Help for children after their parents' divorce

June 22, 2013 (Press-News.org) Help for children after their parents' divorce

Article provided by Law Offices of Jennifer E. O'Brien Professional Corporation
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Divorce can be particularly hard on a child. Children do not always understand the complexities of the situation and may resort to blaming themselves for the dissolution of the marriage. Working to ensure that the divorce itself proceeds smoothly and working closely with children after the divorce, prove essential to protect their health and well-being.

The main factors impacting well-being

As reported in Psych Central, Dr. Joanne Pedro-Carroll, the founder of the Children of Divorced Intervention Program USA, identifies three main factors that impact a child's well-being after their parents go through a divorce:
-Hostile conflict
-The relationship between the parent and the child
-The quality of the parenting over an extended period of time

According to Dr. Pedro-Carroll, children who are from divorced families have a higher risk of social, emotional and academic problems. It is possible to help these children transition smoothly and avoid these problems when each parent provides a low conflict, concerned and caring environment.

Several pieces of advice that work to help children transition smoothly is to make children aware of change before it happens, staying consistent with information, looking into support groups for the children, and showing the child warmth and love. A child must be made aware that they, in most circumstances, will still have strong relationships with each parent.

Determining child custody

Custody battles in divorce often add to a child's anxiety and can present an emotional battle. Custody is decided in terms of legal and physical custody. Legal custody refers to who is entitled to make the decisions about the child's religion, school and medical care. Physical custody, on the other hand, relates to where the child is physically residing. Custody can be granted solely to one person or jointly to both parents. These matters are determined by the courts according to the best interests of the child.

Some factors that play into determining a child's best interest are the age and sex of the child, the child's adjustment to a certain living environment, evidence of parental abuse, and the need for a stable environment, among others. Child visitation is available to non-custodial parents, which allows them to have time with his or her child in order to maintain their relationship.

Child support also proves important to a parent who has been awarded physical custody of a child. This payment is made by the non-custodial parent and helps to fund the daily expenses of the child. There are many factors involved in determining child support. The purpose behind the payment is to provide for the child. Special circumstances may bring forth a need to have a higher child support payment, such as if the child has special needs or if day care must be provided.

Divorce matters in family law

When faced with a divorce or family law issue, many considerations come into play. Drawing on the experience of an experienced family law attorney often proves useful to any parent seeking custody of his or her child. A family law attorney is able to present all options and help a parent achieve a smooth transition for the child.