Factors To Consider When Divorcing With Children

Divorcing and separating from your partner is a long and arduous process, but it’s even more complex when you have children to consider. Kids have a tough time fully comprehending what a divorce entails or how their lives will change afterward. Here are a few factors to consider when divorcing with children that can help make the process easier.

Prioritizing Your Children

Naturally, your number one priority should be your child’s best interests. You must consider how to provide for their needs after the separation—shelter, food, care, and education access—and give them your attention during the divorce. It’s easy for kids to feel like their parents are abandoning them or like they’re losing their family, which is an incredibly lonely feeling. While you’re no doubt under stress and dealing with your own emotions, you must find the time to reassure your children.

Custody and Visitation

Another factor to consider when divorcing with children is which parent your children will live with and how you will handle visitation. Sole physical custody means children in a divorce will live with one parent all or most of the time. A joint physical custody agreement will mean that children live intermittently with each parent for equal or nearly equal amounts of time.

Parenting Plans

As an extension to custody, creating a parenting plan will be beneficial for you and your ex-partner, as this document guides how you will both parent after the divorce. If you cannot reach an agreement, you will submit proposed plans to a judge, who will then make a final ruling on an appropriate and fair parenting plan. You’ll also submit a visitation schedule to reduce any chance of either parent violating custody orders.

Child Support

Lastly, both parents will still need to contribute financially to their children’s upbringing. Generally, the noncustodial parent will pay the custodial parent since they already factor child-rearing costs into their monthly and daily expenses. How much each parent must pay depends on individual income and the time each parent spends with their children.

Divorcing and separating from your partner is a long and arduous process, but it’s even more complex when you have children to consider. Kids have a tough time fully comprehending what a divorce entails or how their lives will change afterward. Here are a few factors to consider when divorcing with children that can help make the process easier.

Prioritizing Your Children

Naturally, your number one priority should be your child’s best interests. You must consider how to provide for their needs after the separation—shelter, food, care, and education access—and give them your attention during the divorce. It’s easy for kids to feel like their parents are abandoning them or like they’re losing their family, which is an incredibly lonely feeling. While you’re no doubt under stress and dealing with your own emotions, you must find the time to reassure your children.

Custody and Visitation

Another factor to consider when divorcing with children is which parent your children will live with and how you will handle visitation. Sole physical custody means children in a divorce will live with one parent all or most of the time. A joint physical custody agreement will mean that children live intermittently with each parent for equal or nearly equal amounts of time.

Parenting Plans

As an extension to custody, creating a parenting plan will be beneficial for you and your ex-partner, as this document guides how you will both parent after the divorce. If you cannot reach an agreement, you will submit proposed plans to a judge, who will then make a final ruling on an appropriate and fair parenting plan. You’ll also submit a visitation schedule to reduce any chance of either parent violating custody orders.

Child Support

Lastly, both parents will still need to contribute financially to their children’s upbringing. Generally, the noncustodial parent will pay the custodial parent since they already factor child-rearing costs into their monthly and daily expenses. How much each parent must pay depends on individual income and the time each parent spends with their children.