When two parents divorce, a custody agreement determines who spends time with the kids and when visitation occurs. But some families are blended; there are kids, step-kids and step-parents to consider. What happens then?
Nicole’s* Story
“When Dave and I got married, I had two kids from a previous marriage. We have one son together, but my other kids had been calling Dave “dad” forever. Our split has been pretty rough. We just separated—we aren’t divorced yet. At first, Dave said he’d still be a part of the older kids’ lives. So far, he hasn’t visited much and has made it very clear that he is not responsible for paying child support on them.”
Timothy’s Story
“I have a step-son from my marriage, and his biological father isn’t really in the picture. He never has been. My step-son never called me dad or anything, but I’m still interested in keeping up our relationship; he’s 12 and we have spent the last three or four years doing father-son things together. His mom doesn’t want me to, and she keeps insisting that since I’m not his real dad, if I’m not going to be a part of her life, I can’t be a part of his.”
Blended Families and Divorce: Blurred Lines
Stories like these are becoming more and more common. The lines between biological parents and step-parents can become blurry, resulting in all kinds of confusion during and after divorce.
Relying on Your Raleigh Divorce Lawyer
Your Raleigh divorce lawyer will probably encourage you to come to an agreement with your ex that leaves the whole family happy. If you can’t agree, he or she might suggest that you work with a mediator who can help you settle your differences so that you two can determine what’s best for your children and step-children.
*All of the names in these stories have been changed to preserve the privacy of the families involved.
