Family Law

Protecting Children During Divorce

By J. Benjamin Stevens

Divorce can be particularly hard on children, especially when the parents don't take the appropriate steps to help protect them during this process.  Children need and have the right to the following, especially in times of family upheaval:

• Being free of the conflict between the parents
• Developing and maintaining an independent relationship with each parent
• Not having to take over the parental responsibility for making custody and/or visitation decisions
• Not being expected or forced to take sides with, defend, or lessen the value of either parent
• Being guided, taught, supervised, disciplined and nurtured by each parent, without interference from the other parent
• Spending time with each parent, regardless of whether or not financial support is given
• Having a personal sleeping area and space for possessions in each parent's home
• Being physically safe and adequately supervised when in the care of each parent
• Having a stable, consistent and responsible child care arrangement when not supervised by the parents
• Developing and maintaining meaningful relationships with other significant adults, as long as these relationships do not interfere with or replace the children's primary relationship with their parents
• Expecting that both parents stay informed about medical, dental, educational and legal matters, unless such disclosure would prove harmful to the child
• Participating in age-appropriate activities so long as these activities do not significantly impair their relationship with either parent

Source:  "When Divorcing in Alabama, What should You Tell Your Kids" by Steven D. Eversole, published at his Alabama Divorce & Family Law Blog.

Full post as published by SC Family Law Blog on March 09, 2010 (boomark / email).