Parties who go through a divorce often attend therapy or join a support group to help them cope with the process, but children rarely go through the same type of counseling because they are seen as “resilient.” Alternatively, parents may assume that their child is not suffering any ill effects from the divorce because they are not displaying any symptoms at that time. Sadly, this may not be the case. Learn more about how divorce counseling can help reduce the chances of maladjustment in children experiencing divorce, and discover how a seasoned divorce lawyer can further minimize their risks. 

Kids and Divorce - Understanding the Risks

Although it is true that many children do eventually recover from the emotional trauma of divorce, and only a small percentage suffer serious ill effects, there are some pretty significant risks that parents should know about. Perhaps the most notable is the risk of juvenile delinquency among children of divorce, which can impact children of almost any age and even years after the divorce has ended. Many children also suffer academically, and they may withdraw from their social circles or stop participating in extracurricular activities. Studies also suggest that children may be at an increased risk of relationship issues later in life, and their immune system may take a serious hit because of the stress, which can make them more prone to illness as an adult. 

Once the decision to divorce has been made, people often get excited about the future. Some are even ready to search for love. Relationship experts caution against moving too fast in the dating world if you have children, however. Learn more about why and discover how an experienced divorce lawyer can help to ease the stress of the divorce process for your entire family in the following sections. 

Protecting the Best Interests of Children in Divorce

While divorce can be a painful process for all involved parties, children are typically at the greatest risk for long-term effects. Part of this is due to their position in the divorce (invariably caught in the middle unless the parents strive for and successfully implement some amicable co-parenting strategies and techniques), but there are other factors as well. 

Terminating a parent’s rights to their child is not something that occurs regularly, but it is sometimes necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of the child. How, exactly, does one go about doing this? Can it be applied in all situations, or are there only certain scenarios in which a parent’s rights can be terminated? The following answers these questions, and it provides important details on how an experienced family law attorney can assist you with the process, should it be warranted in your case.

Terminating a Parent’s Rights for Stepparent Adoption

Perhaps the best scenario in which a parent’s rights may be terminated is when there is a prospective adopting stepparent who wants to become the child’s legal guardian. Mostly, this is done with the consent of the biological parent. However, there are scenarios in which the family must go through the courts to prove that the biological parent is unfit, unsafe, or otherwise incapable of providing the love and support that the child deserves. In either scenario, the guidance and assistance of an experienced attorney is highly recommended. Note that grandparents, siblings, and other family members may adopt a child if both parents are willing to terminate their parental rights.

Children can be especially prone to emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues during a divorce. Worse yet, there are studies that show divorce can have a lifelong impact on the overall well-being of a child – but that does not necessarily mean you should stay together. In fact, experts now believe that the ill effects that children suffer in divorce are more closely linked to the contention and stress that often accompany divorce, rather than the divorce itself.

What all this means is that parents can mitigate the damage that divorce can do to a child – especially if they know how to recognize the signs of extreme stress. Learn more, and discover what an experienced divorce lawyer can do to improve the outcome of divorce for your family.

Severe or Prolonged Behavior Changes

Historically, experts have seen divorce as a negative childhood event. However, families and scientists are starting to find that this may not be entirely true. In fact, science has recently found that contention may be more of a factor in the development of certain childhood issues after a divorce and that contention can have a negative effect, even if a divorce does not occur.

Now science has made a new and equally interesting discovery. In previous studies, children of divorce were found to have a higher risk of divorce themselves. Experts have always considered that to be an environmental issue, but a new study suggests the effect could be genetic.

A Closer Look at the Study