Mobile Child Custody and Visitation Cases where the Parents Have Never Been Married to Each Other

Mobile Child Custody and Visitation Cases where the Parents Have Never Been Married to Each Other

by | Jan 20, 2023 | Visitation

In Mobile County, all child custody and visitation cases where the parents have never been married to each other are heard in Juvenile Court by a District Court Judge.  For many years, this judge was the Hon. George Brown.  Effective January 2023, Judge Brown has retired and his replacement is the Hon. Linda Jensen.

Judge Jensen has issued an updated standard visitation schedule, which represents a significant expansion of visitation from the former schedule that has been in place for the past decade or longer.  If you are a never-married parent with a custody and visitation issue with your child and you have never been to court, this will affect the outcome of your case.  If you have been to court before and have a court order already, it may be time for you to consider a modification.  For more information, please contact our office to schedule a consultation.

Here is Judge Jensen’s standard visitation schedule:

Standard in-town visitation

Weekday: alternate Thursdays following the weekend when the non-custodial parent exercises visitation from the time the child(ren) gets out of school on Thursday until Friday when the child(ren) is scheduled to return to school. In the event the child(ren) does not have school during the weekday visit, then it shall begin at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday and end at 8:00 a.m. on Friday.

Weekend: alternate weekends from Thursday at 6:00 p.m. until Sunday at 6:00 p.m.
(The Court does note that specific holiday visitation set out below takes priority over the alternate weekend visitations; so, when there is a conflict between an alternate weekend visitation and the specific holiday award, whoever is awarded the specific holiday can have the child(ren) during the holiday time and the alternate weekend time does not have to be made up later.)

Thanksgiving: alternate Thanksgivings with the minor child(ren) beginning with Thanksgiving in odd-numbered years. (The primary custodial parent shall have alternate Thanksgivings with the minor child beginning with Thanksgiving in even-number years.) The time shall be from 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday until the following Sunday at 6:00 p.m.

Spring Break: Spring Break holiday in even-numbered years. (The parent with primary physical custody shall have Spring Break in odd-numbered years.) The time shall be from Friday at the start of the Spring Break week at 6:00 p.m. until the Sunday after Spring Break week at noon.

Summer: The last two weeks (14 days) of June and the last two weeks (14 days) of July. (The custodial parent shall have the first two weeks of June and the first two weeks of July as custodial periods, uninterrupted by the normal mid-week visit).

Christmas: In even numbered years, from 9:00 a.m. on December 18th until 6:00 p.m. on December 25th, and in odd numbered years, from 6:00 p.m. on December 25th until 6:00 p.m. on the following January 2nd. The parent with primary physical custody shall have the opposite.

Other: In addition, the child shall be with the mother on Mother’s Day weekend and with the father for Father’s Day weekend, from Friday at 6:00 p.m. until Sunday at 6:00 p.m.

This is the minimum and not the maximum visitation. The parties are encouraged to expand the visitation to fit the best interests of the child(ren). Visitation is further allowed as otherwise agreed by the parties.

Summer Activities for Kids

Summer Activities for Kids

by | Jun 6, 2016 | Alabama, Children, Family, Mobile

It’s summertime and we’ve taken the time to compile a list of the top summer activities for kids in Mobile, Alabama.

Mobile Museum of Art: Art Blast Summer Art Camp
4850 Museum Drive, Mobile
251-208-5200

Azalea City Center for the Arts – Summer Camp
63 Midtown Park East, Mobile
251-510-1808

Broussard’s Piano Gallery – Academy of Music
1541 E. I-65 Service Road South, Mobile
251-344-8856

Christ United Methodist Church – Kindermusik Camp
6101 Grelot Road, Mobile
251-706-3336

Mobile School of Piano
251-272-9616

Paint Party Studios – Summer Art Camps
6808 Airport Boulevard., Suite B, Mobile
251-343-2423

Alabama Contemporary Art Center
301 Conti Street, Mobile
251-208-5658

Mobile Parks & Recreation Community Activities
Location TBA, Mobile
251-208-1617

Paint & Pals
6345K Airport Boulevard, Mobile
251-654-2313

Playhouse In the Park – Theatre & Dance Camps
4851 Museum Drive, Mobile
251-602-0630

Smash –Summer Music Camp
2 South McGregor Avenue, Mobile
251-342-5320

St. Paul’s Episcopal School
161 Dogwood Lane, Mobile
251-342-6700

Brandy Brown Studio
2 LOCATIONS
2569 Dauphin Street, Mobile
3958 Snow Road, Semmes
251-509-5659

Broadway South Dance Studio
3 LOCATIONS
7906 Westside Park Drive, Mobile
4715 Airport Boulevard, Mobile
620-F Hwy 43/Saraland Boulvard, Saraland
251-639-0660

Debbie’s School of Dance
6429 Hillcrest Park Court, Mobile
251-633-9559

Grace Lines Dance
4154 Wulff Road, Semmes
251-232-4786

Mobile Ballet
4351 Downtowner Loop North, Mobile
251-342-2241

Nasser Gymnastics
3055 Old Shell Road, Mobile
251-479-9311

Planet Gymnastics Summer Camp
900 Schillinger Road. S., Mobile
251-650-0699

Precision Dance Academy
63 Midtown Park East, Mobile
(251) 222-3403

Robinson’s School of Dance Summer Camp
421 Hwy 43 North Saraland AL 36571
251-675-5915

UMS-Wright Cheer Camp
65 Mobile Street, Mobile
251-479-6551

Auburn Tigers Girls Gymnastics Camp
The McWhorter Center, Auburn, AL
334-844-5047

Cheer Force One
8700 Zeigler Boulevard, Mobile
251-634-0203

Cottage Hill Gymnastics Center
1711 Hillcrest Rd, Mobile
251-666-0559

Miss Lisa’s Gymnastics
2907 Old Shell Road, Mobile
251-471-9708

Ms. Daphne’s CheerNastics, LLC
102 Baker Road, Satsuma
251-599-2205

Sheffield School of the Dance
4570 Hermitage Road, Mobile
1901 Dauphin Street, Mobile
4358 Old Shell Road #B, Mobile
151 Fly Creek Ave. Suite 430 & 432, Fairhope
251-661-4893

University of Alabama – Gymnastics Camp
323 Paul W Bryant Drive Tuscaloosa

Christ UMC Elementary Summer Camp
6101 Grelot Road, Mobile
251-342-0462

Jubilee Childcare
6631 Wall Street, Mobile
251-776-7022

St. Luke’s Episcopal School Summer Camp Program
3975 Japonica Lane, Mobile
(Early Childhood and Lower School)
1400 University Boulevard South
(Middle and Upper School)
251-666-2991

Weinacker’s Montessori
2 LOCATIONS
513 Georgian Drive, Mobile 251-342-5399
Hillcrest – 227 Hillcrest Road, Mobile 251-344-8755

Dauphin Way Child Development Center
3661 Dauphin Street, Mobile
251-344-0909

Dayspring Baptist Summer Day Camp
2200 Cody Road South, Mobile
251-633-0250

Government Street Baptist
3401 Government Boulevard, Mobile
251-660-7444

Life Church CDC Summer Camp
8701 Zeigler Boulevard. Mobile, 251-633-2679

Semmes First Baptist Child Development
4070 Wulff Road East, Semmes
251- 649-2712

Shiloh Baptist Church Summer Camp
717 Cleveland Road, Saraland
251-675-2099

Watermelon Patch
6417 Hillcrest Park Court, Mobile
251-633-3288

West Mobile Baptist CDC Summer Camp
7501 Airport Boulevard, Mobile
251-639-6868

YMCA Summer Camps and Programs
Hearin Chandler Family YMCA
951 Downtowner Boulevard, Mobile
251-344-4856
North Mobile Family YMCA
92 Saraland Loop, Saraland, AL 36571
251-679-8877

Alabama School of Math and Science – Summer Fun Camp
1255 Dauphin St., Mobile
251-441-2128

Camp Swampy – 5 Rivers
30945 Five Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort
251-625-0814

Casey’s Center for Learning
63 Midtown Park East, Mobile
251-209-1102

Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center
65 Government Street, Mobile
251-208-6893

Kids Kount Handwriting Camp
Kids Kount Therapy Services
26420 Kensington Place, Suite C, Daphne
251-517-0355

Revelation Christian School
1711 Taylor Lane, Mobile
251-473-2333

St. Mary Catholic School Annual Summer Enrichment Series
107 N. Lafayette Street, Mobile
251-433-9904

The Mustard Seed Enrichment
189 Rochester Place, Mobile
251-680-0954

University of South Alabama –
Summer Youth Programs
251-405-9928

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
1204 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores
251-968-5732

Badger Kids Urban Survival Academy
Springhill College
251-380-3096

Bricks 4 Kidz
251-300-4796

Dauphin Island Sea Lab
101 Bienville Boulevard, Dauphin Island
251-861-2141

Environmental Studies Center Summer Day Camp
6101 Girby Road, Mobile
251-221-5000 

Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes
2864 Dauphin St. Ste. D, Mobile
251-473-6808

Naval Aviation Museum
Flight Adventure Deck Summer Camp
1750 Radford Boulevard. Suite B, NAS Pensacola
850-453-2389 (ext. 3234)

Protocol- Social Etiquette/
Table Manners
251-626-3137

Pump It Up
741-A Hillcrest Road, Mobile
251-342-3940 

U.S. Space Camp and Aviation Challenge
800-637-7223

Mimi C. Peters Riding School at Silver Lining Farm – Summer Riding Camp
10727 El Nina Drive, Mobile
251-634-1229

Sandstone Equestrian Center Summer Camp
9450-A Jeff Hamilton Road, Mobile
251-633-8088

Sandy Ridge Farms
8891-D Sand Ridge Road, Citronelle
251-610-7246

Valley View Ranch Equestrian Camp
Cloudland, GA
706-862-2231

Christ United Methodist Church Summer Sports Camps
6101 Grelot Road, Mobile
251-706-3326

McGill Toolen Summer Sports Camps
1501 Old Shell Road, Mobile
251-445-2900

Inner Strength Martial Arts
9120 Airport Boulevard, Mobile
251-776-1978

Auburn Tiger Swim Camp
Auburn, AL

Auburn University Sports Camps
Auburn, AL

Auburn University Baseball Camps
Auburn, AL

University of Alabama Sports Camps
Tuscaloosa, AL

Alabama Baseball Camp
Tuscaloosa, AL

Alabama Football Camp
Tuscaloosa, AL

Alabama Women’s Basketball Camp
Tuscaloosa, AL

Faith Academy
8650 Tanner Williams Road, Mobile
251-633-7267

Graham’s Elite Martial Arts
1121 Dawes Road, Mobile
251-633-7837

LSU – Athletic Youth Camps
Baton Rouge, LA

Mobile Bay Sailing School
4295 Marina Dr North, Mobile
251-709-4102

Mobile Tennis Center
851 Gaillard Drive, Mobile
251-208-5181

Spring Hill College Sports Camps
4000 Dauphin Street, Mobile

University of Mobile Daniel Whelan Soccer Academy
Mobile, AL

University of South Alabama Summer Recreation Camp
Mobile, AL

University of South Alabama Sports Camps
Mobile, AL

University of South Alabama Boys Basketball
Mobile, AL

University of South Alabama Girls Basketball
Mobile, AL

University of South Alabama Baseball Camp
Mobile, AL 

University of South Alabama Mark Calvi Baseball Camps
Mobile, AL

University of South Alabama Field & Track Camp
Mobile, AL

University of South Alabama Volleyball Camps
Mobile, AL

Alabama School of Math and Science – Summer Fun Camp Beckwith Summer Camp
10400 Beckwith Lane, Fairhope
251-928-7844 

Camp Shine
Chelsea, AL
205-638-5750

Camp Whispering Pines
Citronelle, AL
251-866-7868

Lake Forest Ranch
Macon, Mississippi
662-726-5052

Riverview Camp for Girls
Mentone, AL
800-882-0722

Alpine Camp for Boys
Mentone, AL
256- 634-4404

Camp Dixie
Elberta, AL
251-987-1201

Camp Kiwanis
800- 239-6636

Camp Laney
Mentone, AL
256-634-4066

Camp Mac Summer Camp for Boys and Girls
2671 Cheaha Road, Munford
256-362-7449

Camp Scoutshire Woods, Girl Scout Camp
Citronelle, AL
800-239-6636

Camp Skyline Ranch
Mentone, AL
800- 448-9279

Camp Widjiwagan
Nashville, TN
615-360-2267

Camp Woodmont
Cloudland, GA
706-398-0833

McCallie Sports Camp
Chattanooga, TN
800-672-2267

Museum Expedition Archaeology Camp 37
205-348-7550

Naval Aviation Museum Flight Adventure Deck Summer Camp
850- 453-2389

Seacamp
Big Pine Key, Florida
305-872-2331

Twin Lakes Camp
Florence, Mississippi
601-845-6858

U.S. Space Camp and Aviation Challenge
Huntsville, AL
800-637-7223

WyldLife Camp
Ocklawaha, Florida
251-473-1703

Camp ASCCA-Easter Seals
Jackson Gap, AL
800-843-2267

Camp Bridges
1600 7th Avenue South, Birmingham
205-558- 2090

Camp Mash
251-599-5688

Camp Rap-A-Hope
251-476-9880

Camp Seale Harris
205-402-0415

Camp Smile
251-479-4900

S. M. A. S. H. Summer Music at Spring Hill
2 South McGregor Avenue, Mobile
251-342-5320

Age-by-Age Guide to What Children Understand About Divorce

Age-by-Age Guide to What Children Understand About Divorce

by | Apr 6, 2016 | Children, Custody, Divorce, Family, Family Law

This is a great article I found on Parents.com on how to discuss and ease the transition of divorce for children of various developmental stages:

 

Birth to 18 Months

Divorce represents a pivotal and often traumatic shift in a child’s world — and from his perspective, a loss of family. When told of the news, many children feel sad, angry, and anxious, and have a hard time grasping how their lives will change. The age at which a child’s parents divorce also has an impact on how he responds and what he understands about the new family structure. Here is a brief summary of what children comprehend at different ages and how you can help ease their transition.

During infancy, babies are able to feel tension in the home (and between their parents) but can’t understand the reasoning behind the conflict. If the tension continues, babies may become irritable and clingy, especially around new people, and have frequent emotional outbursts. They may also tend to regress or show signs of developmental delay.

How to ease the transition: Children this age require consistency and routine and are comforted by familiarity. Therefore, it’s helpful to maintain normal daily routines, particularly regarding sleep and meals, during and after the divorce. Provide your child with his favorite toys or security items, and spend extra time holding him and offering physical comfort. Rely on the help of friends and family, and be sure to get plenty of rest so you’ll be alert when your baby is awake.

18 Months to 3 Years

During the toddler years, a child’s main bond is with her parents, so any major disruption in her home life can be difficult for her to accept and comprehend. What’s more, kids this age are self-centered and may think they’ve caused their parents’ breakup. They may cry and want more attention than usual, regress and return to thumb sucking, resist toilet training, have a fear of being abandoned, or have trouble going to sleep or sleeping alone at night.

How to ease the transition: If possible, parents should work together to develop normal, predictable routines that their child can easily follow. It’s also important to spend quality time with your child and offer extra attention, and ask trusted friends and relatives to do the same. Discuss your child’s feelings (if she’s old enough to talk), read books together, and assure her that she’s not responsible for the breakup.

3 to 6 Years

Preschoolers don’t understand the whole notion of divorce and don’t want their parents to separate — no matter how tense the home environment. In fact, divorce is a particularly hard concept for these little “control freaks” to comprehend, because they feel as if they have no power to control the outcome.

Like toddlers, preschoolers believe they are ultimately responsible for their parents’ separation. They may experience uncertain feelings about the future, keep their anger trapped inside, have unpleasant thoughts or ideas, or be plagued by nightmares.

How to ease the transition: Parents should try to handle the divorce in an open, positive manner if possible, as a child this age will reflect his parents’ moods and attitudes. Preschoolers will need someone to talk to and a way to express their feelings. They may respond well to age-appropriate books about the topic. Kids this age also need to feel safe and secure and to know they will continue seeing their noncustodial parent (the one with whom they don’t live on a regular basis). Set up a regular visitation schedule, and make sure it’s adhered to consistently.

6 to 11 Years

If school-age kids have grown up in a nurturing environment, it will be only natural for them to have a fear of being abandoned during a divorce. Younger children — 5- to 8-year-olds, for instance — will not understand the concept of divorce and may feel as if their parents are divorcing them. They may worry about losing their father (if they’re living with their mom) and fantasize that their parents will get back together. In fact, they often believe they can “rescue” their parents’ marriage.

Kids from 8 to 11 may blame one parent for the separation and align themselves with the “good” parent against the “bad.” They may accuse their parents of being mean or selfish and express their anger in various ways: Boys may fight with classmates or lash out against the world, while girls may become anxious, withdrawn, or depressed. Children of either gender may experience upset stomachs or headaches due to stress, or may make up symptoms in order to stay home from school.

How to ease the transition: Elementary-school children can feel extreme loss and rejection during a divorce, but parents can rebuild their child’s sense of security and self-esteem. Start by having each parent spend quality time with the child, urging her to open up about her feelings. Reassure her that neither parent will abandon her, and reiterate that the divorce is not her fault. (Likewise, parents should not blame one another for the split, but explain that it was a mutual decision.) It’s also important to maintain a regular visitation schedule as kids thrive on predictability — particularly during times of turmoil.

Finally, since school, friendships, and extracurricular activities are of increasing importance to kids this age, encourage your child to get involved in events and pastimes she thoroughly enjoys. Help her rekindle her self-esteem, and encourage her to reach out to others and not withdraw from the world.

Sources: divorcesource.com; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Medical Association