Children in a Divorce

If you’re worried about the outcome of your divorce and what will happen with the custody of your children, our team of expert Divorce Lawyers can help. We can provide our clients with:

• Parenting Agreements
• Child Arrangement Orders
• Applications under the Children Act

For more information about our services or further clarification about how they work give our team a call on 0330 912 8338.

Divorce is a challenging and emotional process, especially when children are involved. Divorcing couples often have legitimate concerns about the impact of their separation on their children’s well-being. While these concerns may vary depending on the specific circumstances, there are some common worries that divorcing parents tend to share:

Emotional well-being:

One of the primary concerns for divorcing couples is the emotional well-being of their children. They worry about how the divorce will affect their children’s mental and emotional health, fearing that the separation may lead to feelings of sadness, confusion, anger, or anxiety. Parents are often keen to ensure that their children can adjust to the changes in a healthy and supportive manner.

Stability and routine:

Divorcing couples recognise the importance of stability and routine in a child’s life. They worry that the upheaval caused by divorce, such as changes in living arrangements or disrupted schedules, may negatively impact their children’s sense of stability and security. Maintaining a consistent routine and providing a stable environment become key concerns for parents during this transition.

Co-parenting challenges:

Divorcing couples often worry about how they will navigate co-parenting and maintain a cooperative relationship for the well-being of their children. Concerns may include disagreements over parenting decisions, conflicts arising from communication issues, or the potential strain on the parent-child relationship due to child residence arrangements. Striving for effective co-parenting and open communication becomes crucial to address these concerns.

Financial implications:

Financial concerns are also common among divorcing couples, as they consider how the divorce will impact their children’s financial stability and overall quality of life. Questions may arise around the ability to provide for the children’s needs, maintain their current lifestyle, or afford expenses related to education, healthcare, or extracurricular activities.

Impact on academic performance:

Parents worry about the potential impact of divorce on their children’s academic performance. They may be concerned that the emotional turmoil surrounding the divorce could affect their children’s ability to concentrate, engage in schoolwork, or maintain a consistent level of academic achievement. Supporting their children’s educational needs becomes a priority for divorcing parents.

Long-term effects:

Divorcing couples often have concerns about the long-term effects of divorce on their children’s future relationships, self-esteem, and overall well-being. They may worry about the potential impact on the children’s ability to form trusting relationships, cope with future life challenges, or develop a positive self-image. Seeking support and guidance to mitigate these long-term effects becomes important to divorcing parents.

It’s crucial for divorcing couples to address these concerns and prioritise their children’s well-being throughout the process. Seeking professional help, such as family counsellors, therapists, or mediators, can provide valuable guidance and support to navigate these challenges and ensure a healthy and positive transition for the children involved.

Note that, while the term child ‘custody’ was used for many years following a divorce or separation, and is still very often used colloquially, it’s no longer the term officially used by the family court. It has been replaced with “to live with”, or more often referred to as child residence arrangements