Archive for 2021
5 Simple Steps to Keep the Holidays Special for Your Children After Divorce
Holidays are often filled with joy and excitement for children but can also be a source of pain and sadness when the family is no longer together. Navigating two households during the holidays requires adults to put their feelings aside and focus on the children first. Here are five simple steps to assist in keeping…
Read MoreParenting Plans With Children First
We recognize the importance of Parenting Plans which put the developmental needs of the child over each parent’s personal wishes. The following tips from Marsha Kline Pruett are a helpful reference for divorcing parents with young children. We agree with Ms. Pruett’s statement, “What matters most is whether parents are responsive when a change is…
Read MoreBest Lawyers Award
Batley Family Law is proud to announce that Bobbie Batley, our Firm’s partner has been recognized in the 28th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Best Lawyers is a purely peer review ranking. It works to rank highly respected attorneys using the feedback of other lawyers in the field. The Best Lawyers was first…
Read MoreFrequently Asked Questions
FAQ Series 1 What’s the difference between physical and legal custody? New Mexico recognizes two types of custody: physical and legal. Physical custody simply means who has physical control of the child; that is, where the child sleeps at night. Oftentimes, there is a primary physical custodian of the child, which means one parent has…
Read MoreFinding Ways to Stay Involved
Community Involvement 2020-2021 We’re so grateful that our team is dedicated to community involvement in so many unique and creative ways. Here are a few things that we’ve been up to recently outside of the office: · Bobbie was appointed by the State Bar of New Mexico as Chair of the Statewide Legal Specialization Commission. They…
Read More2020 to 2021 A year in Review – Batley Post Covid
What a year (or so) it has been! We have added words like unprecedented, pivot and work from home to our vernacular in a way we never could have anticipated. To put it mildly, our world since March of 2020 has been incredibly challenging and most especially to families. When you are in the business…
Read MoreCustody Agreement in State Where Neither Party Lives
Occasionally, parents encounter a unique situation when they are attempting to modify a custody arrangement. The original court case took place in a different state, for example, Arizona, and now neither parent lives in Arizona. While you normally would continue to file pleadings in the state where the case originated, it’s not necessary when neither…
Read MoreCustody When Never Married
Custody of a child when the parents are not married is commonly referred to as a “Parentage” matter. Parentage matters are governed by NMSA 40-11A. The beginning of the process includes establishing the paternity of the Father of the child. After paternity is established, the Court then looks to determine the following issues: Custody: Legal…
Read MoreKinship Guardianship
Kinship guardianship is a separate section of custody law in New Mexico that’s used when neither parent has custody of the child. Kinship guardianship allows a family caregiver, often a grandparent or aunt/uncle, to gain custody of a child when the parents are either unwilling or unable to care for the child. To start a…
Read MoreWhat to Bring to Your Consult
The initial consultation with a Family Law lawyer is the most important step in the process, as it is when you and the lawyer are able to connect on the process you are about to go through. Having all information available for the lawyer to review is of the utmost importance not only for you…
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