Thursday, February 14, 2013

Divorce: What about the kids?

            Divorce is not something any of us dream about going through. But it happens. Often. And worse, many times children are involved. They become involved in a tug of war battle that can have a lasting negative affect on them emotionally.
            In Utah, custody is determined based on the best interests of the child. But how is that determined? In Utah a few factors are considered before deciding which parent will have custody of a child:
  • Which parent is most likely to encourage continuous contact between the child and the child's other parent
  • Past conduct and moral standards of the parents
  • The child's relationship with the parents
There is also the option of Joint Custody:
  • The geographical proximity between the parents
  • Each parent's ability to place the needs of the child first
  • Whether both parents have always participated in the child's upbringing
  • The child's wishes, if the child is of an age to express a reasonable preference (age 12 or older)
  • Any history of child abuse, spousal abuse or kidnapping
  • Each parent's maturity and ability to avoid conflict
  • The parents' ability to cooperate with one another
No matter what the decision is, it leaves a lasting scar on a child that is likely to follow them throughout life. If a child is lucky, the parents will be able to communicate and get along post-divorce for the sake of the child. But of course, if divorce involving a child can be avoided—that is the best possible solution. Unfortunately life happens and that cannot always be the case.
So, if you find yourself in this situation at some point in your life, seek an attorney who can help facilitate things smoothly between both parties, for the sake of any children involved.
For more information about child custody in Utah or an attorney who can help see the following websites:

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