Children are often the first casualties of a divorce. Parents may unintentionally use their children to get back at a spouse. Often times children are used as messengers carrying messages from one spouse to another. They can carry the weight of the divorce on their shoulders.
The Collaborative Divorce Process, a private divorce or out-of-court settlement option, is designed as an answer to the adversarial nature of the court or litigation process while addressing the less favorable aspects of mediation.
Not only is divorce one of the most stressful events a person can experience in their lifetime it can also be the most complicated. In a divorce it is likely you are juggling major life events like buying and/or selling a house, moving, separating property, dividing retirement, transitioning work environments, telling the kids, gathering information etc.
Special Needs Children In Divorce
As if divorce wasn’t challenging enough. Divorce with a special needs child has its own set of unique challenges. In my divorce practice I have seen a drastic rise of cases where one or more of the children have special needs. The special needs of a child can range from severe medical issues, developmental disorders to psychological and behavioral syndromes.
Even in a thriving marriage there may be a difference in opinion of how to best care for and address the needs of a special needs child. Decisions around home care & safety, medication, homeopathic remedies, extracurricular activities can be that much more conflict-ridden when going through a divorce. Even the slightest disagreement can blow up into an accusation of neglect or you could be painted as a poor parent by not wanting “the best” for your child.
Is it important that you and your spouse are guided towards a solution that is uniquely tailored to your children’s needs. Perhaps you have four children and one child has special needs. Your plan for parenting will likely need to be different for your child with special needs. I often recommend to the families I work with that they consult with an expert in divorce parenting, called a Family Specialist, to create a developmentally appropriate parenting plan for their children. When you determine the best plan for a special needs child this often means creating a unique plan for the special needs child in addition to developing an appropriate parenting plan for your other children.
In the Collaborative Process the Family Specialist’s are trained marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. Family Specialist’s are dedicated experts that help a family structure a parenting plan based on the unique needs of the family and children, including special needs children.
To learn more about your options in creating a parenting plan that fits your children's unique needs please contact me at the contact information provided.
Picking a lawyer to represent you can feel a little like choosing which used car salesman to buy a car from. I recommend you sit down with an attorney and ask them questions around your major divorce concerns. Take the time to talk through your concerns and see if the attorney communicates with you in a way that you understand.
Not only is divorce one of the most stressful events a person can experience in their lifetime it can also be the most complicated. In a divorce it is likely you are juggling major life events like buying and/or selling a house, moving, separating property, dividing retirement, transitioning work environments, telling the kids, gathering information etc.
Do you need help with your separation? Do you just have questions and want to ask a professional? Kemi offers a free consultation. No strings attached and no pressure to continue with her services. Just pure and helpful information. If you are interested, click the button below:
