DIVORCE
COMPLEX ESTATES
HIGH CONFLICT DIVORCE
CUSTODY
We are passionate about making sure children’s best interests are protected in custody cases. It is often impossible for someone going through the emotional and difficult process of divorce or custody case to see clearly how to emerge from it in a way that will allow you to move forward. Divorces can be both daunting and complicated, but you have rights and you have options. When it comes to children at issue, it gets tougher.
Divorces, particularly high conflict divorces, and custody issues or modifications, have another major problem - divorce lawyers. Many of the so-called divorce/family law lawyer specialists specialize more in continuing the same arguments you and your spouse have been having for years. And more importantly, they specialize in extending your case, and your fees.
The problem is that most family law attorneys don’t often “practice law.” They work towards a settlement. There is nothing wrong with that if an effective settlement can be reached, but for many, it is extremely unlikely to settle on terms favorable to you. For lawyers who do not have critical and extensive knowledge on issues such as, on the custody side, post separation abuse, narcissism, false claims of parental alienation, coercive control and related issues, and on the property side, complex estate structures, the chances of a favorable outcome narrow quite a bit.
Consequently, we have a different plan in mind. The mission of Diamant Moore, P.C. is to provide exceptional and steadfast legal services assisting clients in navigating the often treacherous waters of the legal system. This goal is accomplished through relentless preparation, innovative ideas, and empathetic planning with clients.
But that is not our only advantage.
Diamant Moore, P.C. has extensive experience in high conflict divorce and custody matters dealing with narcissism, modifications, abuse and addressing claims of parental alienation, a commonly used tactic, but never ratified or backed by any science. The firm has also litigated numerous cases involving false claims of parental alienation, frequently used as a defense to abuse and misconduct of a party.
Any case should be goal oriented. And in this case, the goal is to get you divorced, and maximize the outcome for you, or in custody cases or modifications, to protect the children/reach the result that is in the children’s best interest. This requires skill and experience in combating false claims of the never-scientifically-recognized “parental alienation” and abusive parents using “parental alienation” as a litigation tactic to shift the burden from the abusive parent to the protective parent. Diamant Moore, P.C. has significant experience in dealing with issues of post-separation abuse, coercive control, narcissistic personality disorder and many related concepts.
When in a high conflict case, whether a divorce or a modification related to child custody, there are things your lawyer must understand if children are at issue. Here are some key questions to address in your selection of counsel in any high conflict case:
What is your understanding of the term coercive control?
How many cases have you handled where the other side had narcissistic personality disorder?
What are your thoughts about parental alienation?
Can you tell me what the difference is between parental alienation and parental alienation syndrome?
In your experience, do custody courts favor mothers or fathers in contested custody cases?
What is your strategy for dealing with a hostile guardian ad litem or amicus attorney?
Some attorneys believe that, if you have a negative report from the court-appointed psychological evaluator, your case is over and you don’t have any hope of prevailing. Do you believe that to be the case?
How do you challenge a psychological evaluation adverse to your clients?
What sort of discovery do you do to challenge psychological evaluations?
At Diamant Moore, P.C., we understand that “best interests of the child” is a psychological construct, not a legal construct. We understand the background and history of standardized tests which are used for evaluations and that standardized tests have no empirically valid tie to predicting parenting capacity. We believe in critical discovery such as notes, underlying data, items submitted from ex and other sources. We are prepared to cross examine on psychologist’s training/experience with coercive control and false allegations.
We understand complex estates. We have participated in valuations of all types of businesses from large to small. We have dealt with trusts. We have dealt with separate property claims of all types as well as fraud and breaches of fiduciary duties by spouses. We have dealt with waste claims, unexplained money transfers, forensic audits and everything in between.
Where abuse of any form has been present, making a decision to leave an abuser is terrifying and difficult, as you well know. You probably went back and forth multiple times, tossed and turned, and had a few starts and stops before you finally made the decision to get out. Your abuser wants to destroy you. And so he is willing to do and say anything to accomplish that goal – even if it hurts him. If the end goal is to see you in bankruptcy court, they will go to bankruptcy as well. If the end goal is to take the kids from you, they will lie, cheat and impress every psych evaluator he can in order to get that done. These cases cannot be managed well without understanding things such as power and control and coercive control. If you are stuck in court with a narcissist, you don’t need a good divorce attorney or a good custody attorney. You need a good attorney who deals with narcissists and coercive control in court on a regular basis.
In property cases, achieving the best result can be complicated due to complex estates including trusts, various company interests, etc. In this regard, we have a particular advantage. Not only are we skilled in commercial litigation, which is critical to you, but Jeff Diamant has built his own companies. As such, he has had to set up companies, and RUN them, leaving him particularly well suited to find the necessary information to properly value this asset, something grossly missing from not only most family lawyers, but most lawyers in general.
In complex estates, the temptation for most is to simply hire experts to manage these issues. With a skilled level of understanding of complex estates, and while experts are required in many cases, these cases can be better-handled by a good lawyer with real world experience and understanding. Only then can your lawyer help ensure you are maximizing the value of your estate, and ensuring you get your fair share.
Diamant Moore, P.C. has dealt extensively with:
False claims of parental alienation
So-called “parental alienation experts”
Financial and domestic abuse
Post separation abuse and coercive control
Narcissism
Business valuation issues
Separate property issues
Complex business transactions
and More
Further, as skilled trial lawyers, we know how to deal with problematic opposing counsel, parties who will not produce documents, and how to get to that ever important place - negotiating leverage through proper preparation and the ability to win. Most importantly, we bring to your case not only the extensive and unique experience from in front of the bench, but our founding partners also bring a dozen years of experience “on the bench” through the three full terms served as presiding judge.