. According to the report, eight of the total 27 investment projects currently happening in downtown Halifax were completed in 2024. The on-street parking was also recorded in the report, with the average parking session in downtown Halifax lasting 119 minutes. HotSpot was the preferred method of payment for parking. The full report is available on the Downtown Halifax Business Commission's website. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Yahoo
Court Audio Captures Travis Decker Saying His Daughters Were Safe with Him. Now He's Accused of Killing All 3
Travis Decker, the man accused by police of killing his three daughters, is heard in newly released court audio fighting for overnight visitation Decker has not been seen since May 30 when he did not return from a court-ordered visitation with Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5. The sisters were found dead at a remote campground in Chelan County, Wash., on June 2Newly released court audio this week captures Travis Decker fighting to keep his three daughters for overnight visits and swearing he's never done anything to put them at risk. Decker, 32, has been the subject of an ongoing manhunt after authorities charged him with murder and kidnapping in connection with the deaths of Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5. The sisters were found dead near Decker's abandoned pickup truck at a remote campground in Chelan County, Wash., on June 2, PEOPLE previously reported, citing authorities. Decker hasn't been seen since May 30 when he picked up his daughters for a court-ordered visitation and never returned. The sisters' mother and Decker's ex-wife, Whitney Decker, reported the girls missing to Wenatchee police shortly after, telling investigators that while he struggled with mental health issues, he had never not brought the girls back or stopped answering his phone, per a probable cause affidavit previously obtained by PEOPLE. Now, in court audio obtained by News Nation and dated Sept. 27, 2024, it was revealed that Decker lost overnight custody and often took his daughters to populated, paid campsites. "We've never done anything that was unsafe or anything that I would not want to put myself in," Decker says. When the Washington State Patrol put out a missing/endangered person alert for the girls, police described Decker as someone who was 'homeless and living in his vehicle or at various hotels/motels or at campgrounds in the area.' Decker added, "I understand that my current position when I'm by myself isn't ideal, but my daughters aren't a part of that. I only get to see them over the weekends and camping is something that the four of us have done since the three of them were in diapers." He further notes that he's "never done anything" that "puts them in any sort of a risk," adding that the campsites he took the girls to were "almost completely booked out or sold out." In a September 2024 parenting plan filed in Chelan County Superior Court and viewed by PEOPLE, Whitney sought to limit Decker's time with their daughters. In a separate filing, also viewed by PEOPLE, Whitney claimed that Travis had "neglected his parental duties towards a child" and "has a long-term emotional or physical problem that gets in the way of his ability to parent." Ultimately, Decker was granted visitation with his daughters for three hours on Fridays and eight hours every other weekend, as long as he stayed in Wenatchee Valley, per the parenting plan. In the filing, Whitney also requested that Travis undergo an anger management and domestic violence evaluation, as well as a comprehensive psychiatric assessment by a licensed psychiatrist to determine any potential diagnoses. The filing stated that if Decker didn't follow through with these things, the "mother will have the choice to further limit visitation." The search for Decker continues, though on June 10, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office said they had tracked a subject believed to be Decker to the Blewett Pass area near Highway 97 in Washington state. Authorities are asking anyone who has seen Decker to call 911 immediately. People can also call the CCSO tip line at 509-667-6845 or submit information to the tip line online. If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People
Daily Mail
07-06-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Chilling red flags everyone missed before 'killer' dad Travis Decker 'snapped and murdered his three daughters'
Bereaved mother Whitney Decker never imagined that her ex-husband Travis might be on the verge of carrying out a heinous act when he arrived to pick up their three young daughters for a scheduled three-hour visitation last Friday evening. To Whitney, it was a routine handoff. But those around Travis expressed to the grieving mother after her daughters did not return home that they had seen the warning signs.
