Getting divorced can be one of the most difficult and complicated situations you ever have to endure. As hard as the divorce can be on you, you have to keep in mind that the divorce will be just as hard, if not more so, on your kids. Depending on how young they are, they may not know exactly what’s going on as you and your spouse start distancing yourselves from each other. They may be counting on you for reassurance. A Kentucky divorce lawyer can help you.

There is nothing wrong with asking for help in a divorce. If this is your first divorce, you may not know exactly what to do with yourself. You may be focused solely on your desire to totally break free from your marriage, which is understandable. However, it’s important that you don’t lose focus on what truly matters to you. Your kids will need guidance, stability, and consistent reassurance that this is not happening because of them. It’s up to you to protect them.

Keeping Your Kids Protected

As you navigate your divorce, it is vital that you remember that your divorce is not just going to impact you. It will affect every aspect of your life, including your job performance, your social circle, and your kids. A divorce is far from a quick signature on a piece of paper and a clean separation of your lives together. There are many different elements that need to be considered and disentangled carefully. That includes a parenting plan.

Even if your relationship with your ex has become contentious, confusing, and painful, you may still have to see them consistently if the custody arrangement says so. It’s important to work together for the sake of your kids, and that includes following the court-ordered parenting plan to the letter. Throughout it all, you should make a point to foster open communication and a healthy environment for your kids. They are going to need your support now more than ever.

You have to decide exactly how honest you plan to be with your kids. Depending on what led to the divorce, you may be reluctant to tell them everything. After all, that could shatter their trust in the other parent, and they may accuse you of parental alienation. That’s the last thing you want. Consider sitting them down and finding a way to communicate what’s happening without putting blame on either side. They should know what their lives are about to look like.

According to World Population Review’s recent data, the marriage rate in Kentucky is one of the highest in the entire country, at approximately 48.8%. According to information from the CDC, Kentucky also has one of the highest divorce rates in the country, at 3.0 per 1,000 residents. It’s common to have issues coping with your divorce. To make things better for yourself, you may want to contact a local support group like DivorceCare for assistance.

Talking to Your Child About Divorce

Sitting down and talking to your child about your divorce can be one of the hardest elements of the entire divorce process. You may have no clue where to start, and it’s reasonable to feel apprehensive about even having this conversation. If you don’t have it, you risk your kids making their own assumptions, and that could include shutting you out. Here are some tips on talking to your child about your divorce:

  • To start, you may want to try your hardest to do this with your spouse. Having both parents present to discuss the impending divorce can present a united front and make your child view you as a unit. It can make your child trust both parents equally during this trying time. By approaching this as parents, you may also limit the chances of your child blaming themselves for the divorce.
  • Try to remain calm throughout this conversation. It’s going to be challenging to talk about such a monumental life change, but you can’t break emotionally. You have to remain the strong one for your child, who is probably going to break first. They could be traumatized just by the conversation. Don’t badmouth the other parent, and be as honest as you are comfortable being. Don’t lie to them.

FAQs

Q: Why Should I Talk to My Child About My Divorce?

A: You should talk to your child about your divorce because they will likely be just as scared, confused, and angry as you are. Children are very perceptive. They may recognize that something has fundamentally changed in the family dynamic. If either you or your spouse is not honest with them about that change, they can start to blame themselves or imagine scenarios that hurt them. They need your guidance as a parent.

Q: How Is Custody Determined in Kentucky?

A: In Kentucky, child custody is always determined by doing what’s right for the interests of the child in question. That must be the court’s top priority in every divorce case. To determine what’s right for the child, the court may have to ignore the parents’ custody requests if there is an issue with it that threatens the child’s well-being. The court will likely push for joint custody.

Q: Which Parent Will Get Custody?

A: There is no way to know which parent will get custody before the divorce proceedings have begun. The court has to launch its own investigation into each parent’s history with their child, including looking into any allegations of abuse or neglect, checking on each parent’s financial stability, and more. Neither parent is automatically seen as the caregiver before the divorce has started.

Q: How Can a Lawyer Help?

A: There are many different ways that a divorce lawyer can help you through your case. Getting divorced is no easy process. The emotional toll can be a lot to handle before you encounter the legalities. You will want someone experienced in divorce cases to help you work through everything. A good lawyer can make all the difference in your case.

Reach Out Today

At Stange Law Firm, we can help you figure out a plan for your divorce. Contact us to speak to a member of our team about what we can do for you.