Author: Carolyn J. Woodruff

Dear Readers, Today’s Ask Carolyn discusses reader’s questions regarding irritable children and video game violence watched by teens.   Dear Carolyn, I think I am a good parent, but my 6-year-old is trying my patience. He...

Dear Readers, Today’s Ask Carolyn deals with forgiveness and school violence.   Dear Carolyn, I am so angry that my anger is getting in the way of my life. My husband had an affair and we are separated. We have been married...

Dear Readers, Valentine’s Day was yesterday, and some of you will celebrate the holiday this weekend. Several readers share sorrow-filled “takes” on the day. Perhaps you might take a moment to listen to “My Funny Valentine,” a...

Dear Readers, This week I am addressing alienation of affection and problems with in-laws in a divorce. Enjoy.     Dear Carolyn, My husband moved out of the marital residence last week. I got his phone records, and he...

Dear Readers, Tax reform is here. There are many, many changes in the tax laws that affect family law matters. You need to be informed. This weeks’ Ask Carolyn begins the discussion of the child tax credit worth $2,000 per...

Ask Carolyn…     Dear Readers, This week’s Ask Carolyn deals with a New Year’s surprise in South Beach Miami and my eight steps to keep a New Year’s resolution.     Dear Carolyn, I heard a rumor last week,...

Ask Carolyn…     Dear Readers, This week’s Ask Carolyn deals with (1) a keepsake Faberge-type ornament that was mysteriously broken (a “cat tail”), and (2) Holiday Stress Syndrome. Happy holidays to all you from Ask...

Ask Carolyn…     Dear Readers, This week Ask Carolyn readers asked about child support arrearages and a deadbeat dad; and holiday alcohol problems and blacking out.     Dear Carolyn, My ex-husband and I had...

Dear Readers, This week’s Ask Carolyn deals with the story of stone soup and provides more information for someone who has written Ask Carolyn several times.     Dear Carolyn, I love my husband, but he is making an...

Dear Readers, This week’s Ask Carolyn deals with phased-in custody of young children and child abuse.  There are comments on the murder of baby Toni Gwynn.  To write me, see contact information at the end of the column.  ...

Dear Readers, Today’s Ask Carolyn addresses the third letter from a perplexed soul in the legal system, and I call on all the attorneys involved to get to the bottom of the writer’s problems. He is a faithful reader of Rhino...

Dear Readers, Today’s Ask Carolyn addresses the third letter from a perplexed soul in the legal system, and I call on all the attorneys involved to get to the bottom of the writer’s problems. He is a faithful reader of Rhino...

Ask Carolyn…     Dear Carolyn, I think I am about to be sued for alienation of affection. While I am not really sure exactly what this is, I am sure that I am not really doing this. Yes, I do have a paramour who is...

Ask Carolyn…       Dear Readers, This week Ask Carolyn further answers two male readers’ questions regarding alimony and ex-wife harassment. One of the letter writers has written Ask Carolyn again with some more...

Ask Carolyn … Straight Talk for the Dancing Divorce Attorney Carolyn Woodruff Ask Carolyn… Dear Readers, This week Ask Carolyn answers two male readers’ questions regarding alimony and ex-wife harassment. These questions will...

Ask Carolyn… Dear Readers, Today’s Ask Carolyn is a three-part response to a lengthy letter from “Desperately Seeking, A Concerned Mother and Grandmother.” I have broken the letter down into three parts, as I see at least three...

Ask Carolyn…   Dear Readers, Today’s first Ask Carolyn is on disability and just wants what the court awarded. The second is from The Sound of the Beep involving an inspector who filed a property lien. Fifteen Rhino readers...

Ask Carolyn…   Dear Readers, Today’s first Ask Carolyn concerns disturbed teens, a growing problem, with a brief discussion of the Carter conviction of involuntary manslaughter for text messages. The second concerns what...

Dear Readers, Today’s first Ask Carolyn concerns a divorce judgment that was set aside after one of the parties to the divorce had remarried. Yikes. The second question continues the discussion of revenge porn.    ...

Dear Carolyn, How can someone defend themselves against alimony? To make a long story short, a husband and wife were in a marriage way too long.  The husband stayed because of the children, but the marriage went from bad to...

Dear Readers, Today’s first Ask Carolyn addresses aging pet owners who must give up a pet. Just a reminder – as the summer heats up, do not leave pets or children in automobiles.   Dear Carolyn, My mother is now 90, has...

Dear Readers, The week I address dreading Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day to all of you who have a great situation, but realize there are those around you for which Mother’s Day may be most stressful.   Dear Carolyn, Is it...

Dear Readers, Last week, I answered a question that involved a therapist who had a child who was alienated from her father. Rather than suggesting that the child and father come to therapy together, the therapist suggested that...

Dear Readers, Please “Like” Ask Carolyn on Facebook and follow on Instagram and Twitter at “Ask_Carolyn.” Post questions for consideration for this column. I’ll also be giving these social media hints and clues to what the next...

Dear Readers, This week’s Ask Carolyn concerns (1) hero instinct and (2) dealing with angry spouses.     Dear Carolyn, I was in the most amazing relationship for four months and then something just happened. I thought...

Dear Readers, Today’s Ask Carolyn tackle two cutting edge issues – FaceTiming with toddlers and pet custody in divorce. I would like to hear your comments on either topic.   Dear Carolyn, My two little grandsons – Adam and...

Dear Readers, In the Feb. 6, 2017 Ask Carolyn, I answered a question regarding negativity. The father in the question was flitting around from job to job. One reader commented that I should consider whether the father had mental...

Dear Readers, Today’s Ask Carolyn deals with two epidemics: Negativity and cutting among teens. I look forward, as always, to your letters and comments.     Dear Carolyn, My son-in-law flits around from job to job. He...

Dear Carolyn, Johnny is 13 and wants to live with his father. His father has visited with him on weekends but has done little else with Johnny for the last 10 years. I have exercised sole custody. Johnny’s father has essentially...

Dear Readers, Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Ask Carolyn would love to hear your engagement stories, particularly if they were on Valentine’s Day. See some examples in the second Ask Carolyn of this week’s issue.  ...

Dear Readers, Happy new year 2017, from Ask Carolyn. My new year’s challenge to each of my readers: Try something in 2017 you have never tried before. Take a risk. Evaluate your 2016. What did you accomplish? Did you accomplish...

Dear Readers, Happy holidays from Ask Carolyn. This week are the hot topics of immigration and the holiday challenges with step-children. Enjoy as you enjoy your families in whatever form they may take this holiday season....

Dear Carolyn, I always end up dreading the Christmas holidays. I’d just like to enjoy my family, particularly the children, but there is this one relative (my mother) who tries to manipulate the situations and create divisive...

Dear Readers, Happy Thanksgiving. A day of gratitude. So many children will be between Mom’s house and Dad’s house over this holiday. Perhaps special activities geared to this unique holiday would be appropriate. Enjoy.  ...

Dear Readers, Internet addiction is here and is real. I would like to hear from you on this topic. Do you know that a Kaiser Family Foundation study showed that two-thirds of parents have no rules on internet use, particularly...

Dear Readers, I’d like to hear your thoughts on screen time for children ages 6 and older.   Dear Carolyn, I have two children ages 4 and 7 and am going through a divorce. Their father has half time and I have half time....

Dear Readers, Brad Pitt now has some supervised visitation with his children. Remember, for every father, there is most often a paternal grandmother out there who is interested in the children. Jane Pitt, Brad’s mom, is furious...

Dear Carolyn, I am a regular reader of your column. I love your comments, and I so want you to comment on Brangelina – Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Why did she block his cell phone number? Why do you think she wants sole legal...

Dear Carolyn, I have a complicated mess on my hands with my divorce. My ex owns part of a family business. I have now been through three lawyers and it seems no lawyer can get my equitable distribution case to trial. I think I...

Dear Carolyn, My grandchild is experiencing his parents going through a divorce. The divorce is mainly because my grandson is physically and verbally abused. He also is seeing his father hit his mother (my daughter), mainly when...

Dear Carolyn, I share custody of our son with my ex-husband. Another school year is about to begin. I dread the issues with homework. As my son gets older and homework gets more important, there has to be something we can do as...

Dear Carolyn, My husband is having an affair. I hired a private detective, and the detective caught him checking into a hotel. I confronted my husband and he has agreed to move out. I am a mother of two children ages 8 and 10....

Dear Carolyn, Shumuck-wad, that is what my ex is calling me. He puts these crazy words in writing. We have no good communication regarding our two children, only nasty-grams. We have not had our final custody case, but I am...

Dear Carolyn, What causes a parent to favor one child over another? I am a father, divorced from my two children’s mother. For the life of her, that “mother” cannot treat our daughter fairly and favors our son.   The children...