While your Durham divorce lawyer works out your custody agreement and ensures a fair amount of child support is changing hands, you have to deal with the emotional ups and downs your kids are facing. What happens if your kids don’t want to go to your ex’s house, whether it’s for a visit or to live? Do kids have a say in where they live, or at least where they spend time?
Bringing Your Durham Divorce Lawyer into the Loop
When you’re having a hard time getting your kids enthusiastic about seeing your ex, it’s important to get to the root of the problem. Psychologists suggest that kids often harbor resentment toward one or both parents during a divorce, so addressing the root cause of their unwillingness to see their parent is half the battle. Let your Durham divorce lawyer know if there are specific reasons your kids don’t want to see your ex; he or she might be able to work out a new arrangement that makes them feel more comfortable.
If you suspect abuse, neglect or other dangerous situations, call your Durham divorce lawyer immediately.
When Kids Just Don’t Want to Go
Kids can feel torn when they’re going back and forth between parents. Some kids, especially young ones, might feel that they’re being disloyal to one parent if they’re having fun with the other.
Other kids, particularly teens, don’t want to leave their friends and their belongings behind. They might feel like uprooting themselves for a visit to their other parent is a huge inconvenience.
Your ex’s house might be boring, too action-packed or a hybrid of the two. Talking to your kids about why they don’t want to go and sharing the results with your ex might help alleviate some of the strain they’re facing. If your ex just won’t hear it, you’ll need to call your Durham divorce lawyer for backup; even if you don’t want to pursue the issue in court, your lawyer might be able to recommend a good counselor or therapist with experience in custody and visitation.
When You Don’t Want Your Kids to Go
Only your Durham divorce lawyer can give you legal advice, so if you’re thinking about keeping your kids home from a scheduled visit, make sure to check in first. In most cases, you’re not allowed to stop your ex from seeing your children—and your lawyer will be happy to tell you how to stay out of legal hot water.
