Kendra Ortega, PLC

It can be very difficult to communicate with reason and kindness when you’re navigating a divorce or custody issue. Understandably so. But words matter….

4 years today!! Thank you for all the support and referrals.

Kendra Ortega, PLC is now offering Estate Planning and Probate Services! If you are looking for a full estate plan, assistance with probate administration, or even just a simple power of attorney in the event of a crisis, contact our office today!

The holidays are here! Remember to check your orders regarding the holiday parenting time schedule for your family. If you have questions, contact your attorney now. Don't wait until the day of!

Take advantage of the many community resources in your area! Below is a link to some of the resources in Ottawa County:

Community Resources - Ottawa County, Michigan Community Resources Statewide Child Support Resources Child Support Resources Guide Local Community Resources Maternal and Infant Health Program (800) 764-4111 X5758 (infant – 18 months) Healthy Kids (888) 988-6300 (health care coverage for children) Department of Human Services (866) 440-4111 Par...

Happy Friday!

Excited to announce that nearly three years after opening Kendra Ortega, PLC, I'm expanding my family law practice to downtown Grand Rapids. New office is located at 77 Monroe Center St NW, Suite 406, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

Happy Spring Break! Make sure to check your holiday parenting time orders. Easter is also part of spring break, so you may have to return early if the other parent has Easter this year :)

😂

Divorcing parents, I encourage you to plan out your next few weeks for parenting time now. If you are unable to agree, Ottawa County Friend of the Court has a standard holiday schedule posted on their webpage. Don't waste money having your attorneys duke it out in court. Be the best parents you can for your children so that they can have as peaceful of a holiday season as possible.

Remember...

Mobile Food Pantry Info for Ottawa County

Here is the mobile food pantry schedule for November 2022. 🥫🥕 Please help us share this so that no families in Ottawa County go hungry this month.

Here are a few suggestions for having a Happy Halloween for co-parents and children:

1. Trade every other Halloween night so that each parent gets a chance to pick the costume and go trick-or-treating with the kids.

2. Agree to split the cost of the costume up to a certain dollar amount.

3. Make it a family event and go together! (Only if it is safe to do so and you can be friendly and civil to ensure the kids have a great time.)

4. Split up activities over the day, maybe one parent attends school Halloween party, while the other does the trick-or-treating.

5. Create new traditions that allow everyone to participate, such as the parent with custody on Halloween does trick-or-treating while the other has a set activity like pumpkin carving on their day or evening.

7 Relationship Mistakes That Parents Model To Their Kids Over time, bad habits like snapping at or blaming your partner can affect your child, too.

I share this article as a good "self-assessment" tool for parenting, not to assess whether or not you are living or coparenting with a narcissist.

A psychologist shares the 7 signs of a narcissistic parent: 'It's a toxic way to raise your kids' Children of narcissistic parents are often riddled with anxiety and low self-esteem, but it can be hard to detect the toxic behaviors that hurt them. Psychologist Dr. Ramani Durvasula shares seven signs of a narcissistic parent, and what to do if the behaviors become a problem.

Remember....

This is interesting. You don't see this very often. Parents, remember you have full parental rights to your children until there is an order that says differently.

Grandmother arrested for custodial interference. Grandmother arrested for custodial interference. CLAYBANKS TOWNSHIP — A 64-year-old New Era woman was arrested for a two-year felony of custodial interference Sunday, July 10, shortly before 9 p.m. in the 6900 block of 38th Avenue, according to Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast. The 5-year-old girl...

Meet Reunification Hero, Judge T.J. Ackert! Judge Ackert continues to push for improvement of the child welfare system to better support and strengthen families. He goes above and beyond to listen to parents in child welfare cases with empathy and respect. He allows more than enough time in matters to prevent termination of rights, which he views as a failure of the system to adequately support families. https://tinyurl.com/yckzuj9z

Learn more about National Reunification Month activities here: https://tinyurl.com/jybyehfs

I'm often asked when and how to report suspected abuse and neglect. See the following explanation of the reporting process from www.Michigan.gov. You can also review the list of Mandated Reporters.

https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/adult-child-serv/abuse-neglect/childrens/report-process

Reporting Process Information on initiating a Children's Protective Service's complaint, tips on identifying suspected abuse, and mandated reporting.

Excited to announce that Shari Cole is joining Kendra Ortega, PLC as our legal assistant. Looking forward to working together to continue providing exceptional service to our clients!