Child Impact Program

All parties involved in a divorce, or actions involving parental rights and responsibilities and child support are required by law to attend a CHILD IMPACT PROGRAM. This is a four-hour informational seminar on how to help children deal with issues surrounding divorce, separation and parental rights and responsibilities. The seminar provides strategies, ideas and tools for helping children. Parents may attend the course separately or together.

Both parties must complete the seminar within 45 days of the date the respondent was served with the petition. Seminar registration is expected PRIOR TO the First Appearance court session. After you attend the seminar, a certificate of completion will be forwarded to the court by the provider. Failure to attend the seminar will result in appropriate sanctions being ordered by the court, which may include being held in contempt of court and sentenced to jail, or payment of a fine or both. If you need additional time to complete the seminar, you must file a motion with the court, requesting the additional time. These motion forms are available at the court.

Parental Alienation and False Accusations of Physical or Sexual abuse in New Hampshire child custody cases during a divorce are common in New Hampshire. The majority of false accusations are against fathers in New Hampshire. The false allegations are used by a parent to increase time with a child, attack the innocent parent, ask for a more equity in the marital estate, request child support, acquire other financial incentives, and prejudice the innocent parent. Often an innocent parent is also charged with a crime in New Hampshire. These false allegations typically become first "known" at the commencement of a divorce filing or custody dispute. Courts typically find the false allegations suspect but rarely hold the false accuser accountable. When you first become aware of false allegations during a divorce process, you should immediately find an attorney that is experienced in false accusation. Attorney Rich Clark is an expert in handling parental alienation and false accusations of physical or sexual abuse in New Hampshire relative to divorce and criminal charges.