Children & Divorce

Dallas Women’s Shelters

Unfortunately, in many situations women and children need a safe house to go to. If in an abusive relationship, it can be a very difficult choice to make, but one that is absolutely necessary. Battered women and their children may seek safety and counseling through crisis intervention and sometimes even short term therapeutics with the… Read Full Post

Convention on the Rights of the Child

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC,UNCRC) was formed in an attempt to define basic rights of children. These rights include civil, economic, political, cultural, and social. In order to add credibility to these rights, any nations that ratify these conventions are then bound to follow it by international law.
In order… Read Full Post

What is Joint Custody?

Often times as a result of the divorce process joint custody of the children is awarded. So what does this mean? Basically, joint custody is a court order that awards custody to both spouses. As with most legal issues, something that seems very simple on the outside is made much more complicated by divorce lawyers…… Read Full Post

A Radical Change in Custody Policy

The book: THE CUSTODY REVOLUTION by Richard Warshak,PhD quotes some research that I will briefly summarize.  He states that (all things being equal) the typical custodial father does as good a job as the typical custodial mother.  Then with some studies to back him he says that many (not all) boys may be better off living… Read Full Post

What might Mom Do if a Child Asks to Live with Dad?

1.  Don’t Panic!  And don’t assume that you are a bad Mom, or that your child doesn’t love you.  Do take a deep breath, and say that you need time to think about this.
2.  When this request is made during an argument be sure to separate the argument from the request to live with Dad. … Read Full Post

Predictors of the Outcome for Children of Divorced Parents

The following factors need to be present in order for there to be a good outcome for children of divorced parents:
1.  Children have easy access to both parents thereby  maintaining a quality relationship with them.
This ensures that the children do not feel that they have lost a parent.
2.  Parents  keep  their relationship cooperative and their conflict low.
3. … Read Full Post

Grandparents Can Help

Grandparents can offer a safe haven for children during and after a divorce.  The following guidelines will help Grandparents as they get involved.
1.  Grandparents should not take sides regarding the divorce.  Both parents are important to the children.  Taking sides makes the haven unsafe.  Sympathy for the situation is appropriate.
2.  Support and encourage the children’s… Read Full Post

How Do Children React to Divorce?

Not all children react in the same way, however there are certain symptoms which are commonly seen in children after their parents divorce.  Since children are generally feeling confused, worried, and angry they many times begin to cry more often.  Older children may develop headaches, stomachaches.  Young children often regress to earlier stages of development. … Read Full Post

A Historical Look at Child Custody

In ancient Rome fathers had total control of their children.  They could even sell them into slavery or kill them.  Mothers had virtually no rights.  When divorce occurred, the father automatically assumed custody of the children.  It was  a matter of property ownership.
British common law perpetuated paternal supremacy.Â
In 1776 Abigail Adams pleaded with her husband, John Adams, to… Read Full Post

Divorce During Pregnancy

Judges usually do not grant divorces when the wife is pregnant due to practical problems regarding child support and child custody.  Though there is no statute prohibiting divorce during pregnancy, it is most often considered too difficult to assess the needs of the unborn child.