Family-focused divorce attorney Larry Sarezky is passionate about keeping parents out of court when handling disputes over child custody. Based on decades of experience Larry knows that long-term outcomes work out better when the decisions are made by the parents themselves rather than left to the legal system.
Most parents continue to co-parent their children after divorce. Except for circumstances where children are at risk, Larry strongly emphasizes that parents have the responsibility to put the their children first by working out a parenting plan that is in the children's best interests.
Larry's message: If you are unable to resolve children's issues with your co-parent, a judge will. There are some very good reasons to avoid that:
•The custody evaluation process can humiliate, frighten and compromise your children, and cause them enduring emotional harm.
•Custody cases are tremendously expensive. Parents must not only pay their own lawyers, but they may also have to pay attorneys to represent their children and/or guardians ad litem who are appointed in custody cases for children who are too young to express their feelings and preferences.
•Trial outcomes are difficult to predict.
•A judge's orders after trial rarely contain the crucial details that parents need in their agreements.
•Your inability to make decisions regarding your children leaves them with a poor parenting model.
A high conflict divorce all but destroys the chances for a constructive co-parenting relationship after the divorce. Spare your children the ordeal of the court custody evaluation process and a prolonged divorce case that mires them in anxiety and uncertainty. You can accomplish that by dealing with child-related issues in a mindful, productive way, as follows:
•Agreeing with your spouse on a Parenting Goal Statement that memorializes your common beliefs and goals regarding dealing with the children during the divorce
•Communicating clearly with your spouse about the kids, and confirming important communications in writing
•Seeking advice from a child therapist or divorce coach regarding child-related issues
•Using a mediator, including those available through court systems at little or no cost, to help you resolve child-related matters as soon as possible
•Maintaining as much of the children's routine as possible
•Telling your lawyer that you want to resolve any outstanding child-related issues at the very first opportunity.
Divorce challenges parents to overcome obstacles and make sound decisions regarding their children. Parents able to do that offer their children a wonderful parenting model. Parents who can't, allow life-altering decisions regarding their children to be made by a stranger.
The Child-Centered Divorce Network strongly endorses Larry's message as well as his new Telly Award-winning film, Talk To Strangers. The film dramatically makes the point that children pay a high price when parents choose the courts to make custody decisions. Visit www.ChildCustodyFilm.com to learn more about protecting children during divorce, and to preview the film.
The Child-Centered Divorce Network resources include a free ebook on Post-Divorce Parenting which is available at www.ChildCenteredDivorce.com.