Charlotte Divorce Lawyer Blog
Talking to Your Children About Divorce
The decision to divorce is one of the most difficult you will ever make. When you have children, it makes the decision that much more challenging. The way you handle your separation and divorce with your kids could impact them for years to come, so you will want to take steps to make the situation as stress-free for them as possible.
Be Proactive
If you are divorcing, your children likely already know that the two of you are not getting along very well. Children probably suspect that the family situation is not good. While you do not want to get the kids involved in adult problems, you do want to give them information sooner rather than later. This gives them time to come to terms with the new family dynamic so they will not be completely off guard when one parent moves out of the home.
Present A United Front
Regardless of how much acrimony there is between you and your spouse, you need to continue to provide a safe and secure environment for your children. That means that both of you should present a united front to your kids. Speak to your children together so they understand that both parents are in agreement. Most importantly, assure the children that you both love them and that your love will not change, no matter what happens. Avoid making negative statements about the other parent.
Give Children Information
Children of all ages want to know what happened and what to expect. When you explain your separation and divorce, you should be as truthful as possible. At the same time, you need to be mindful of the information you provide, as it should be age-appropriate. You do not need to get your kids involved in adult problems, but you should provide an explanation. For small children, often a simple explanation will suffice.
Tell Children How This Impacts Their Lives
Children need to understand how their daily lives will change and what to expect going forward. This includes basic details about where they will live, how they will have visitation with their other parent, and exactly what their lives will look like as the separation and divorce proceed. Kids are most concerned with specific details such as when the other parent will visit and who will take them to school and activities. Explain that you and your spouse will continue to co-parent.
Answer Questions
Kids are inquisitive, and they want to understand what is happening. They likely have questions about a variety of issues. It is helpful to consider the possible questions ahead of time so you can have some responses ready. Keep in mind that children may have more questions after they have some time to think about and process the information. Encourage ongoing questions to create an open dialogue so they feel they know what is happening. Many children will benefit from counseling or family therapy to deal with emotions that may arise during the process.
A knowledgeable family law attorney is helpful during the separation and divorce proceedings. Your lawyer can offer legal advice and may also be able to provide referrals to services that could be helpful for families during this stressful time. To learn more, call us at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to request a consultation.
The family law practice group at Arnold & Smith, PLLC includes multiple Board-Certified Family Law specialists and one Child Welfare Law specialist, as well as several attorneys with many years of family law experience that are committed to providing a powerful voice to individuals facing the often-tumultuous issues in this area of law.
The range of issues our family law clients may be facing include pre- and post-nuptial agreements; separation agreements; post-separation support; child support (both temporary and permanent); absolute divorce; divorce from bed and board; military divorce; equitable distribution of assets; child custody (both temporary and permanent); retirement benefits and divorce; alimony and spousal support; adoption; and emancipation. Because this area of the law is usually emotionally charged and complicated, the family law attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC act with the utmost dedication to ensure that each client understands his or her options, and then act to achieve the best result possible for that client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.nccourts.gov/help-topics/divorce-and-marriage/separation-and-divorce
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/visitation
See Our Related Video from our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ArnoldSmithPLLC?feature=watch
See Our Related Blog Posts:
Tips and Tools for Better Co-Parenting After Divorce
Helping Children Cope With Divorce