Preparing for divorce can be an emotional process for some California residents. Sometimes, these individuals do not necessarily want to get divorced, but they recognize that their spouse may have fallen out of love with them, or maybe each spouse’s life goals just make marriage unmanageable. As difficult as the divorce process can be, the issues don’t end when the final divorce decree is entered. Instead, individuals can find themselves butting heads with their ex-spouse over a number of issues for years to come.
One of those issues is parenting. Child custody, visitation and child support are all of critical importance because they can completely shape a child’s life and a relationship with parents. Yet, for the parents, these matters can be highly contentious. Co-parenting isn’t easy, especially when there is a history amongst the parents that has created any amount of animosity.
However, there may be a few steps that can be taken to make co-parenting easier. For example, parents should avoid arguing in front of their children, as doing so can have a negative impact on the child. Similarly, parents should avoid speaking poorly to their children about the other parent. This can be confusing for a child and create tension in both households. Additionally, parents shouldn’t keep information about their child from each other. Doing so can completely ruin any form of cooperation amongst the parents, leading to additional issues with custody and visitation.
While disagreements about co-parenting can oftentimes be settled amicably amongst parents, sometimes the matter becomes too heated to handle without professional help. In these instances, an attorney may be able to help find a resolution that is fair and favorable for the parents and the child. After all, these matters should be determined with the child’s best interests in mind. When parents fail to take that into consideration, or when there is disagreement about what furthers those interests, then a judge may decide for them.
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