GOOD PARENTING: DON'T PUT YOUR KIDS IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR DIVORCE

Divorce is difficult and emotional for all involved parties. This includes children of the marriage that is now dissolving. Children are especially vulnerable, as they have a hard time understanding what is happening and why Mom and Dad are no longer together.

When dealing with children throughout the course of a divorce, it is essential that children never be placed in the middle of a divorce. We have seen the impact that divorce can have on children and how parents misuse their relationships with their children during a divorce.

Our firm is committed to helping parents keep children out of the divorce proceedings. Children do not need to be used as weapons, messengers or blackmail tools. We encourage our clients to take the higher ground with the children whenever possible. Though they may not realize it now, as they grow older, the children will recognize the fact that you did not put them in the middle.

Effects on Child Custody

Using children against each other in a divorce may have an effect on the custody arrangements that you are seeking, such as joint custody or physical custody. If someone is playing games with the children, the courts might not look upon that too fondly and award primary custody to the other parent.

Unmarried Couples

For couples who have never been married, divorce is not an issue. However, they may have the same types of child support and child custody concerns that arise in the course of a divorce. It is important that regardless of their marital status, or relationship with each other, parents work to see that the best interests of the children are preserved and that, to the best of their abilities, the children are left out of any arguments or disagreements over child support, child custody and paternity.