Paul Horton: Dealing with Divorce

If divorce has become necessary, you may be wondering how your life will change and the possible financial and emotional impact of breaking up with your spouse. Because I am a divorce lawyer, I see families struggle every day and even though it is easy to focus on yourself, you should also remember the potential effects of divorce on children in Salt Lake City, Utah, and across the U.S. Fortunately, there are a number of ways that you might be able to help your children work through your divorce and minimize the emotional toll.

HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD DEAL WITH DIVORCE?

The Workforce Management Office has outlined different pointers that you may want to keep in mind if you are going to split up with your marital partner and are worried about your kids. For example, you should try to help them understand how the divorce will change their lives, but you should do your best to remind them that they will continue to be loved. If they have questions, you should try to provide them with solid answers and, depending on the details surrounding your divorce, ease some of their worries. If you can, you should try to inform them of some of the changes they can expect, which may include living with only one parent or moving to a new city, among others.

By turning to a mediator, children may benefit on a number of levels. For starters, if their parents have less stress and a more amicable divorce, this can make it easier for children to spend time with each of their parents and they may be exposed to less arguing, thereby lessening the emotional burdens a child has when his or her parents split up.

HIGH-PROFILE CHILD CUSTODY CASE MAY FINALLY BE OVER

While it’s typically in the best interest of the child for custody arrangements to be settled as quickly and harmoniously as possible, sometimes the process is long and contentious. Some Utah child custody cases can last for years, and place great stress on the children and parents involved. That’s why it’s so important that such family law issues are handled with compassion to minimize anxiety and achieve the appropriate outcome. One incredibly complicated and controversial child custody case has come to an end.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court just recently rescinded orders specifying that a four-year-old girl should remain in the custody of her biological father until further notice. In so doing, the court essentially enforced another custody ruling, which granted custody rights to the child’s adoptive parents. This final decision was four years in the making, and even involved the country’s highest court.

The young girl is now in the custody of her adoptive parents since her biological father was ordered to hand her over. The case, which has made national and international headlines, involves a child that was placed into adoption at birth. She lived with her adoptive parents until the age of two, when custody rights were granted to her biological father because of his Native American heritage. The lengthy and complex custody dispute was heard by the U. S. Supreme Court, and the child’s adoptive parents were once again granted custody. However, the disagreement continued when the biological father asked that Oklahoma make a ruling.

Now that the dispute is settled, the adoptive parents have the right to live with the child as they please. It’s not stated whether or not the little girl’s biological father will have visitation rights or whether the adoptive family will raise her according to Cherokee tradition.

Free Consultation with a Utah Divorce Lawyer

If you have a question about divorce law or if you need to start or defend against a divorce case in Utah call Ascent Law at (801) 676-5506. We will help you.